Fire

Experienced Volunteer Ground Personnel Invited to Join Search for Firefighter in Jemez

September 2, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

NMSP News:

New Mexico State Police is heading up a Search and Rescue (SAR) effort in the Santa Fe Nat’l Forest near Jemez Springs to locate a firefighter, Token Adams, who went missing Friday while conducting size up for a new start in the forest.

Volunteer SAR is proceeding, and experienced volunteer ground personnel are invited to join in this effort.

Directions to the ICP are:

Head west on Rt. 4
Turn right onto 126
Turn left onto NF-376
Turn left onto NF-604
Turn right onto School House Mesa/604
Turn left onto Cebollita Springs NF-606 Look for a big clearing with emergency vehicles

Motorcycle Driver Arrested Sunday Following Crash on Diamond Drive

August 19, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

David Rael of Los Alamos crashed his motorcycle early Sunday evening on Diamond Drive and was assisted by Los Alamos paramedics and police officers. Courtesy photo

Staff Report

David Rael of Los Alamos crashed his motorcycle at 5 p.m. Sunday on Diamond Drive.

Police arrested Rael, 35, and charged him with aggravated DWI, assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, resisting and evading an officer, concealing his identity, reckless driving, failure to give immediate notification of an accident, driving on a revoked license, driving with no registration and driving with no insurance. Read More

Los Alamos Firefighters Train in Elevator Rescue

August 8, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

The special Los Alamos Fire Department High Angle Rescue Team trains every three months. Wednesday the firefighters received training in elevator rescue at the Municipal Building. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com

Firefighters prepare to repel down the elevator shaft. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com

Local Firefighters Train in High Angle Rescue

August 6, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Staff Report

Firefighters with the Los Alamos Fire Department spent several hours Monday training with experts from a private Arizona company in advanced high angle rescue.

The training was conducted in White Rock Canyon. High angle rescue operations involve unique hazards and require special training and equipment to be able to perform them safely. Rope rescue operations are frequently defined in terms of the type and steepness of the terrain they are to be performed in.

The steeper the ground, the more difficult Read More

Firefighters Douse Blaze Near TA-54

August 1, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

LAFD News:

Los Alamos Deputy Fire Chief Justin Grider has confirmed that a fire broke out a short time ago in the area near TA-54 at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

“We’re checking on the cause, which may have been a squirrel because it broke out near the powerlines,” Grider said. “The fire is completely out now.”

Grider described the fire as burning an area about 5 feet wide by 60 feet long.

TA-54 was not affected.

Fire Restrictions Relaxed Across Los Alamos County Thursday

July 31, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Fire Department will relax its Fire Restrictions in Los Alamos County effective 8 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1.

This relaxation of fire restrictions is based upon:

Local weather improvement, including:
Seasonal Monsoon pattern with recent regular rainfall
Rising humidity values in the weather

Fuel condition improvements, including:

o Reduction in Fire Danger Level, from Extreme to Moderate and Low for several weeks

o Reduction in Ignition Potential

o Steady increase in the Dead Fuel Moistures to double-digit Read More

Los Alamos Elks Lodge Raises $838 for Arizona Firefighters’ Families

July 31, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

The Los Alamos Elks Lodge #2083 recently hosted a Pay Day Café to raise money for the families of the 19 Arizona Granite Firefighters killed while fighting a wild land fire in Arizona. The Lodge raised $838 for the families from dinners served and donations. The dinner was hosted by Exalted Ruler Mark Sandoval who is a retired Los Alamos Fire Department Assistant Chief. From left, Samara and Parker Fellows and Leading Knight Bill Gregory. Courtesy photo Read More

Single Car Rollover In Totavi Sends Person to LAMC

July 29, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Los Alamos Fire Department crews responded to a single car rollover at about 4 p.m. today heading eastbound at Totavi. One person was transported to Los Alamos Medical Center. Details of this traffic accident including the cause of the rollover are unknown at this time. Check back for more details as they become available. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com

Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com

Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com Read More

Final Update: Thompson Ridge Fire 100 Percent Contained

July 24, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Thompson Ridge Fire at its height. Courtesy/VCT

FIRE NEWS:

Thompson Ridge Fire:

Acres: 23,965
Start date: May 31, 2013
Cause: Downed powerline
Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve
Containment: 100 percent
Terrain: Steep, rugged

Fifteen Plane Loads of Seeds Dropped on Burn Scar

July 23, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

The BAER team is dropping five types of grasses at specific burn scar locations. Courtesy photo

BAER News:

PECOS – Aerial rehabilitation operations continue over the Santa Fe National Forest as teams work to stabilize soils after the Tres Lagunas Fire.

The Tres Lagunas Post-Fire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team and contractors report a successful weekend of rehabilitation and soil stabilization treatments over the burn scar within the Santa Fe National Forest.

To promote forest regrowth, the BAER team is dropping five types of grasses from an aircraft at specific burn scar locations Read More