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What Is The Wildland Firefighter Foundation? Wildland Firefighter Foundation 2010 Video

Wildland Firefighter Foundation 2010 from Paul Steele on Vimeo.

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2nd Annual Mike Schweitzer Memorial Challenge In Support Of The Wildland Firefighter Foundation

2nd Annual Mike Schweitzer Memorial Challenge

This is an opportunity for family, friends and coworkers that knew Mike to share in his memory, recognizing both his love of running and his passion as a wildland firefighter. We also invite people who may not have known Mike, but are members of the wildland firefighting community, or running community, and those who just want to enjoy a spring day outdoors to join us. Families are welcome.


When:
April 24th, 2010
9:00 am race start time
8:00 am race day registration

Where:
Scott Valley Pleasure Park
Etna, California

Facilities:
Parking & bathrooms available at the Pleasure Park. Post race refreshments will be available.

Course:
The entire course is a mixture of road and trail in and around the historic town of Etna. The 5km route winds through the town. The 10km and half marathon events continue through the woods outside of town. The final leg of the half marathon winds through ranches and farmland before returning to the Pleasure Park. The course will be marked and there will be volunteers to help direct runners. Water aid stations will be provided along the course for the 10km and half marathon routes.

To Enter:
Participants can also print a copy of the registration form online. Please make checks payable to the Wildland Firefighters Foundation with a notation for Mike Schweitzer Memorial Challenge. The registration can be mailed to:

Mike Schweitzer Memorial Challenge
c/o Lea Schweitzer
658 St. Jules Lane
Nashville, TN 37211

Cost:
Early entry: 5km or 10km event: $15
Race day: $20

Early entry: Half Marathon $20
Race day: $25

Note entry fees are tax deductible. Additional donations above the requested entry fee are welcome. All proceeds will directly benefit the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. If you have questions about the event contact Debi Wright (530) 468-2376 or kdwright@sisqtel.net or Lea Schweitzer (541) 941-7058 schweitzer.lea@gmail.com
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Wildland Firefighter Safety – Hydrogen Cyanide Exposure – Update On Firefighter Injury

The message below was forwarded to me and a few select others a couple of weeks ago. I was out of town and completely forgot about it until I saw it posted tonight on FirefighterCloseCalls.com. Thanks for the reminder Chief Goldfeder.

For folks who know me, I am a firefighter safety nut just like many of you are. I have been a long time supporter and volunteer helping the Wildland Firefighter Foundation (WFF) in any way I can. Some of the things I have been fortunate enough to do has been:  Peer and family support; Fundraising; Injured firefighter and family advocacy; Writing of draft agency safety standards and improvements; Serving as a family liaison to a Fallen Firefighter’s family; and what I call “drilling holes through bureaucracies“. I am just one of many folks supporting the WFF and performing these duties whenever called upon to help.

In this case, I did a little work behind the scenes putting Vicki Minor (Director, Wildland Firefighter Foundation) in touch with Shawn Longerich (Director, Cyanide Poisoning Treatment Coalition). To make a very long story short, there were some firefighter Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) exposures on the Station Fire, and several folks were exposed to HCN at varying degrees of severity. The most severe exposure resulted in respiratory arrest and an over two week ICU stay in the hospital. The most severely injured firefighter is still suffering ill effects. The long term effects on the other exposed firefighters is unknown.

This is the continuing story of one firefighter as told by her M.D.:

A female wild land firefighter was involved in fighting the STATION wild fire in California on September 1, 2009. During the cleanup phase of the fire she was over an area of a hidden defunct mining operation. While extinguishing the residual flames of a tree trunk, the roots collapsed into a hole and a strange blue flame emanated. She backed away and retreated from the site. Minutes later she suffered symptoms of tremors, nausea, and dyspnea. She had what was described as a respiratory arrest and was resuscitated. She was taken to a local emergency department where she was hospitalized for two weeks. A Sherriff’s hazardous materials team investigated the incident three days after exposure that documented an airborne cyanide concentration of 45 ppm near the area in which she was working. An airborne level of 50 ppm of cyanide is immediately dangerous to life and health. I evaluated her on October 19, 2009 in my Toxic Exposures Clinic. I performed an MRI and MRS of her brain as well as a neurological workup. At that time she was confined to a wheelchair because of difficulty walking and neurocognitive deficits (abnormal thinking). I reviewed her brain MRI/MRS with a neuroradiologist. She had non-specific encephalomalacia (brain swelling) within the parietal and occipital lobes, she also had an abnormal choline peak on MRS. The medical literature reports cases of elevated choline with encephalomalacia (brain swelling) involving carbon monoxide and cyanide exposure. She has been in physical therapy with some improvement, however cognitive (the process of thought) skills are worsening. My diagnosis is exposure to cyanide which caused brain injury.

There are no known pre-existing conditions that are related to this injury. The conditions I have described were reached after careful examination and standard testing, and are not mentally imagined or induced by the patient. Wild land firefighters face a number of hazards in the course of their duties. The affects of cyanide inhalation are just beginning to be understood at the wild land level. Suspected cyanide exposure can more effectively be dealt with if proper diagnosis and treatment is given in a timely manner. Proper treatment is available, especially at Level 1 trauma centers. Regional poison control centers can provide medical toxicology consultation and antidote recommendations for the patient. Proper treatment for suspected cyanide inhalation needs to become standard protocol for wild land firefighters.
 
By John B. Sullivan, Jr., M.D. February 16, 2010
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Wildland Firefighter Foundation Themed NASCAR Tops 10,000 Votes – 5 Days Left To Continue Voting

The Wildland Firefighter Foundation themed Toyota NASCAR has reached the milestone of 10,000 votes.

There are 5 more days left to vote.

Please vote daily, and help the Wildland Firefighter Foundation car exceed 15,000 votes.

To vote: CLICK HERE
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Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Accidentally Shot – Line Of Duty Death

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For Immediate Release


For More Information Contact:
Stephanie Neal Johnson, Southern Region Public Affairs Director, USDA Forest Service – 404-895-1709
Robin Hill, Communications Program Manager, GA Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division – 404-291-9825


Monticello, GA, March 6, 2010 – A USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer was fatally shot Friday, March 5, at the Ocmulgee Bluff Equestrian Recreation Area on the Oconee Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Jasper County.


The officer, Christopher Arby Upton, 37, of Monroe, GA, was on routine patrol in the area about 11 p.m. Two individuals were hunting coyote with a high-powered rifle equipped with night vision and apparently mistook the officer for game. After the shooting, the hunters dialed 911 and reported a hunting incident.


“This is a tragic incident where the loss of a Federal officer’s life could have been avoided,” said Steven Ruppert, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Southern Region of the Forest Service. “This is a devastating loss for Chris’ family, our agency, other law enforcement officers and his friends and neighbors in Monroe.


“All of our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Ruppert said.


“The standard procedure for a hunter is to identify your target and then shoot,” said Homer Bryson, Law Enforcement Colonel for Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). “The hunter failed to do this, and mistook the officer for game. He then shot and instantly killed the officer.”


The shooter, Norman Clinton Hale, 40, McDonough, GA, and an observer, Clifford Allen McGouirk, 41, of Jackson, GA, were hunting coyotes. The incident investigation is being conducted jointly by the Forest Service and GDNR WRD and is ongoing.


Upton, a 4-year veteran of the Forest Service, had previously worked as a game warden for the Department of Defense, US Marine Corps, at Beaufort, South Carolina, and as a conservation officer, game warden and pilot with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. He is survived by his wife, Jessica, and a 4-year-old daughter, Annabelle. Arrangements are pending.
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BLM Announces 2009 Ranger of the Year Recipient

BLM Colorado Ranger Honored As 2009 National Ranger of the Year

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Eric Boik, supervisory law enforcement ranger for the Bureau of Land Management’s Grand Junction Field Office, is the 2009 BLM National Law Enforcement Ranger of the Year. Boik was recognized at a ceremony in Salt Lake City last month for his contributions to the BLM Law Enforcement Program in western Colorado.

“Ranger Boik’s leadership, work ethic and positive relationships have directly impacted the BLM’s ability to promote public safety and the protection of public lands and resources in western Colorado,” said William C. Woody, director of BLM’s Office of Law Enforcement and Security. “Boik has exhibited outstanding leadership in his ability to develop and maintain a strong rapport while working on many issues across organizations and jurisdictions with local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”

The Grand Junction Field Office enjoys productive relationships between law enforcement, management, and program specialists, largely due to Ranger Boik’s communication skills and willingness to keep management and program specialists informed on law enforcement issues.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by your peers for the work you do,” said Boik, who has worked in the Grand Junction Field Office since 2008. “We cover 1.2 million acres of land with a small staff of only three rangers including myself. Having good relationships with our local partner agencies and internal BLM staff is vital to our ability to protect these lands and the people who enjoy them. I’m grateful that we’ve been able to work together so effectively.”


Boik is a leader in developing innovative programs, such as spearheading an effort to install Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) in law enforcement vehicles used by rangers in the GJFO and McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. Mobile computing allows Rangers access to drivers’ licenses, registration, and warrant information. It also gives them the ability to display land ownership records using the geographic information system in real time.


Ranger Boik’s willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty is exemplified in many areas of his work. In 2009, Boik was selected by his peers to be the Field Ranger Representative to the National BLM law enforcement working group.


Prior to joining the staff in Grand Junction, Boik was a BLM law enforcement ranger in Phoenix from 2001 to 2007. During his time in Phoenix, Boik protected over 3 million acres of public land including two National Monuments, ten wilderness areas, and was instrumental in developing policies and strategies to protect BLM employees and the visiting public to BLM lands affected by the international border. In 2004, Boik was selected as a member of the BLM Law Enforcement Group of the Year for deterring narcotic and human smuggling traffic across BLM lands.


The National Law Enforcement’s Ranger of the Year award is a prestigious award granted annually by the BLM’s Office of Law Enforcement and Security to rangers who show outstanding, exceptional and significant performance within the BLM’s law enforcement program.
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8 Days Left To Vote – Vote Daily – Wildland Firefighter Foundation Themed NASCAR Design

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“Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire” ~ Wildland Firefighter Foundation

4th Annual Del Rosa Hotshots Texas Holdem Poker Tournament In Support Of The Wildland Firefighter Foundation

4th Annual Wildland Firefighter Foundation Fundraiser sponsored by the Del Rosa Hotshots! Includes a Tri-Tip BBQ by Del Rosa Hotshot Alumni Tom Sensintaffar. Event will be held at the Mentone Moose Lodge, 2139 Mentone Blvd., Mentone CA.

$100.00 donation per seat or $100.00 donation for Table Sponsorship is requested. Check in will begin between 11:00am to 12:00pm. If there is any open seating available sign ups will also be between this time. Event will promptly start at 1:00pm. If you have not checked in when event starts your blinds will be deducted accordingly. Rules of the tournament will be handed out and/or will be announced before the tournament starts. Questions? You can contact Jim Tomaselli (951) 318-1189 or Jack Masters (909) 383-5567.


Download Flyer
Download Pre-Registration Form


Can you help support the event? Read our Support Letter
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The 10 Most Viewed Wildland Fire Videos On RamblingChief.Com – … And More!!

 

A reader has asked me to provide links to the ten most viewed videos on RamblingChief.Com. Here they are in order of popularity:

Countdown To Calamity

Wildfire!!

Wildland Firefighter Foundation Executive Director Vicki Minor – CNN Hero Videos

Where There’s Smoke

Donald Duck: Fire Chief

The Original 13 Situations That Shout WATCH OUT!

Dragnet: Forgery – The Ranger

Watershed Wildfire

Into the Firestorm Trailer

CAL FIRE Promo Videos

Be sure to check out the rest of the features on this site:

• audio file (1)
• EMS (5)
• leadership (7)
• photos (2)
• posters (4)
• safety (11)
• video (44)

Also, don’t forget to check out and register at our Fire Camp Chat Room.

Thank you to our over 1200 new visitors in the past week, and to our regular return visitors and contributors.
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