The three Ventura County firefighters entered the burning structure where they had been fighting flames.... They were trapped and the windows imploded, leading to facial cuts on one firefighter.“There were no injuries to our guys and we’re all relieved about that, but we are also very concerned about the injured Ventura County firefighters,” said Araiza. A total of eight firefighters have been injured fighting the blaze.The SPFD Engine and a crew are committed to the area for two weeks. Araiza said personnel would be rotated.More than a dozen homes have been destroyed in the fire; due to the nature of the firefight a precise count was not available Thursday morning. Throughout Wednesday night eight helicopters dropped water on the fire, and eight fixed-wing aircraft were poised to join the firefight after dawn.Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the scene and declared a state of emergency, while the National Weather Service issued a “Red Flag” warning for fire danger, predicting strong wind danger through Friday morning.
Three VCFD firefighters injured, SPFD barely escapes injury in SB fire
May 08, 2009
Santa Paula News
Three Ventura County firefighters were injured and the crew of Santa Paula’s Engine 81 narrowly escaped injury Wednesday after the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara “blew up in their face,” according to Santa Paula Fire Department Chief Rick Araiza.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThree Ventura County firefighters were injured and the crew of Santa Paula’s Engine 81 narrowly escaped injury Wednesday after the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara “blew up in their face,” according to Santa Paula Fire Department Chief Rick Araiza.Four Santa Paula police officers were also dispatched to evacuate the hill and canyon areas where the fire started Tuesday evening, was calmed by Wednesday morning, and then in the later afternoon was turned into an inferno by notorious sundowner winds. On Thursday morning 5,430 homes - with an estimated 13,575 residents - were under mandatory evacuation, and another 13,000 people were warned they might need to evacuate.Araiza said Captain Dan Campos, Engineer Jesse Phillips and Firefighter Jake Cowden were dispatched to the Jesusita Fire Tuesday. “When the fire first broke... they were one of the first strike teams out there,” and worked throughout the evening on the firefight. “The next day they were cutting line, and last night the fire broke out on them.”Araiza said he received a text message from Captain Campos that said SPFD personnel were “all okay... the fire blew up in their face and they foamed the engine before they bailed” and took shelter inside a nearby structure. According to Araiza, Campos said the fire “got totally crazy,” hopscotching across canyon homes, burning some while leaving others untouched.Ventura County Fire Captain Brian Bulger, 57, of Ventura, Captain Ron Topolinski, 51, of Camarillo, and Firefighter Robert Lopez, 44, of Port Hueneme are listed in stable but serious condition at the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, where they were airlifted. Two firefighters are being treated for burns, while the third is being treated for smoke inhalation, according to a Grossman Burn Center statement.
