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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LUCERNE, Calif. – Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters spent Saturday training with a unique piece of fire equipment.
For the first time, Northshore Fire personnel were able to train with a specially constructed mobile Fireblast trailer owned by Kelseyville Fire Department.
Northshore Battalion Chief Jamie Crabtree said Kelseyville Fire purchased the trailer with a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The trailer was set up at Northshore Fire’s Nice Fire Station for the daylong training, in which about 20 firefighters took part, said Northshore Fire Capt. Dave Emmel.
The Fireblast unit is a simulator that allows firefighters to train in a realistic but safe environment.
An operator directs the action from a computer panel inside a small booth in the trailer. The trailer has two other rooms, much like the rooms inside a residence.
“This is about the safest you can make any live fire exercise,” said Emmel.
While one team of firefighters made their way through the trailer – where flames crawled across the ceiling and the walls – another group was on the roof of the unit working on creating roof vents, which Emmel said is a common plan of attack for structure fires.
Firefighters have numerous requirements that they must fulfill in order to keep current on necessary certifications, and they participate in weekly trainings, Emmel said.
He said Saturday’s training fulfilled a number of requirements involving skills such as nozzle and ventilation work, and chainsaw use.
Emmel said the district hopes to hold annual trainings with the trailer.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest's new supervisor has been named.
Sherry Tune, who previously was the Monterey District ranger on the Los Padres National Forest, arrived on the forest Feb. 14.
Tune has the distinction of being the first woman selected to serve as forest supervisor for the Mendocino in its 103-year history.
She replaces former Forest Supervisor Tom Contreras, who was detailed to the Angeles National Forest last spring before accepting the assignment permanently in September 2011.
Tune has spent the past few weeks getting oriented, meeting employees and touring the forest.
“The past few weeks learning about the Mendocino and meeting the employees has been a tremendous and overwhelmingly positive experience,” Tune said. “I am very excited to be here and look forward to working with our partners and public who enjoy the many benefits from this remarkable forest.”
Forest staff is working to schedule meetings to introduce Tune to area partners and governmental agencies that work with the Forest Service.
The Mendocino National Forest will host an open house from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Willows, located at 825 N. Humboldt Ave., to introduce the community to Tune and new Ecosystem Staff Officer Ken Wysocki.
“The open house is just the first step for me and our new Ecosystem Staff Officer Ken Wysocki to begin engaging local communities to improve the overall health and sustainability of the resources on the Mendocino National Forest,” Tune said.
Prior to her experience on the Los Padres, Tune served as a deputy district ranger for the Coronado National Forest in Arizona.
Her career started as a clerk-typist in 1978 before transitioning to fire where she has extensive experience, including working on hotshot crews, leading a handcrew, serving as assistant forest fire management officer, an emergency center manager, fire planner, fuels program manager and fire ecologist.
Tune’s Forest Service experience also includes work as a certified timber cruiser, law enforcement officer, national training coordinator, and union steward.
Her educational background includes studying landscape ecology at the University of Arizona.
Wysocki, who comes to the Forest from the Pacific Southwest Regional Office in Vallejo, Calif., arrived on the forest on Feb. 27.
He served as supervisor of program development, budget and accountability, spearheading various initiatives to include a business continuity solution.
Prior to joining for the Forest Service, Wysocki served in several different capacities in both public and private entities focused on strategic management, environmental protection, technology and business transformation.
He holds a doctorate in management from University of Phoenix, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in agronomy from Iowa State University and University of Wisconsin, respectively.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two new cats are ready for adoption at the county’s animal shelter this week.
“Flower” and a male Maine coon are waiting to make your acquaintance.
Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake .
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
‘Flower’
“Flower” is an 8-year-old female domestic short hair mix.
She is a brown tabby with white markings, and has lovely green eyes.
Flower is residing in cat room kennel No. 17, ID No. 31965.
Male Maine Coon
This handsome fellow is a 1-year-old Maine Coon mix.
He has gold eyes, a long gray coat and fantastic whiskers.
As a bonus, he already has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 63, ID No. 31991.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
NASA has completed commissioning of the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite (NPP), which is now making global environmental observations.
The satellite will provide scientists with critical insight into the dynamics of the entire Earth system, including climate, clouds, oceans, and vegetation.
It also will gather enhanced data for improving our nation's weather forecasting system.
The mission, launched in October 2011, is the result of a partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Defense. All five of the satellite's instruments now have been activated for science data collection.
“By providing cutting-edge measurements of important Earth system processes, the Suomi NPP mission will increase researchers' knowledge of our home planet, and provide direct societal benefit through more accurate predictions,” said Michael Freilich, director, Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “This satellite mission, which could only have come to fruition through a close interagency partnership, is multifaceted and its data will be used by a multitude of stakeholders in the U.S. and worldwide.”
With the completion of commissioning activities, operation of the Suomi NPP has now been turned over to a Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) team.
NOAA's JPSS Program provided three of the five instruments and the ground segment for Suomi NPP.
A government team from the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Md., will operate the satellite.
“NOAA is thrilled with the performance of Suomi NPP,” said Mary Kicza, assistant administrator for NOAA's Satellite and Information Service in Silver Spring, Md. “NOAA will be using the advanced data NPP provides to improve life-saving weather forecasts and track volcanic eruptions, and to improve our understanding of long-term weather and climate patterns. Suomi NPP is an important mission for the nation.”
The Suomi NPP mission is a bridge between NOAA and NASA legacy Earth observing missions and NOAA's next-generation JPSS.
Suomi NPP flies for the first time the groundbreaking new Earth observing instruments that JPSS will use operationally.
The first satellite in the JPSS series, JPSS-1, is targeted for launch in 2016.
NASA scientists have already begun creating consistent, multi-decade Earth science data sets by combining the new NPP observations with measurements from many of the legacy NASA and NOAA missions.
These long-term observations are critical to improving our understanding of the Earth system and quantifying any changes.
“With the successful completion of commissioning, Suomi NPP is now ready to provide the world with remarkable Earth observations,” said Ken Schwer, NPP project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Goddard managed the Suomi NPP mission for the Science Mission Directorate's Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
For more information about the Suomi NPP mission, visit www.nasa.gov/npp .Suomi NPP data will be available at www.class.noaa.gov .