Latest news with #CaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtection
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Fireworks warehouse explosion: Authorities search home of pyrotechnics CEO
The California State Fire Marshal's Office searched a home in San Francisco on Tuesday that's believed to be linked to last week's deadly fireworks warehouse explosion in Yolo County. Seven people died in the small farming community of Esparto on July 1, roughly 80 miles north of the Bay Area. The dead were pulled from a warehouse operated by Devastating Pyrotechnics, a San Francisco-based business known for putting on fireworks shows for municipalities across the region. On Tuesday, officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Fire Marshal's Office searched a home in the Inner Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco, according to news station KPIX. The home is registered as the company mailing address for Devastating Pyrotechnics and its chief executive, Kenneth Chee, in the state's fireworks wholesaler database. They were joined by sheriff's officials from Yolo and Sacramento counties, along with San Francisco police officers, the station reported. Local news outlet Hoodline reports that members of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office's bomb squad were also present during the search of the home. 'Investigators are actively tracking down numerous leads and have served multiple search warrants as part of the investigation process,' a spokesperson for the California Fire Marshal's Office said in a statement. 'While we are unable to provide additional details at this time, please know that we are committed to conducting a thorough and comprehensive investigation.' A Yolo County spokesperson said they would not comment due to the ongoing investigation. Though the seven people who died at the warehouse have not been officially identified, family members have stepped forward and said many were Latino men working part time for Devastating Pyrotechnics who were tasked with packing fireworks leading up to the Fourth of July weekend. Esparto firefighters were notified about some type of emergency at the warehouse shortly before 6 p.m. on July 1. Fireworks fired off from the building before a large explosion ripped through the warehouse. Douglas Horngrad, Chee's attorney, said in a statement that his client 'is innocent of any wrongdoing. Until the investigation is concluded, we will refrain from further public comment. Once again, we express our heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and loved ones.' On Monday, emergency officials said they were transitioning out of the recovery phase surrounding the incident. Officials are now focusing on the law enforcement stage of the investigation.
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Climate
- Business Insider
From the LA fires to the Texas floods, consumer drones keep getting in the way of rescue operations
Search and rescue operations continue in central Texas, where catastrophic flooding on Friday has killed more than 80 people. Dozens are still missing. During a Sunday press conference, after the usual updates, officials made what has become a familiar request during recent natural disasters: Don't fly your personal drones over the disaster area. "We know that people want to volunteer, but what we are starting to see is personal drones flying," Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice told reporters. "These personal drones flying is a danger to aircraft, which then risks further operations." The Kerrville Police Department echoed Rice's remarks on Sunday. "Media-operated drones are interfering with official search and rescue drones. There is a no-fly zone in Kerr County for private drones," the department said on its Facebook page. "We need cooperation in this matter. Let our first responders do their job." During a press conference hosted by Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday, Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Suelzer of the Texas National Guard said the department had launched an MQ-9 Reaper drone to perform assessment operations. "It's truly an eye in the sky for our search and rescue people," Suelzer said. Though drones are now commonly used in military and law enforcement operations, they are also popular among civilians, mostly for photography and shooting video but also for those looking to help search after disasters. During several recent disasters, however, officials have said those civilian drone operators have hindered rescue operations. The Dixie fire In 2021, the Dixie fire spread across Northern California. The flames ripped through communities, displacing residents and burning nearly a million acres of land. That July, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said an unauthorized drone had impeded emergency operations. "Yesterday, aircraft assigned to the #DixieFire were forced to land due to an unauthorized drone flying over the fire traffic area," the agency said on its official Facebook page. "Drones restrict firefighters' ability to protect lives, property, and natural resources. Remember, if you fly, we can't!" Hurricane Helene Hurricane Helene battered the southeastern US in late 2024. After making landfall in Florida, it traveled up the coast through Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flooding demolished homes and submerged vehicles. Amid the search and rescue efforts, the US Department of Transportation shared an X post asking consumer drone operators to stay clear. At the time, the Federal Aviation Administration had issued a temporary flight restriction in certain areas. "Do not fly your drone near or around rescue and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene," the agency said. "Interfering with emergency response operations impacts search and rescue operations on the ground." The FAADroneZone, the agency's site for drone services, said in a separate X post that "interfering with emergency response efforts may result in fines or criminal prosecution." At the time, some online observers thought volunteer drone operators were being barred from assisting in relief efforts, which sparked a backlash. The DOT later clarified that the FAA didn't ban consumer drones from providing assistance and relief. "These restrictions occur at the request of local authorities or law enforcement. FAA does not put these into place without requests," a spokesperson told Fox News. The agency added that "anyone looking to use a drone or other aircraft to assist in Hurricane Helene disaster relief and recovery efforts should coordinate with first responders and law enforcement on scene to ensure they do not disrupt life-saving operations." Los Angeles wildfires In January, a series of wildfires erupted across the Los Angeles region, causing widespread damage and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate their homes. In addition to emergency firefighting efforts on the ground, officials deployed two Super Scoopers, which are amphibious aircraft that collect water to drop on wildfires. An unauthorized civilian drone struck one Super Scooper, forcing it out of service. "We would like to remind everyone that flying a drone in the midst of firefighting efforts is a federal crime and punishable by up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to $75,000," a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson said at the time. The incident prompted an investigation by the FAA, which said in a statement that "flying a drone near a wildfire is dangerous and can cost lives." The Department of Justice said the drone operator agreed to plead guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an uncrewed aircraft. The plea agreement included the drone operator paying full restitution to the Government of Quebec, which supplied the aircraft, and completing 150 hours of community service.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
California fire season kicks off with a blazing bang
It's going to be a bad fire season. Even at what historically has been the start of rainy season in Southern California, we had some of our worst fires. The Eaton and Palisades fires in January caused an unprecedented level of destruction, killing at least 30 people, destroying more than 16,000 homes in L.A. County and leaving a burn zone 2½ times the size of New York's Manhattan. Two weeks into peak fire season, wildfires are spreading in California. Officials say it's just the beginning. More than a dozen fires began sparking across Riverside and San Bernardino counties last week. A fire in rural San Luis Obispo County had grown to more than 80,000 acres as of Sunday evening and was California's largest this year, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Experts warn that the latest fiery events set the stage for what is to come over the next few months as the state moves from an unusually dry winter and spring into what are expected to be a hot summer and fall. Matt Rahn, director of the Wildfire Conservancy, told The Times: 'We are on track for a pretty devastating year overall. If we get hotter and drier throughout the state, then that risk increases significantly. We're hoping that that doesn't happen, but all predictions are pointing to a much hotter, drier summer and fall.' Is the state ready for an exceptionally active wildfire season? Experts say it may not be. Sweeping changes at federal agencies that play key roles in California's wildfire preparation and response could make a challenging season even worse. The forecast comes as the Trump administration is enacting budget cuts, layoffs, office closures and restructuring at the U.S. Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. As my colleague Hayley Smith reports, weakening the three agencies at the start of fire season puts California at a dangerous disadvantage. Southern California fire chiefs caution that a season of devastating wildfires is all but guaranteed. 'We can never let our guard down,' said L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, who helped lead the region through the January wildfires. Ronnie Villanueva, the Los Angeles Fire Department's interim chief, told The Times that his firefighters were on high alert for brush fires after months of light rainfall left heaps of dry vegetation ready to serve as kindling. He also encouraged residents to make their homes as fire-resistant as possible, using weed trimmers, clearing roofs of leaves and digging under decks for dead vegetation. 'We simply cannot have a fire engine in every driveway,' he warned. Wildfires can be scary to think about, but The Times is here to help. In our seven-part newsletter series, In Case of Fire, breaking news reporter Karen Garcia guides readers through preparing your home, property and loved ones for wildfires. Every week you'll get instructions and assignments. Sign up and send it to your friends and neighbors too. Today's great photo is from Times photographer Carlin Stiehl and captures the scene at the July Fourth protests in Los Angeles, where a large crowd peacefully marched to City Hall in protest of immigration raids and Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics. Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Business Insider
6 days ago
- General
- Business Insider
From the Texas floods to the LA fires, consumer drones keep getting in the way of rescue operations
Search and rescue operations continue in central Texas, where catastrophic flooding has killed at least 69 people. Dozens are still missing. During a Sunday press conference, after the usual updates, officials made what has become a familiar request during recent natural disasters: Don't fly your personal drones over the disaster area. "We know that people want to volunteer, but what we are starting to see is personal drones flying," Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice told reporters. "These personal drones flying is a danger to aircraft, which then risks further operations." The Kerrville Police Department echoed Rice's remarks on Sunday. "Media-operated drones are interfering with official search and rescue drones. There is a no-fly zone in Kerr County for private drones," the department said on its Facebook page. "We need cooperation in this matter. Let our first responders do their job." During a press conference hosted by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday, Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Suelzer of the Texas National Guard said the department had launched an MQ-9 Reaper — a remotely-piloted aircraft — to perform assessment operations. "It's truly an eye in the sky for our search and rescue people," Suelzer said. Although drones are now commonly used in military and law enforcement operations, they are also popular among civilians, mostly for photography and shooting video, but also for those looking to help search after disasters. During several recent disasters, however, officials say those civilian drone operators have hindered rescue operations. The Dixie Fire In 2021, the Dixie Fire spread across northern California. The flames ripped through communities, displacing residents and burning nearly a million acres of land. That July, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said an unauthorized drone had impeded emergency operations. "Yesterday, aircraft assigned to the #DixieFire were forced to land due to an unauthorized drone flying over the fire traffic area," the agency said on its official Facebook page. "Drones restrict firefighters' ability to protect lives, property, and natural resources. Remember, if you fly, we can't!" Hurricane Helene Hurricane Helene battered the southeast United States in late 2024. After making landfall in Florida, it traveled up the coast through Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flooding demolished homes and submerged vehicles. Amid the search and rescue efforts, the US Department of Transportation shared an X post asking consumer drone operators to stay clear. At the time, the Federal Aviation Administration had issued a temporary flight restriction in certain areas. "Do not fly your drone near or around rescue and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene," the agency said. "Interfering with emergency response operations impacts search and rescue operations on the ground." The FAADroneZone, the agency's site for drone services, said in a separate X post that "interfering with emergency response efforts may result in fines or criminal prosecution." At the time, some online users thought volunteer drone operators were being banned from assisting in relief efforts, which sparked a backlash. The DOT later clarified that the FAA didn't ban consumer drones from providing assistance and relief. "These restrictions occur at the request of local authorities or law enforcement. FAA does not put these into place without requests," a spokesperson told Fox News. The agency added that "anyone looking to use a drone or other aircraft to assist in Hurricane Helene disaster relief and recovery efforts should coordinate with first responders and law enforcement on scene to ensure they do not disrupt life-saving operations." Los Angeles wildfires In January, a series of wildfires erupted across the Los Angeles region, causing widespread damage and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate their homes. In addition to emergency firefighting efforts on the ground, officials deployed two Super Scoopers, which are amphibious aircraft that collect water to drop it on wildfires. However, an unauthorized civilian drone struck one Super Scooper, forcing it out of service. "We would like to remind everyone that flying a drone in the midst of firefighting efforts is a federal crime and punishable by up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to $75,000," a LA Fire Department spokesperson said at the time. The incident prompted an investigation by the FAA, which said in a statement that "flying a drone near a wildfire is dangerous and can cost lives." The Department of Justice said the drone operator agreed to plead guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an uncrewed aircraft. The plea agreement included the drone operator paying full restitution to the Government of Quebec, which supplied the aircraft, and completing 150 hours of community service.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Madre fire in rural San Luis Obispo County grows to nearly 80,000 acres
A fire in rural San Luis Obispo County grew Friday night to nearly 80,000 acres and is California's largest this year, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Madre fire started around 1 p.m. Wednesday, east of Santa Maria near the town of New Cayuma. More than 200 people were under mandatory evacuation orders, and roughly 50 structures were under threat Saturday morning. One building has burned. The cause of the fire, which has been fueled by heat and wind and is about 10% contained, is under investigation. The bulk of the fire is threatening the Carrizo Plain National Monument, which is home to several endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species. "This is a sparsely populated area," Los Padres National Forest spokesperson Andrew Madsen said. "As long as we keep the fire north of Highway 166, we will keep it out of the residential spots." More than 600 firefighting personnel and nearly 50 fire engines are responding to the blaze. Multiple air tankers are also battling the fire as conditions allow. Los Padres National Forest, Cal Fire San Luis Obispo and the Bureau of Land Management share jurisdiction over the fire. The Madre fire is more than triple the size of the Palisades fire, which burned 23,000 acres in coastal Los Angeles County nearly six months ago, killing 12 people and destroying nearly 7,000 structures. The Eaton fire in Altadena torched 14,000 acres and killed 18 people before it was extinguished. A heat wave is expected in Southern California from Tuesday through Friday, raising new concerns over the risk of fire. The peak is expected midweek, with high temperatures between 98 and 108 degrees anticipated in the lower mountains, valleys and deserts. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
