Esperanza Fire

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A NASA satellite image of the Esperanza Fire
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A NASA satellite image of the Esperanza Fire

The Esperanza Fire was a wind driven arson fire that started in a river wash near Cabazon, California. As of Sunday, October 29, 2006, it had burned over 61 square miles and was 85% contained. As of Monday, October 30, 2006, at 6:00 PM PST, the fire was declared fully contained.

Contents

[edit] Overview

A firefighter being rushed to an ambulance during the fire
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A firefighter being rushed to an ambulance during the fire

It started at 1:12 AM PDT on October 26, 2006 and burned an estimated 40,200 acres before containment. It resulted in the deaths of five firefighters, and also destroyed 34 houses and 20 outbuildings, as well as damaging California State Route 243 severely enough that Motorists require an escort until the damage can be repaired.[1] The damage the fire caused is estimated at more than $9 million, and it is the worst wildfire/firefighting disaster since 1994.

The fire spread extremely rapidly due to moderate Santa Ana winds and highly flammable brush due to the fire's proximity to the Chapparal biome, charring 24,000 acres in 18 hours. In comparison, the Ventura County Day Fire burned 24,000 acres in two weeks. There were reports that smoke from the fire could be smelled as far away as San Diego.

The firefighters who died were overwhelmed by the fire when the winds shifted and blew the fire right towards them. They were trying to defend a house above Cabazon, which was ultimately lost. Captain Mark Loutzenhiser, 43, Firefighter Jess McLean, 27, Firefighter Jason McKay, 27, and Firefighter Daniel Najera, 20, were killed defending a house and protecting the public. Fire Engine Operator Jess "Gus" Mclean and Asst. Fire Engine Operator Jason McKay died next to their fire engine without having time to enter it. Firefighter Danny Hoover-Najera was found to the west of the structures they were trying to protect. The surviving two firefighters were transferred to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center where Captain Mark Loutzenhiser succummed to his injuries shortly after arriving. The other firefighter, Pablo Cerda, 23, died at 5:08 PM PST on October 31, 2006 in Arrowhead Regional Medical Center from injuries he had sustained while fighting the fire.

On October 26th, 2006 FEMA announced it would pay 75% of the costs associated with fighting the fire.[2] On October 27, 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Riverside County and ordered flags at the California Capitol building and all California Department of Forestry stations to be flown at half-staff.

Firefighters from as far away as Alameda County worked hard to get the blaze under control.

[edit] Investigation

A $550,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist(s), who Fire Chief John Hawkins called a murderer. Convicted arsonist(s) will face murder charges as well as a long list of other charges. Several government as well as private agencies have donated to this reward. The State of California, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Soboba Band of Lueseno Indians, and Tim Blixseth, a Coachella Valley logging industry magnate, have each donated $100,000 respectively. On Monday October 30, 2006 two people were brought in for questioning and then released.

The Riverside County Sheriff Department arrested Raymond Lee Oyler on Tuesday October 31, 2006 who is alleged to have set two wildfires in the summer of 2006 and to be "a person of interest regarding the Esperanza Fire." Oyler is being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside with a $25,000 bail. Oyler was officially announced to be charged for his involvement with the Esperaza Fire on Thursday November 2, 2006 at 11:00 AM PST, in a live news conference.[3] He was charged with 5 counts of murder against the federal Fire Service firefighters, 11 counts of arson, and 10 counts of using an incendiary device to commit a felony. If convicted he could face the death penalty. Oyler's first court hearing was held Thursday November 2, 2006 at 1:30 PM PST, in Department 61 of the Riverside Superior Court.[4] Oyler entered a plea of not guilty.

[edit] Effects

  • Riverside County is establishing a fund to help the families of the firefighters who were killed fighting the fire. Donations for the families can be sent to Riverside County, with a notation specifying that it's to go to the Firemen's Family Relief Fund, and addressed to: P.O. Box 1645, Riverside, CA, 92502.
  • Several high school football games (including Paloma Valley and Hemet High) scheduled Friday in the Riverside County area near the Esperanza fire were postponed because of poor air quality.
  • Sunbelt League games were rescheduled for Monday, while Southwestern League games might have been made up either Saturday or Monday.
  • An October 27 concert at the Soboba Casino by country music star Alan Jackson was indefinitely postponed since the venue was such a short distance from the fire line and authorities did not wish to allow more people in the area than necessary. Patrons were issued a full refund since Jackson's schedule did not allow the show to be immediately rescheduled.

[edit] NASA Altair UAV Fire Mapping Mission

The California Office of Emergency Services requested NASA support, and in under 24 hours the General Atomics Altair (NASA variant of the Predator B) was launched on a 16 hour mission to map the permitier of the fire. The Altair had just returned from a test mission a day before the Esperanza Fire started. The fire mapping research is a joint project with NASA and the US Forest Service.[6][7]

The California Office of Emergency Services requested NASA support, and in under 24 hours the General Atomics Altair (NASA variant of the Predator B) was launched on a 16 hour mission to map the perimeter* of the fire. The Altair had just returned from a test mission a day before the Esperanza Fire started. The fire mapping research is a joint project with NASA and the US Forest Service.[6][7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.towncrier.com/firefolder/breakingnews.html
  2. ^ http://www.towncrier.com/firefolder/breakingnews.html
  3. ^ http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=4720859
  4. ^ http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061102/UPDATE01/311020004
  5. ^ http://www.mymotherlode.com/News/article/kvml/1162398211
  6. ^ http://ic.arc.nasa.gov/story.php?id=388&sec=
  7. ^ http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/NewsReleases/2006/06-45.html

[edit] External links

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