3 firefighters die in fast-moving Calif. wildfire (2 Critically Injured)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15428042/

A wildfire driven by hot Santa Ana winds killed three firefighters trapped in their engine, critically injured two others and droves hundreds of people from homes Thursday as it swept through the desert hills northwest of Palm Springs, the U.S. Forest Service said.

The firefighters were trying to protect a house from then 4,000-acre wildfire when the flames engulfed the engine, said Pat Boss, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman.

“The engine was in the area, and with the wind conditions like they were, the fire just overtakes and burns the entire engine,” Boss said.

He said the Forest Service pulled all its personnel off the fire after the deaths so they could “gather their thoughts, say their prayers.”

Wonder if Conrad Burns has anything to say? IMHO it really takes guts to fight these wildfires(hell any kind of fire), so damn easy to get trapped.

[livetohike]

1. I'm seeing a lot of smoke in the air right now outside my window

The sky is full of smoke to the East (where Palm Springs is from my house).

[Lenore]

2. 400 People are trapped at a recreational site...

Per FOX News. The only escape route is reportedly blocked by fire and the people are "fighting the fire around them"... Prayers for the people.

[RamboLiberal]

3. From Fox site on the 400 trapped

A wind-driven wildfire near Palm Springs engulfed a fire engine Thursday, killing three firefighters, and up to 400 people were trapped in a recreational vehicle park when flames blocked the only road out, officials said.

"Everybody is hunkered down here. They're fighting the fire around us. It's across the street from us," said Charles Van Brunt, a ranger at the station at the entrance to Silent Valley Club.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,225437,00.html

Those of you watching on TV - keep we cube rats informed.

[Lenore]

4. NOTHING on Cable news!

::grump::grump::

[bananas]

10. CNN Headline News is covering it now - Arson. nt

[necso]

5. The fire is, from what I've "heard", moving very fast,

driven by Santa Ana (northeast, generally) winds. (The Banning pass is kind of a funnel for winds, especially winds that parallel it -- high, steep ranges rise on either side -- and that's where I'm hearing the fire started.)

And the way I understand it, the winds are supposed to be bad for a couple of days.

Lower elevations, at least, are at risk.

Time will tell.

...

In the absence of satellite data, it's hard to say exactly what the threat is.

[RamboLiberal]

6. MSNBC website reports 4th firefighter died of injuries

Sad.

[livetohike]

7. Also, one firefighter is in critical condition

My eyes are burning and I am coughing....I can't see the mountains anymore as they are completely blocked by smoke.

This reminds me of the horrible fires we had three years ago. Yesterday was the anniversary of the day they started.

I love this time of year out here, but it is also the worse time for wildfires.

[Debi]

8. In other news, Conrad Burns criticized them for not moving out of

the way in time. :puke:

My thoughts are with their familes.

[NorthernSpy]

9. an unspeakable way to die

:cry:

[boise1]

11. is Idyllwild in any danger?

I have relatives there.

[livetohike]

12. It's my favorite place to hike

I haven't seen/heard anything on the local news yet, but it is very dry up there (Idyllwild) and many trees are dead due to beetle infestation.

I can no longer see the mountains, including Mt. San Jacinto, from my house because the smoke is so thick.....

Edit: beetle not beatle, lol

[Peace Patriot]

13. It's Clinton's fault.

That blowjob he got resulted in sending a third of the California National Guard to Iraq, including many firefighters and emergency personnel; the Enron debacle which Clinton was also responsible for, resulted in California being robbed of $9 Billion, the state buget going in the red, and underfunding of emergency services, including firefighting helicopters, logistics and training, and of course Clinton NOT being president resulted in Bush BEING president, and the Clinton Enron debacle resulted in Gray Davis NOT being governor of California, leaving George Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger to clean up Clinton's disasters and get blamed for them.

Vote Republican--or die!

[bigwillq]

14. How awful.

:(

My best wishes go out to those brave souls who are fighting that blaze. And to those people living in that area. :hug:

[niallmac]

15. People should not lose their lives saving a god damned house. n/t

[leesa]

16. They weren't trying to save a house. These guys aren't fools, they would

have been trying to cut off the fire to keep it from traveling into inhabited areas. It moved in on them too fast.

It's really windy down here in San Diego, I can imagine it's hell up there.

[niallmac]

17. I know the Califorinia fires having lived there. Fire fighting

is a dangerous job. I used to be a city fire fighter. The news led me to
believe they were at a residence. Thanks for the info. What a bummer!