Greetings All,

First up in wildfire news today, a first-person report that debunks a popular news flash that five people foolishly let themselves be trapped on a fire-threatened ranch after being told to evacuate:

On Sunday afternoon the Station Fire ran wild in Gold Creek Cyn of the Tujunga Valley. A ranch property that was built in 1908 as a hunting lodge sat in danger’s way. The owner a 77-year-old man and 35-year resident of the valley and some of his close friends watched the fire looming closer to the property lines of the 160 acre ranch. The Fire Department and Sheriffs Dept requested that they evacuate immediately.

When asked if there would be a fire truck to defend the home when they left they we’re told there would not be, as the fire was far too dangerous to deploy firefighting equipment and men into the canyon.

The residents immediately reached out to friend Ty Bonnar who runs, Flexible Alternatives, Inc, ( Simi Valley , CA – PCADS and Flexitanks – www.flexiblealternatives.com). Ty said he could help with some of the new products that they have had developed for wildland firefighting and home protection. 6pm Sunday night 3 Fire-Pro (www.fire-pro.org) Homeowner Fire Defense Unit’s (FDU) were delivered to the property and by 8pm each of the 3 fire resistant tanks were filled with 250 gallons of water prepped with fire gel, connected to the high pressure pump and were ready to go.

By 8am Monday, the next morning, rumors of 5 people trapped in Gold Creek, who were now calling for help after refusing to evacuate, hit the airwaves. Travis Wyse who was still at the ranch, the one who, with Ty, delivered and prepared the FDU said no such call was ever made to anyone regarding an emergency evacuation. The only request made by the residents of the ranch was that no additional resources, fire fighters or effort be used for them. “We made the decision to stay and protect the property and home using the STAY AND DEFEND tactic and do not expect or request any further assistance”.

“By 12:30am early Tuesday Morning the fire actually breached the fire roads and started racing down the canyon” said Nicholas one of the residents. At 3:00am the fire had reached the ranch, at which point the residents deployed the FDU, and completely covered the entire cabin, surrounding storage sheds as well as all surrounding brush and trees, and as the quick-moving fire advanced on the gel-soaked perimeter around 4am it literally “laid down and came to a smoldering stop” says Nicholas.

The 3rd backup FDU was then used to keep what was left of the now-slow-smoldering fire at bay and put out the remaining hot spots. By 10pm the firefighters were able to enter the canyon and finish the job. The 3rd FDU was a 500 USG tank that was never used but on hand just in case.

Ty Bonnar of Flexible Alternatives said the Fire-Pro USA equipment used to protect the ranch was manufactured to the same specifications and standards as the companies Precision Container Air Delivery System (PCADS) aerial fire fighting system currently in development for Boeing’s Phantom works and the US ARMY. “This is no garden hose system, this is a professional and complete portable firefighting system”. All 5 of the people presumed trapped are now safe and unharmed, and what had been home to a 77-year-old man since 1975 has been spared, or as Sheriffs Spokesman Steve Whitmore said… “The situation resolved itself”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMWb1N74YXg

Travis Wyse
travis@greensector.com