vegasbuff

for those interested, this fire has grown

very difficult,  mountainous terrain

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/25000-acre-fire-backyard-resort-mount-charleston

fire acreage at 14,000 acres now

USFS type 1 management team has taken over the eastside of the fire  that has been threatening

Kyle Canyon homes  eff 6 AM today

Many more crews and engines,plus more air tankers have been added to the fire support now

Type 1 team now set up at Centenial High School in the northwest area of the valley

fire acreage approaching 9,000 acres now   It came over into the upper ridges of Kyle Canyon

late yesterday  There are many homes located in Kyle Canyon along with several lodges and a

large hotel, so hand crews and tankers are trying to stop it before it reaches structures.

Cloudy with a slight drizzle in some areas of the Vegas valley today, Saturday.

Started 7/1 as a small spot, now taking off  Was quoted as 1800 acres by the IC yesterday

Evacuations from Trout Canyon, about 20 structures off Route 160

Now has crested the mountains, running in to the Cathedral Rock area of Kyle Canyon

If winds pickup as predicted on Friday PM, this will be a BIG problem fire for the whole Mt Charleston

residential area Evacuations forced in Kyle and Lee Canyons now

The IC has requested heavy air support, was using SEATs which were too small

My reply was based on some "inside scoop" from a CCFD Captain. He had mentioned this move as a way to establish more capabilities at this single engine house off strip. It had nothing to do with T-16, but even he said that was some of the thinking, but not a sure bet. Will see what they do with this 75' rig.

CCFD was looking at  possibly placing a quint at a newer off Strip station that would replace an engine

and give them some aerial capability  Maybe this 75' Pierce Q is the vehicle for that?

CCFD also purchased two quick attack units for vollie stations and several Ferrara pumpers for vollie stations in the last year or two.

Believe that OCFA has some towers, Long Beach has one, I think.

The east coast departments are all using at least some towers in their fleets. Boston has three now

and FDNY, almost 1/3 of their aerials are towers.

As info, latest roster for Manhattan aerials(32) :

13 towers (mostly 75' (3 are 95')

14 rear mounts

5 TDAs

on multiple alarms fires, I have often heard the ICs call for additional towers when rescues are needed

so the east coast is seeing the advantage of towers, west coast not so much at this point

Yes, LVFD and CCFD have their medics driving large ambulances to all med calls. Transport is by the contracted ambulance services, AMR/Medic West. Unless it is a fire or police member, the medics are freed up to continue taking calls. Obviously in a mass casualty situation they will also do transport to the hospitals.

LVFR was looking at taking the med call hospital runs themselves but decided not to do it at this time.