Now It's SoCal's Turn To Burn...

[RayThom]

... I guess neither of you geniuses have figured out why fire trucks run on motor fuel?
yrs,
rubato

Me, a genius? Stop it rube, you're making me blush.

[Lord Jim]

Firefighter killed battling California wildfire identified; 2nd death in blaze

VENTURA, Calif. --
A firefighter from San Diego was killed while battling the Thomas Fire, Cal Fire officials said on Thursday.

The firefighter was identified as Cal Fire San Diego Unit Fire Apparatus Engineer Cory Iverson, according to Cal Fire Director Chief Ken Pimlott.



Pimlott said Iverson was 32 years old and is survived by his wife, Ashley, and 2-year-old daughter Evie. Iverson's wife is currently expecting their second daughter, Pimlott said.

Iverson had been with Cal Fire since 2009.

"While we continue to process this tragic loss, we must keep our focus on the fire," Pimlott said. "The firefight in front of us continues to go on. The communities we are protecting are depending on us, and we will not fail."

Pimlott said Cal Fire has initiated a serious accident review team to look into Iverson's death. Pimlott said no further information could be shared until the investigation was complete.

Cal Fire San Diego Chief Tony Mecham's voice was heavy with emotion as he spoke of Iverson Thursday after his death.

"Cory's just a great young man, and, you know, he's a great young man. He's somebody who loved this job. He took great pride in wearing the Cal Fire patch. He was an extraordinary firefighter," Mecham said.

Ventura County sheriff's officials said the firefighter suffered fatal injuries near the eastern flank of the fire sometime between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Thursday. The department's major crimes division is investigating the death.

Iverson had been fighting the Thomas Fire since it first erupted last week.

According to Cal Fire, the Thomas Fire has scorched 249,500 acres since it broke out Dec. 4, which amounts to more than 379 square miles. It is now the fourth largest wildfire in California history.

The colossal blaze, which straddles coastal Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, was 35 percent contained as of Thursday evening.

http://abc7chicago.com/firefighter-kill ... e/2782031/

[rubato]

Meanwhile: losses due to hurricanes or floods are deductable while losses due to fires or earthquakes are not.

Thank you, mother fucker republicans! Who votes for these assholes?

yrs,
rubato

[Lord Jim]

The Thompson fire has now grown to be the third largest in California history:

Thousands flee as wildfire 'beast' grows to California's third-largest

VENTURA, Calif. (Reuters) - A raging California wildfire powered by fierce winds grew into the third-largest in state history on Saturday as forced evacuations turned neighbourhoods into ghost towns and ash fell in some areas like heavy snow.

High winds and dry conditions were expected to remain through the weekend to power the so-called Thomas Fire in Southern California. It has destroyed more than 1,000 structures and threatened 18,000 more since erupting on Dec. 4, including homes in the wealthy enclave of Montecito just outside the coastal city of Santa Barbara.

“It is a beast,” Santa Barbara County Fire Department Division Chief Martin Johnson told a news conference.

“But we will kill it,” he said.

Nearly 8,500 personnel using nearly 1,000 engines and 32 helicopters were battling the blaze, which was 40 percent contained on Saturday evening. It has become the seventh-most destructive in state history, officials said.

A new evacuation order was issued for parts of Santa Barbara County on Saturday as high winds whipped the fire through bone-dry terrain.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-w ... KKBN1EA091