Firehouse World Expo and Conference.

Thousands of firefighters, EMTs, instructors, and fire service vendors gathered in San Diego, California for the Firehouse World Expo. One of the largest fire and EMS conferences on the West Coast, this convention was hosted by Cygnus Business Media, the publishers of Firehouse Magazine, www.Firehouse.com, EMS Magazine, www.EMSResponder.com and other first responder websites and publications. The conference and expo was held from February 15th to February 19th at the San Diego Convention Center, and attendees were able to experience a wide variety of training and information on the latest tools and technology available to the fire service and EMS personnel. (cont. on site)

NPFA Works With States to Pass Fire Safe Cigarette Laws

Cigarette fires are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States, and the Coalition for Fire Safe Cigarettes has been working for years to help all 50 states enact fire safe cigarette laws. The first fire safe cigarette law was passed in New York in 2004, and since then 37 states and the District of Columbia have either signed fire safe cigarette legislation or have implemented the laws. As of January 1, 2009 five new states, Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas, enacted laws requiring merchants to sell only fire safe cigarettes. (cont. on site)

Fourth Week of Testimony in Raymond Lee Oyler Arson Murder Trial

Editor’s note: 38-year old Raymond Lee Oyler of Beaumont, California faces five counts of first-degree murder as well as multiple counts of arson. He’s also charged with possession of fire producing devices thought to have been used in setting 23 fires between May and October 2006 including the Esperanza Fire that left five U.S. Forest Service firefighters dead. His trial, now entering its fifth week, is being held at the Riverside County California Hall of Justice. If convicted the former auto mechanic could face the death penalty.

Orange County Fire Authority Wildfire Action Plan Expo

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) hosted a Wildfire Action Plan Expo on February 11th for the residents of Yorba Linda, a city that was hit hard by the Freeway Complex Fire in November of 2008. The state of California is prone to wildfires year round due to drought conditions, Santa Ana winds in some areas, and brush covered hills, canyons and forests throughout the state. Recognizing this problem, the Orange County Fire Authority, which serves 1.3 million residents in twenty-two cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County, California, has been proactive in forming wildfire defense strategies that include firefighters and the public. The goal of the Wildfire Action Plan Expo was to help homeowners prepare for future wildfire threats, giving them the tools they need to make the best decisions before, during and after a wildfire. (cont. on site) .

Third Week of Testimony in Raymond Lee Oyler Arson-Murder Trial.

38-year old Raymond Lee Oyler of Beaumont, California faces five counts of first-degree murder as well as multiple counts of arson. He is also charged with possession of fire producing devices thought to have been used in setting 23 fires between May and October 2006, including the Esperanza Fire that left five U.S. Forest Service firefighters dead. His trial is underway at the Riverside County California Hall of Justice. If convicted, the former auto mechanic could face the death penalty.

Cal Fire Communications Center in Perris Is Busiest 911 Dispatch Center in California.

The Cal Fire Communications Center in Perris is the busiest 911 dispatch center operated by Cal Fire in California, handling over 100,000 calls in 2008.

Timberline Lions Club Donates Ice Rescue Equipment to San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County Fire Departments.

Thanks to a generous donation by the Timberline Lion’s Club of Wrightwood, California, San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County firefighters can now protect visitors to Jackson Lake more effectively.