WELCOME!

As a full-time firefighter, my passion for serving my community and helping others is an integral part of my life. This website is dedicated to my career in firefighting and the many challenges and rewards that come with it. But firefighting is not just a job to me, it's a way of life. When I'm not at the fire station, I love to explore the great outdoors through hiking, camping, and mountain biking. These hobbies help me stay physically and mentally fit, which is crucial in this demanding profession.
On this website, I will be sharing my experiences as a firefighter, as well as my love for the outdoors and the various DIY activities that keep me grounded. I hope that through my website, you will gain a better understanding of what it means to be a firefighter, and also discover some of the amazing sights and experiences that nature has to offer.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy your time here!

Resources

I plan to keep this site updated with relevant resources and topics relating to the fire service. These are sources that I have found essential and/or informative during my career.

Additional Resources

NIFC Daily Report

ALERTCalifornia

Seasonal Outlook

FIRMS Map

Wildfire Intel

RAMMB Slider

Smoke Maps

COD Satellite

Current Lightning Strikes

This map shows recent cloud-to-ground strikes within the past hour. White indicates within 15 min, fading eventually to red at 60 min.

Data is obtained from volunteer based data collection network Blitzortung.org.

I help contribute to the network and you can view my lighting detector data on my Lightning page.

Lightning Data

Current Watches/Warnings

Fire Outlook

Wildfire Intel - CA - Initial Attack

CA-LAC-Cindy

Saturday, September 28, 2024, 07:39 PM

CA-RRU-Kirby

Friday, September 6, 2024, 04:09 PM

CA-RRU-Chapman

Wednesday, September 4, 2024, 04:05 PM

CA-BTU-Centerville

Monday, September 2, 2024, 07:07 PM

CA-MMU-COARSEGOLD

Sunday, September 1, 2024, 03:01 PM

CA-LNU-Hill (2)

Saturday, August 31, 2024, 08:23 PM

Wilfire Intel - CA - Continuing

CA-ORC/CNF-Airport

Monday, September 9, 2024, 04:55 PM

CA-ANF-Bridge

Sunday, September 8, 2024, 06:15 PM

CA-BDF-Line

Thursday, September 5, 2024, 09:03 PM

CA-FKU-Boone (Contained)

Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 06:13 PM

CA-PCF- Tesla Truck Fire

Monday, August 19, 2024, 06:29 PM

CA-KNP-Coffee Pot

Monday, August 19, 2024, 12:24 PM

Latest News

DailyDispatch - California

Deadly car crash sparks 13-acre brush fire off 5 Freeway in Gorman area of Los Angeles County

Thursday, October 3, 2024, 03:00 AM

VIDEO: A deadly car crash on the 5 Freeway in the Gorman area of Los Angeles County apparently sparked a brush fire that burned several acres overnight. The crash happened around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday along southbound lanes at Gorman School Road, according to the California Highway Patrol's traffic log.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KABC-TV ABC 7 Los Angeles

Emotional tribute for firefighter injured in Orange County rollover crash

Thursday, October 3, 2024, 03:00 AM

VIDEO: One of the firefighters injured in a violent rollover crash on an Orange County freeway last month was met by a large procession of friends, family, medical staff and fellow firefighters as he was being transferred to a Colorado hospital that specializes in neurorehabilitation for patients with spinal injuries, officials announced Wednesday.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTLA-TV CW 5 Los Angeles

Man suffers severe injuries after plane crash across from Kern County Fire Department HQ

Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 07:43 PM

PHOTOS: A sole-pilot, identified as a man, is being treated for his injuries following a plane crash across from the Kern County Fire Department headquarters Wednesday afternoon. The Kern County Fire Department said on October 2, 2024, at around 1:47 p.m., firefighters were called to a report of a plane in distress that turned into a “aircraft down.
- PUB DATE: 10/2/2024 4:43:00 PM - SOURCE: KBAK-TV CBS 29 Bakersfield

Playing baseball at San Diego's Gaslamp Fire Station

Thursday, October 3, 2024, 01:17 AM

PHOTOS: The Padres and Braves weren't the only ones playing baseball Wednesday in San Diego. Firefighters from the Gaslamp Quarter’s Fire Station No. 4 took to the street just north of Petco Park to take a few swings of the bat! Visiting firefighters from downtown’s big San Diego Fire Station No. 1 joined the action.
- PUB DATE: 10/2/2024 10:17:08 PM - SOURCE: Cool San Diego Sights

Wildfires in California have burned 1 million acres so far this year; heat wave poses more risk

Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 01:02 AM

The total acres burned in California this year surpassed 1 million as spiking temperatures Tuesday added to the challenges facing firefighters struggling to contain a stubborn blaze in the mountains northeast of Los Angeles that flared up over the weekend. Evacuation orders were expanded again Monday for remote communities northeast of Los Angeles as the Line Fire that has been burning for nearly a month spread over nearly 68 square miles (176 square kilometers) of the San Bernardino Mountains and containment dropped from 83% to 76%.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2024 10:02:00 PM - SOURCE: KION-TV CBS/FOX 46 Monterey

Steve McKinster named next fire chief in City of Riverside

Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 10:12 PM

Deputy Fire Chief Steve McKinster has been named the city’s next fire chief, officials announced Monday. McKinster has 29 years of experience in firefighting, including 25 with the Riverside Fire Department, according to a city statement. His tenure as chief starts Oct. 10. McKinster has held the rank of chief officer for 12 years.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2024 7:12:08 PM - SOURCE: Hey SoCal