You're Fire Fighters...grow up.

AVAILABILITY
FLM-04 - ASSIGNED IRON COMPLEX Weaverville, CA
FLM-05 - ASSIGNED LIME COMPLEX Hayfork, CA
FLM-06 - UNAVAILABLE
FLM-07 - ASSIGNED YUBA RIVER COMPLEX Grass Valley, CA



***UPDATE***

It amazes me. I'm not speaking about all type 1 crews, but a large portion of them. We treat everybody the same, regardless of race, age, sex, type of crew, or where they come from. I am amazed that the type 2 crews...mostly native...are always polite. They say please and thank you, no matter what. For the most part the full time type 1 crews are coming into the med unit demanding certain types of treatments. They want to dictate what treatments we provide. They don't say please or thank you.

I wonder how many of these folks go to their Doctor and tell him what to do. Do they argue with the diagnosis they receive? I doubt it.

Like I said earlier....I am not speaking about ALL type 1 crews or all full time personnel.
It only takes a small handful to crush the image of all their peers.

These crews who feel they are owed or entitled to special treatment need to wake up and grow up. They could use lessons in common courtesy. I know they are the crews who spike out for days at a time. That is the job they chose. If they are unhappy with the work conditions, they should get another job.

You all should shower. Wash your hands. Do your part to maintain your health. I can't fix you if you refuse to help yourself.

I am now jumping off of my soap box. Please read this and learn. We are here to help you. If you treat me and my crews rudely...the compassion you receive will be minimal. A sincere thank you every now and then will go a long way. A please will take you even farther. If this is too difficult, find another place to obtain the help you need.

Please stay safe.
d

June 24

AVAILABILITY
FLM-04 - ASSIGNED IRON COMPLEX Weaverville, CA NorCal Type 2 Team 1
FLM-05 - ASSIGNED LIME COMPLEX Hayfork, CA NorCal Type 2 Team 2
FLM-06 - UNAVAILABLE
FLM-07 - ASSIGNED YUBA RIVER COMPLEX Grass Valley, CA SoCal Type 2 Team 1



***UPDATE***

Settling in. Camps are being built. Resources are starting to arrive. The air is filled with smoke...will be for some time. Only the wind will clear the air, but the wind will make the fires grow.

It amazes me, but I have heard of no significant injuries during this series of events. Early on in the season, it seems we could not keep from burning fire engines up. Now...all this activity, and no burn-overs.

In Grass Valley, we had to remove one rattle snake from a sleeping area. We removed several rattle snakes from the last fire camp in Paskenta.

In Weaverville, we are flagging all the Poison Oak that is growing around the Medical Unit.

In Hayfork....I have no idea. No communications with the crew. I did get a text from a team member, but it provided no info on our folks.

LIST OF COMPLEX FIRES IN CALIFORNIA

Team Commitments

• SHF - Lime Complex- T-2 Kaage/ T-1 Opiliger
• SHF - Iron Complex - T-2 Swarztlander
• SHF - Area Command Zimmerman
• SHF – FUMT Ourada/Soper
• LNF - Cub Complex – T-2 Batten
• LNF – Peterson – T-1 Ruggiero
• KNF- Siskiyou Complex- T-2 Paul
• PNF- Canyon Complex - T-1 Pincha -Tulley
• SRF - Hells Hat Complex – T-2 Lund
• TNF - Yuba River Complex – T-2 Joseph
• TNF – American River Complex – T-I Summerfelt
• SHU - SHASTA COMPLEX – T-1 KERCHEN
• BTU - Butte Complex – T – 1 Lewin
• MEU - Mendincino Complex – T-1 Waterman
• LNU - Wild Fire – T-1 Morris
• ONC- NIMO - Gage
• ONC – Order 1 T1 team staging Sac.
• ONC - Order 1 T2 team staging RDD

Stay Safe everybody.

dj

When it rains......

it pours.

AVAILABILITY
FLM-04 - ASSIGNED IRON COMPLEX NorCal Type 2 Team 1
FLM-05 - ASSIGNED LIME COMPLEX NorCal Type 2 Team 2
FLM-06 - UNAVAILABLE
FLM-07 - ASSIGNED GRASS VALLEY SoCal Type 2 Team 1


***UPDATE***

Northern California has multiple large complex fires.

Resources are slowly arriving. Dispatch centers are overwhelmed with resource requests.

Two of the assignments we are committed to will most likely burn for several weeks.


More will be posted as things evolve.

Thank you all for your support and confidence in Frontline Medical.

Dj

June 22 - NorCal Lightning

Availability

FLM-04 - ASSIGNED - IRON COMPLEX - JUNCTION CITY

FLM-05 - ASSIGNED - LIME COMPLEX - HAYFORK

FLM-06 - UNAVAILABLE

FLM-07 - STAGED - PRE ALERT FOR ASSIGNMENT

NorCal got blasted with lightning the day before yesterday.

Over 300 fires in Northern California. Over 200 fire are unstaffed.

Multiple Incident Management Teams deployed.

Weather = Hot, Dry

Total chaos.

I'll post more when we can.

Everybody please stay safe.

Dj

June 16 - Whiskey Fire

AVAILABILITY

FLM 04 - AVAILABLE
FLM 05 - AVAILABLE
FLM 06 - UNAVAILABLE
FLM 07 - ASSIGNED - WHISKEY FIRE, MNF

Good afternoon

Whiskey, Mendocino NF. IMT 2 (Kaage). Five miles northwest of Paskenta, CA. Chaparral. Moderate rates of
spread with upslope runs, group torching and long-range spotting. Residences threatened.

The crews are making good progress with containment efforts. The fire seems to be laying down and cooling off. If the winds stay calm, this fire should be contained soon.

We have had no significant injuries. Poison Oak is bothering some folks.



Dj and James taking in a little smoke.


Stay Safe.

Dj

Ps. Toaka says...."Did I hear smoke???...hmmm...smoked salmon? smoked bacon?....I'M NOT PICKY!!!!!"

June 13

FRONTLINE AVAILABILITY

FL04 - AVAILABLE

FL05 - AVAILABLE

FL06 - UNAVAILABLE

FL07 - Whiskey Fire - Peskante, CA

Good Morning Ya'll.

....and there are more burnovers. Please be careful out there. Fires are moving faster than usual right now. Things are burning as if it were late summer here in California. I know we are fire fighters. I know our job is dangerous. Let's all just slow down a bit. There is no piece of property that is worth losing your life for.

The fast moving fire near Oroville is out.

The fire in Chico area is still out of control. I heard it has burned clear to Butte College, and then some. This fire will be burning close to Lake Oroville very soon, if they can't slow it down. If it gets that far, it will have more brush and timber, with steeper terrain. They have been using the DC-10 tanker. There should be some good photos surfacing pretty soon.

A new fire on the Mendocino National Forest. It is called the Whiskey Fire. FL02 told me that this fire was putting up an impressive column yesterday afternoon. This fire is located due west of Corning, 6 miles west of Paskenta. There is not a lot there. The fuels are brush and scattered timber. A type 2 management team has been ordered. Frontline Unit 07 has been assigned to this fire.

Stay Safe.

Dj

Ps. Toaka says...."I'll give up on my quest for a snack today, if everybody will just stay safe."

June 12 - More Burnovers

FRONTLINE AVAILABILITY

FL04 -AVAILABLE

FL05 -AVAILABLE

FL06 -UNAVAILABLE

FL07 -AVAILABLE

Good Morning.

More wind...more fires. Yesterday two more engines were burned over. Two fire fighters were flown to UC Davis Burn Center, one fire fighter was treated and released at a local hospital. We send our prayers and thoughts to the fire fighters and their families. Lets pray for full and speedy recovery.

Two days of fires, two burn over incidents. We all need to slow down and use our heads. It seems the fires are moving like it was august already, especially when the wind is blowing. Remember...there is not a house or bush out there that is worth your life. When you find yourself moving too fast, stop for one second...take a few breaths.

Stay Safe.

Dj

Ps. Toaka says...."OK,OK,OK....I can't eat the Poison Oak....how about that piece of jerky I found in the truck?"

June 11

FRONTLINE AVAILABILITY

FL04 - AVAILABLE
FL05 - AVAILABLE
FL06 - UNAVAILABLE
FL07 - AVAILABLE

CLASSES

**We are not booking any more classes for this season due to the fire season
picking up. If you are in need of CPR certification, call the office.
********************************************

Good Morning.

Look what can happen when the wind blows. The north wind is Northern California's version of a Santa Ana wind. It is a steady wind, out of the North...with gusts around 35 mph.

Yesterday, several fires ran away from fire fighters due to this wind. A large number of homes were lost. The saddest part of the day was hearing the news that a fellow fire fighter was burned. In South Sacramento, the wind shifted and chased 3 fire fighters back to their engine. Two fire fighters made it to the cab, the third did not. He received 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his arms, hands, and face. He is being treated at UC Davis Burn Center. He is expected to make a full recovery. Our prayers go out to him and his family.

We should all keep this scenario implanted into our brains. We are seeing fire behavior like it is already September. Put a little wind on something and it's going to burn. The recent rains and humidity are gone.

Let's all stay safe out there. Frontline is the one's you want to see just sitting around, waiting. When we are bored, you are safe. We don't mind being bored.

Stay safe.

Dj

Ps. Toaka says....(while watching the TV) "Look at those fires!! Does that mean my snacks will be preheated?"

June 10 - Poison Oak

FRONTLINE AVAILABILITY

FL04 - AVAILABLE
FL05 - AVAILABLE
FL06 - UNAVAILABLE
FL07 - AVAILABLE

CLASSES

**We are not booking any more classes for this season due to the fire season
picking up. If you are in need of CPR certification, call the office.
********************************************

I have been asked to post the information about Poison Oak again.
It was brought to my attention, I posted some old information....oops....sorry.
Below is the most current safety message we have.

Treatment for Poison Oak

Specific treatment for Poison Oak will be determined by a physician based on:

Your Age

Overall Health and Medical History

Extent of the Condition

Your Tolerance to Certain Medications, Procedures, or Therapies

Expectations for the Course of the Condition

Making sure you avoid the plant is the best treatment.

If contact with the plant has already occurred, you should remove the oils from the skin as soon as possible.

Cleansing with “Tecnu” or "ZANFEL" within six hours after the initial exposure has proven to be effective.

If repeated exposure occurs, repeated cleansing is needed.

**WASH DAILY ** COLD WATER!! ** WASH DAILY **

Wash ALL clothes and shoes.

(Regular laundry soap works – NOT Tecnu)

Wash ALL equipment and inside vehicles with any degreasing type cleanser.

(BLEACH does NOT remove the oils)

If the blisters or rash are on the face, on the genitals, or ALL over the body, a physician should be notified.

Topical treatments may be used.

"ZANFEL" appears to be the best over the counter treatment available at this time.

After a medical history and physical examination,

A physician MAY prescribe a steroid cream, oral steroids, or steroid injection to help with the swelling and itching, depending on the severity of the rash.

Steroids may help, but should be administered

within 24 hours of the onset of the rash.

After 48 hours, topical steroids have proven to be safer and more effective.

Steroids DO NOT prevent Poison Oak.

Steroids DO NOT cure Poison Oak.

For a short period of time after steroid therapy, you may become significantly more sensitive to Poison Oak. You may have a more serious reaction.

Even safer alternatives are available.

Products such as "ZANFEL" and other OTC products can be used to treat Poison Oak rash.

ZANFEL has proven to be very effective and may be used any where on the body or face, therefore, is the safest treatment available to fire fighters.

FRONTLINE MEDICAL

INCIDENT MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

Mobile Disaster Clinic Specialists

COPYRIGHT 2007 FRONTLINE MEDICAL

Have a great day.

Dj

Ps. Toaka says...."More Poison Oak? You sure I can't eat it?"

June 9

FRONTLINE AVAILABILITY

FL04 - AVAILABLE
FL05 - AVAILABLE
FL06 - UNAVAILABLE
FL07 - AVAILABLE

CLASSES

**We are not booking any more classes for this season due to the fire season
picking up. If you are in need of CPR certification, call the office.
********************************************

Good Morning.

The First Responder class in Alta went very well. Good job everybody. Thanks to DOI grant program and thanks to FireCourse.com for arranging this class. Jack Knight you are an organizational GOD. Great class packages, you made our easy.

Now it's official....Fire Season can get underway...full speed. No more classes. Everybody is ready to work. Los Padres has a fire this morning. A type 2 team has been ordered. It is in a wilderness area, so access will be limited. This fire has the potential to be like the Zaca Fire last season. As you all know, the Zaca Fire lasted all season.

The next couple of days will be spent making sure everything is in order. We will make sure the trailers are 100% ready. We are still waiting on the lettering for the new trailer to arrive. That will take a day to put all the letters on.

Have a great day.

Dj

Ps. Toaka says..." I see 'em...I see 'em...there are nilla wafers up there on that shelf."

June 6

FRONTLINE AVAILABILITY

FL04 - AVAILABLE
FL05 - AVAILABLE
FL06 - UNAVAILABLE
FL07 - AVAILABLE

CLASSES

June 6,7,8 - First Responder - Alta Fire - Placer County

**We are not booking any more classes for this season due to the fire season
picking up. If you are in need of CPR certification, call the office.
********************************************

Dj

Ps. Toaka says..." It's not fair. The horses are able to eat all day. I should be able to get just one little snack".

June 4 - Poison Oak

FRONTLINE AVAILABILITY

FL04 - AVAILABLE
FL05 - AVAILABLE
FL06 - UNAVAILABLE
FL07 - AVAILABLE

CLASSES

June 6,7,8 - First Responder - Alta Fire - Placer County

**We are not booking any more classes for this season due to the fire season
picking up. If you are in need of CPR certification, call the office.
********************************************

Treatment for Poison Oak

Specific treatment for Poison Oak will be determined by a physician based on:

Your Age

Overall Health and Medical History

Extent of the Condition

Your Tolerance to Certain Medications, Procedures, or Therapies

Expectations for the Course of the Condition

Making sure you avoid the plant is the best treatment.

If contact with the plant has already occurred, you should remove the oils from the skin as soon as possible.

Cleansing with “Tecnu” or "ZANFEL" within six hours after the initial exposure has proven to be effective.

If repeated exposure occurs, repeated cleansing is needed.

**WASH DAILY ** COLD WATER!! ** WASH DAILY **

Wash ALL clothes and shoes.

(Regular laundry soap works – NOT Tecnu)

Wash ALL equipment and inside vehicles with any degreasing type cleanser.

(BLEACH does NOT remove the oils)

If the blisters or rash are on the face, on the genitals, or ALL over the body, a physician should be notified.

After a medical history and physical examination,

A physician MAY prescribe a steroid cream, oral steroids, or steroid injection to help with the swelling and itching, depending on the severity of the rash.

Steroids may help, but should be administered

within 24 hours of the onset of the rash.

After 48 hours, topical steroids have proven to be safer and more effective.

Steroids DO NOT prevent Poison Oak.

Steroids DO NOT cure Poison Oak.

For a short period of time after steroid therapy, you may become significantly more sensitive to Poison Oak. You may have a more serious reaction.

Even safer alternatives are available.

Products such as "ZANFEL" can be used to treat Poison Oak rash.

ZANFEL has proven to be very effective and may be used any where on the body or face, therefore, is the safest treatment available to fire fighters.

FRONTLINE MEDICAL

INCIDENT MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

Mobile Disaster Clinic Specialists

COPYRIGHT 2007 FRONTLINE MEDICAL

Have a great day.

Dj

Ps. Toaka says...." I don't get Poison Oak....what is it? Can I eat it? Is it a snack?"

June 2

FRONTLINE AVAILABILITY

FL04 - AVAILABLE
FL05 - AVAILABLE
FL06 - UNAVAILABLE
FL07 - AVAILABLE

CLASSES

June 6,7,8 - First Responder - Alta Fire - Placer County

**We
are not booking any more classes for this season due to the fire season
picking up. If you are in need of CPR certification, call the office.
********************************************

Have a great day.

Dj

Ps. Toaka says..."I'll try this....It's JUNE!! I am still in need of a summer snack. An all American Hamburger would do nicely."