Update: Now 4 Firefighters Perish Battling Cabazon Blaze (Investigators: Arson Fire Palm Springs)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 11:20 AM PDT, October 26, 2006 | Michael Muskal and Maeve Reston

[free_at_jsl.com]

Didn't "Emergency" use a fictitious radio callsign of "KMG-941"?

[cardinal4]

Who owns the -10 doing the air drops?

[dennisw]

Prayers and best luck to you and all others with this wild fire

[buccaneer81]

Didn't "Emergency" use a fictitious radio callsign of "KMG-941"?

It was KMG-365.

[SW6906]

Evergreen Supertanker. Still in certification flight test..........

[Christopher Lincoln]

We here in Western NY do not have to worry about these fires,...

I wouldn't count on that. There have been some impressive wildfires in the East, under drought conditions.

[Christopher Lincoln]

All of us in Md./Va. wish we could have given you our rain.

[La Enchiladita]

Southern California is bone dry today. I am 100 miles WNW of the fire and under 5 miles from the coast. I have rarely, maybe never, felt such dry air here.

The Weather Underground reading is 10% humidity.

Oh, my sinuses...

[BurbankKarl]

PE Seek To Sensationalize While Marginalizing New Media

By RIMOFTHEWORLD.net
Saturday, October 28, 2006

After the tragic deaths of four firefighters in the Esperanza Fire on Thursday Mouning, the Press Enterprise published an article entitled, "'Scannerheads' first to transcribe the words of dying firefighters." The title itself is wholly inaccurate and marginalizes the tireless efforts of scanner transcribers across the country.


None of the "words of the dying firefighters" were received or transcribed. Scanner monitors take extreme care in preventing the disclosure of sensitive information about medical aid calls or investigations. However, journalists from newspapers and broadcast news media have demonstrated, by this very article, to print inaccurate and damaging information.


RIMOFTHEWORLD.net, born out of the need for information during the Old Fire, and the lack of remotely accurate information provided by the regional news media, has sought to provide up-to-date and accurate coverage of breaking news. The names of the firefighters were not published until after they appeared on other news sources. The transcribing of the scanner chatter provides site visitors a chronological history of public information. Something the established news media fails to do.

[La Enchiladita]

Maybe the Press Enterprise still has a chance to retract or explain?

I just posted an article by them.

[socal_parrot]

ROTW got a raw deal in the article, "Vicky" didn't post infomation about the deaths of the Fire Fighters until it had been broadcast on at least two local TV stations.

It does bring up an ethical point; should the "scannerheads" on the SoCalFire Yahoo! group withhold the news of the deaths out of deference to the families who might subscribe to the group or is this just another case of the Dinosaur Media trying to disparage the New Media?

[lainie]

imo, breaking news is breaking news. Obviously one wouldn't want to sensationalize the death of a FF, but reporting the occurrence (if heard on scanner) isn't unethical. Dead-tree media is just yapping here.

[pitbully]

We are still here in Poppet Flats, Phones are up but still no power.we have a generator & can see how the media is reporting this story.There are many people still here also. The police let us come down to Banning for enough time to pick up supplies then get back asap before they close the road again.Our nerves are shot, but I would rather be here listening to the scanner & sending emails .Then sitting in some motel wondering whats going on.The fire men we have meet were very nice & well skilled.
Today is day 4 & we hope by Monday can get back to somewhat normal.I think all of us will take a while to get our heads back together.Thank you all for all your prayers, they sure did help.

[La Enchiladita]

Per ABC7 Eyewitness news 30 minutes ago...

The Esperanza Fire, which has burned 40,000 acres is now 70% contained.

It is expected the fire will be fully contained by Tuesday evening. [Humidity is up.]

Twin Pines and Poppet Flats remain under mandatory evacuation.

Esperanza Firefighters Assistance Fund
P.O. Box 1645
Riverside, CA 92502-1645

ARSON TIP LINE: (951) 922-7116

[CaliGirl-R]

I just read ROTW's article about the PE.
http://www.rimoftheworld.net/columns/rotw/press_enterprise


Yesterday morning, I was reading "filed incidents" on the Cal. Hwy. Patrol site, and a resident had pictures of a member of the media looting his burned out house and was requesting a sheriff officer. Mmmmm.

[BurbankKarl]

another fire in San Diego County from socalfire...


RE: [SoCalFire] Re: Camino Incident - Warner Springs - NE San Diego CO


Last I heard was 30+ acres with a rapid rate of spread. It jumped an
existing fire break and is burning in and around homes. 5 tankers and 4
copters working in addition to 20 or so engines and 7+ hand crews.
Engines are concentrating on structure protection, Air Attack says this
could become a "major fire" soon. Evacs are in progress, the SO units
on scene requested "code cover" for assistance.

[granite]

THE FIREFIGHTERS PRAYER

When I'm called to duty God
wherever flames may rage
give me strength to save a life
whatever be its age


Help me to embrace a little child
before it is too late
or save an older person from
the horror of that fate


Enable me to be alert
to hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out


I want to fill my calling and
to give the best in me
to guard my neighbor and
protect his property


And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.



This page is dedicated to the memory of all fallen firefighter's
who made the ultimate sacrifice

[Johnny Gage]

No, they used an actual LA County call sign KMG 365

I once looked it up, just to see if it was real and lo & behold it was.