header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
April 20
1874 - First train out of L.A. to reach new town of San Fernando; Newhall 2 years later [story]
train tunnel


Los Angeles County Firefighters battled flames on a hillside in Castaic Thursday morning during a live fire training exercise.

As the fire season approaches, the annual training event allowed first responders the opportunity to enhance their wildland firefighting skills and reinforce agency communication skills within a controlled environment inside the Wayside Honor Ranch at Pitchess Detention Center.

The main objective of the day is to train firefighters who have worked less than two years in their current rank. Los Angeles County Assistant Fire Chief Bill Niccum (right) said the drills help enforce what each member’s roles and responsibilities are during a real life wildfire incident.

“Communication, coordination and collaboration are essential components of mitigating these large scale incidents,” said Niccum.

The group assembled around 9 a.m. Thursday for a safety briefing inside the visitors parking lot at Pitchess Detention Center, which served as a simulated staging area for the exercise.

“This is a learning environment but at the same token we do have live fire on the ground,” L.A. County Fire Chief Inman (left) said to the group. “We’ve got hot weather and fire on the ground that means that we need to have a sense of urgency. We have control over the fire but we don’t have total control over the fire. That’s where you folks come in.”

Two incident areas were designated as Branch I (Hog Farm) and Branch II (SEB).  Teams were divided equally and deployed further east into the Honor Ranch property, operated by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

As the convoy of red engines made its way through the canyons on dirt roads, crews began creating fire breaks by burning the dry vegetation at the top of the hillside.

Crews reassembled and conducted 4-6 “evolutions” throughout the day at each branch. During the first evolution at Branch II crews used a fire drip to ignite dry brush at the base of a hillside, which spread quickly along the face of the hill. Female inmates dressed in orange suits and helmets and armed with shovels and rakes marched up the embankment and created a firebreak as they cleared dry brush. Los Angeles Coutnty Firefighters followed the crew, dousing the flames with their hose.

Simulated crew member injuries were also employed throughout the day to help train firefighters to handle additional situations that may arise during a real wildfire incident.

The exercise relies on the expertise of seasoned firefighters, who play a mentor role to the team members who are less experienced.

“There’s a wide variety of experience here, these guys have been out in the brush for a long time,” Chief Inman told the crew Thursday morning. “Utilize those folks and ask them questions to increase the tools in your toolbox.”

The multi-agency exercise included an engine crew from Manhattan Beach along with 9 other L.A.County Fire engines, 2 patrols, 2 water tankers, 8 camp crews including inmates from the California Department of Correction.

Niccum said he expects this summer to be an active fire season.

“In the last two years we’ve had below average fire activity. This year is considered to be normal, and normal in the Santa Clarita Valley is busy,” he said.






Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

No Comments

    Leave a Comment


    SCV NewsBreak
    LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
    Friday, Apr 19, 2024
    May 5: ‘Free to Be Me Festival’ at West Creek Park
    The city of Santaw Clarita will host the Free To Be Me Festival for its third year at an exciting new location. On Sunday, May 5, from noon to 3 p.m., celebrate Santa Clarita’s special needs communities and their families at West Creek Park, 24247 Village Circle Drive, Valencia, CA 91354.
    Friday, Apr 19, 2024
    April 23: City Council to Discuss Measure H Funds, Traffic Improvements
    The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. The council will meet at City Hall, City Council Chambers, Items on the agenda include: Measure H funding, awarding construction contracts for traffic improvements and updating criteria for speed hump installation or removal.
    Friday, Apr 19, 2024
    April 27: Day at The Rocks Family Fun Event
    Visit Vasquez Rock Natural Area and Nature Center for a Day at The Rocks, a family fun event and tribal celebration of the Village of Mapipinga. A Day at The Rocks will be held Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    Keep Up With Our Facebook

    Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
    1874 - First train out of L.A. to reach new town of San Fernando; Newhall 2 years later [story]
    train tunnel
    Hello Auto Group has announced its partnership with the Santa Clarita Veteran Services Collaborative for the second annual Military Spouse Appreciation Event. This event, dedicated to honoring military spouses, will take place on Military Spouse Appreciation Day Friday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Anthony Vince Nail Spa at 24250 Town Center Drive #140, Valencia, CA 91355.
    May 10: Second Annual SCV Military Spouse Appreciation Event
    The Santa Clarita Artists Association has announced the 2024 scholarship award recipients. These deserving individuals have shown excellence in their high school art education and shared their plans to continue their artistic endeavors.
    SCAA Announces 2024 Scholarship Award Honorees
    The Valley Industry Association of Santa Clarita is set to ignite innovation and transformation with its VIA Workforce Development Conference 2024 at the Hyatt Regency Valencia on Thursday, May 16. Jorge Marquez, chairman of the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board, has been added to the list of speakers appearing at the event. He will serve as the opening speaker at the conference.
    May 16: VIA Adds County Leader to Workforce Development Speakers List
    The city of Santaw Clarita will host the Free To Be Me Festival for its third year at an exciting new location. On Sunday, May 5, from noon to 3 p.m., celebrate Santa Clarita’s special needs communities and their families at West Creek Park, 24247 Village Circle Drive, Valencia, CA 91354.
    May 5: ‘Free to Be Me Festival’ at West Creek Park
    The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and its regional partners have held the first of several upcoming rapid response events to urgently connect soon-to-be laid off local workers, impacted by the recent bankruptcy and closure of dozens of local 99 Cents Only Stores, to critical workforce services.
    L.A. County Offers Help for Workers of 99 Cents Only Stores
    Youth in Los Angeles County foster care as young as 13 can open their own checking and savings accounts without an adult co-owner through the Youth Access Banking program.
    Foster Youth Access Banking Program Available in L.A. County
    The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. The council will meet at City Hall, City Council Chambers, Items on the agenda include: Measure H funding, awarding construction contracts for traffic improvements and updating criteria for speed hump installation or removal.
    April 23: City Council to Discuss Measure H Funds, Traffic Improvements
    Visit Vasquez Rock Natural Area and Nature Center for a Day at The Rocks, a family fun event and tribal celebration of the Village of Mapipinga. A Day at The Rocks will be held Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    April 27: Day at The Rocks Family Fun Event
    Princess Cruises, headquartered in Valencia, and ship builder Fincantieri of Monfalcone, Italy have announced the mutual decision to postpone the delivery of the next Sphere Class ship, Star Princess.
    Princess Cruises Postpones Delivery of Star Princess, Inaugural Cruises Cancelled
    1880 - Pico Oil Spring Mine Section 2 patented by R.F. Baker and Edward F. Beale [story]
    E.F. Beale
    The Master's University men's golf team shot a 13-under 275 to finish second at the Golden State Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championships held at Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West, Ariz.
    TMU Men’s Golf Places 2nd, Women 5th at GSAC Championships
    Join local nonprofit Project Sebastian for an exhilarating day of racing and community support at its Rare Warrior 24 race on Saturday, June 1, at Heritage Park in the heart of Santa Clarita.
    June 1: Rare Warrior 24 Race Benefiting Project Sebastian
    Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station Station deputies will be taking part in the “DEA National Drug Take Back Day,” Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in front of the SCV Sheriff’s Station, located at 26201 Golden Valley Road.
    April 27: Drug Take Back Day at SCV Sheriff’s Station
    The College of the Canyons Center for Civic and Community Engagement—in collaboration with COC’s Golden Z Club—invites the community to attend the Nonprofit Community Resource Fair on Tuesday, April 30.
    April 30: COC Hosts Nonprofit Community Resource Fair
    College of the Canyons made quick work of visiting L.A. Valley College in a shortened 11-3 home victory that came on a day in which the program unveiled its newly named Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room during a pre-game dedication ceremony.
    Lady Cougs Outslug L.A. Valley 11-3
    For aspiring scientists at The Master’s University, taking up a student research project is no small commitment.
    Retired Professor Continues to Mentor Aspiring TMU Scientists
    The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is warning residents not to use a Vietnamese herbal ointment called “Cao Bôi Trĩ Cây Thầu Dầu” (Castor Oil Hemorrhoid Extract) because it contains lead and can be fatal.
    Public Health Urges Residents to Avoid Vietnamese Hemorrhoid Cream
    State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a California Apprenticeship Summit Wednesday to raise awareness of apprenticeship opportunities and career technical education pathways that connect California’s youth to high-wage, high-growth career opportunities.
    State Apprenticeship Summit Connects Youth to High-Wage Opportunities
    College of the Canyons student-athletes Nichole Muro (softball) and Angelo Aleman (baseball) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 8-13.
    COC Names Nichole Muro, Angelo Aleman Athletes of the Week
    California State Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, announced Wednesday his bill improving transparency between parents and schools’ sexual education curricula passed out of the Senate Education Committee.
    Wilk’s Sex Education Transparency Bill Clears Senate Committee
    1945 - Actors Harry & Olive Carey sell Saugus ranch after 29 years; now Tesoro del Valle [story]
    Carey Ranch
    The 76.6-mile-long Antelope Valley Line has the third-highest ridership in Metrolink’s system with an estimated average of 9,000 passengers daily. However, the uneven terrain and single-tracking along the line in some areas forces trains to travel at a slower speed which results in an estimated travel time of approximately one hour between Santa Clarita and Union Station.
    Metrolink to Hold Public Meetings on AV Line Capacity, Improvements
    Team Dragon Eyes, affectionately known as TDE, is gearing up to host its highly anticipated Fifth Annual Dragonboat Festival race on Saturday, June 1 at Castaic Lake, Lower Lagoon.
    June 1: Team Dragon Eyes to Host Fifth Annual Dragonboat Festival Race
    SCVNews.com