7/25/2023 0 Comments Thomas fire cal fire"One spot along the dozer line was safe enough to pick up. When fire activity changes and moves in an unexpected way it should require crews to pause and re-evaluate the situation, the report states. In the days to follow, this would become the longest continuous red-flag warning ever issued in the state of California, lasting 13 days," according to the report. "On December 2, 2017, the Oxnard office of the National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning for the Ventura County area, ending on December 15, 2017. The steep terrain, heavy vegetation and hazardous weather conditions such as erratic winds and low humidity - all which were present when Iverson died - contribute to that extreme fire behavior, the report states. The report also notes that extreme fire behavior has been observed on California wildfires, including the Thomas fire, due to critically dry brush that in many cases has found fire retardant to be "ineffective." ![]() Iverson, however, became trapped while trying to put out the flames and was killed.Īutopsy results showed he died from burns and smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.Īuthorities said the engineer's death warrants a "regular review" of the Foundations of Safety for Wildland Firefighting.Ī Cal Fire spokesperson could not be reached Tuesday to answer questions about that process. Within minutes, the small fires were growing fast.įour firefighters were able to retreat up an escape route and were uninjured, the preliminary report says. 14, Iverson's team was working in steep, rugged terrain above Fillmore when the fire whipped up.Ībout 9 a.m., he and several firefighters were working along a line cut by two bulldozers when a spot fire flared in the area. On Tuesday, at least 13 people were killed as mudslides swept through the area after heavy rains poured onto fire-damaged hillsides.Įarly on Dec. More: Lawsuits allege Southern California Edison negligently started Thomas fire More: 13 dead as mudslides sweep away homes in storm-blasted Southern California Two people, a woman evacuating the fire and Iverson, died and 1,063 structures were destroyed. The fire, which has now burned 440 square miles in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, has not yet been fully contained. It burned quickly through dead and drought-stressed vegetation pushed by gusty Santa Ana winds and grew rapidly. The Thomas fire exploded in Ventura County about 6:30 p.m. ![]() Iverson, who had worked for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) since 2009, had responded to help battle the Ventura County blaze as part of a fire engine strike team out of the agency's San Diego unit.
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