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-BDU-Cartago

Thursday, April 4, 2024, 10:03 AM

CA-CON-Tracks

Friday, March 8, 2024, 07:43 PM

CA-LAC-Quail

Sunday, December 10, 2023, 01:29 PM

CA-VNC-South.

Saturday, December 9, 2023, 01:21 PM

CA-VNC-South..

Saturday, December 9, 2023, 01:19 PM

CA-RRU-Elm

Saturday, December 9, 2023, 01:07 PM

Wilfire Intel - CA - Continuing

CA-STF-September Lightning Complex 2023

Saturday, September 9, 2023, 06:25 PM

CA-SRF-Smith River Complex

Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 11:02 AM

Smith River Complex

Sunday, August 20, 2023, 07:26 PM

CA-SRF-Lightning Complex

Sunday, August 20, 2023, 10:12 AM

CA-KNF-Happy Camp Complex 2023

Thursday, August 17, 2023, 04:11 PM

CA-RRU-Bonny

Thursday, July 27, 2023, 06:03 PM

Latest News

DailyDispatch - California

San Francisco Fire Lieutenant Stephen Silvestrich Dies Unexpectedly

Friday, April 19, 2024, 03:02 AM

PHOTO: A San Francisco firefighter has died unexpectedly, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. Lt. Stephen Silvestrich died unexpectedly at his home Tuesday after his tour of duty, officials said. Silvestrich first joined the department on Aug. 26, 2002, where he worked as a firefighter paramedic until he was promoted to lieutenant in October 2021 at Station 03.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2024 12:02:56 AM - SOURCE: KTVU-TV FOX 2 Oakland

Cal Fire Butte County prepares for flood emergencies with swift water rescue training

Thursday, April 18, 2024, 11:47 PM

PHOTOS: Cal Fire Butte County recently conducted its annual swift water rescue training, where firefighters and rescue personnel gathered to practice strategies and tactics that can be used in real-life rescue scenarios. “We’ve combined it into a 40-hour-training for the week so every day, Monday through Friday, we have a different event going on," explained Cal Fire Butte Battalion Chief Mike Contay.
- PUB DATE: 4/18/2024 8:47:00 PM - SOURCE: KRCR-TV ABC 7 Redding

Barricaded domestic violence suspect dies after house fire in Sacramento

Friday, April 19, 2024, 03:00 AM

VIDEO: A suspect in a domestic violence case has died after he barricaded himself inside his south Sacramento home, then set it on fire early Friday morning. According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded around midnight to investigate a report of domestic violence along Arleta Court.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOVR-TV CBS 13 Stockton

CAL FIRE unveils new Ponderosa Fire Center in Cameron Park

Thursday, April 18, 2024, 07:14 PM

Wildfire response just got better in El Dorado County as CAL FIRE’s Firefighter 1 Hand Crew has a new home in Cameron Park capable of having crews on-hand everyday. The former Eskaton Cameron Park facility at 3421 Palmer Dr., Cameron Park will now be known as the Ponderosa Fire Center. “Finding a place that could support our needs and that our crews could call home has been a challenge for us,” said Mike Blankenheim, Unit Chief of the CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit.
- PUB DATE: 4/18/2024 4:14:37 PM - SOURCE: KTXL-TV FOX 40 Sacramento

Fire engine strikes home after multiple-vehicle crash in Stockton

Thursday, April 18, 2024, 03:00 AM

VIDEO: A fire engine has crashed into a home in Stockton on Wednesday morning. The scene was near the intersection of West Lane and E. Alpine Avenue. Stockton Fire says the incident happened just after 7 a.m. while they were responding to a structure fire and involved multiple vehicles. At some point during the incident, a crash happened – but it's unclear if the fire engine was part of the initial crash, or if it was struck as a result of a crash.
- PUB DATE: 4/18/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOVR-TV CBS 13 Stockton

San Francisco commemorates 118th anniversary of 1906 earthquake with ceremony, stressing preparedness