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A 19-year-old suicidal man was hospitalized after he briefly held three adult family members and two young children hostage Sunday afternoon in a Ramona apartment before injuring his throat with an 8-inch knife and biting a sheriff's sergeant, authorities said. Deputies were called out to the apartment in the 700 block of A Street around 6:40 p.m. Sunday, according to San Diego County sheriff's Read Full Story

San Francisco Fire Department Report Finds No Mistakes in Deadly Diamond Heights Fire Firefighters had been overcome almost instantly when the window blew out. "This was a tragic conclusion to a fairly routine single-family home fire." San Francisco Fire Department  Although state officials have cited the department for worker safety violations in connection with the June 2 fire on Diamond Read Full Story

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BEACHES AND HARBORS                      MEDIA STATEMENT ON BALL/FRISBEE-THROWING ORDINANCE OVERVIEW: The new ordinance lifts a decades-old, all-out ban on playing football, Frisbee and other ball on the beach. Its intention was not to preclude football or Frisbee tossing.  Rather, its purpose is to allow ball playing, while providing reasonable safety measures Read Full Story

"Halftime in America" Each firefighter earned $100 for the commercial, which will be put in general fund for fire equipment or donations PETALUMA, Calif. — Two firefighters from California were among the stars of one of this year's most talked about Super Bowl halftime ads. Chrysler's "Halftime in America" commercial — narrated by Clint Eastwood — has since generated fierce debate over Read Full Story

ACFD Logo  Alameda firefighters say they have successfully responded to 16 possible emergencies on water since they were condemned for responseBy Peter Hegarty The Contra Costa Times ALAMEDA, Calif. — Alameda police and firefighters say they have successfully responded to 16 possible emergencies on the water since they were roundly condemned for how they handled the suicidal drowning of a man Read Full Story

Update: As of Friday morning, the fire had burned more than 75 acres, and 25 percent contained according to Camp Pendleton fire authorities.  CAL Fire originally reported that the fire burned 700 acres, but a base spokesperson corrected the information. ----------- Wildfire on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Artillery range, 2 Strike Teams dispatched last night. By 6 a.m. Friday, officials said Read Full Story

CAL FIRE MMU BURN BAN - Madera-Mariposa-Merced unit has announced the suspension of all burning in Madera, Mariposa, and Merced counties effective Thursday morning, February 9th. This burn suspension is in effect due to the prolonged dry conditions that exist across the counties and the frequency of escaped hazard reduction burns. CAL FIRE will continue to monitor and evaluate local fire Read Full Story

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is implementing its fall/winter/spring prescribed burning program. Updates: 2/8/12 Forest UpdatesReleased: 23 hrs. agoThe TRMU is burning today on East Branch I for 5 acres. The location is T34N, R9W, S30. Please contact the district for additional information at 530-623-2121.The NRA is burning today at Turntable... 2/7/12 Prescribed Burning UpdatesReleased: 2 Read Full Story

Three children rescued during a East Bay apartment fire and one had to be dropped from a second floor stairway landing to a firefighter below.  The rescues were all on video, including one recorded by a firefighter's helmet camera. KGO reported that the morning apartment fire gave the public a chance to see what firefighters do at the scene of a fire. Another video shot by a neighbor captured Read Full Story

Fire protection fee backlash likely in Calif. $150 fee to be imposed on estimated 800,000 houses in 31 million-acre state responsibility area could prompt exodus that would shrink state's jurisdiction. By Jim Miller The Press EnterpriseSACRAMENTO, Calif. — For decades, the boundaries of the rural areas where the state has the main firefighting duty have remained largely unchanged, even as tens Read Full Story