Jim Beam and Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund Assist Families of Firefighters in Need.

The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing firefighters and their families with financial assistance for their educational, medical and equipment needs. This charity was formed in honor of Terry Farrell, a decorated firefighter with FDNY Rescue 4 and the Fire Chief of the Dix Hills Volunteer Fire Department who perished on September 11, 2001, while fighting fires and rescuing victims at the World Trade Center. Since 2005, Jim Beam has been a supporter of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, and now donates $2.00 from the sale of each case of specially labeled bottles to the organization. Join FDNNTV.com’s Bill Lorin for a look at this special partnership.

Guilty Verdict in Raymond Lee Oyler Arson Murder Trial

Raymond Lee Oyler has been convicted of arson and murder for the deaths of five U.S. Forest Service firefighters who were overcome while fighting the Esperanza Fire and on several counts of arson and using an incendiary device for several other California wildfires in 2006. A jury of eight women and four men deliberated for six days and issued their verdict in the Riverside Hall of Justic Courtroom of Superior Court Judge W. Charles Morgan on Friday, March 6th. The penalty phase of the trial begins… (continued on fdnntv.com)

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)

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.

ESRI Provides First Responders With GIS Mapping for Better Fire Response and Planning

ESRI, the Environmental Systems Research Institute, provides first responders across the United States and around the world with GIS (geographic information system) modeling and mapping hardware and software to help them in planning for, responding to, and recovering from structure fires, wildfires and other natural disasters. ESRI’s ArcGIS system collects data about an area’s topography, such as vegetation, power poles, natural resources, and building developments, and can provide fire departments with the information they need to plan for, mitigate, and respond to these emergencies in the safest and most effective ways. (cont. on site).

San Diego Fire-Rescue Hiring Firefighters

While cutbacks are being implemented in fire departments across the United States, San Diego Fire-Rescue, which protects the second largest city in California, is hiring firefighters to fill several vacancies left by retirees.