By Allen D. Payton

07/22/23 UPDATE #2: According to Jimmy Lee, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Director of Public Affairs, “On Friday, July 21, 2023, at about 1:51 PM, deputy sheriffs from the Marine Patrol Unit were dispatched to assist the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the United States Coast Guard with searching for a missing boater who was apparently trying to push his 20-foot vessel to shore near the Fulton Shipyard on the San Joaquin River. The U.S. Coast Guard and Sheriff’s Office drone team were also involved in the search. The missing boater, who is not being identified at this time, was not located. The Marine Patrol Unit will continue the search today.”

07/22/23 UPDATE #1: According to Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Schnabel, “We suspended the search after searching until around 7:30 pm. One man had fallen overboard from a recreational boat and the other man jumped in after him attempting to get him out of the water leaving the vessel unmanned. Neither had life jackets. One man was recovered by a Good Samaritan and taken to a local boat ramp.”

———

A helicopter could be seen flying over the river and Waldie Plaza along the Antioch waterfront Friday afternoon. According to Con Fire PIO Steve Hill, “We responded in the noon hour to reports of a 55-year-old man in the water. In spite of searches by us, Sheriff’s Office Marine program and the Coast Guard we were unable to locate him. We are clearing at this hour, the Coast Guard remains on scene.”

As of 4:25 PM Coast Guard 11th District Public Affairs Specialist Hunter Schnabel said, “the search is ongoing for a male. We received a report from another male who was swimming with him after he got back to shore and called in a panic.”

“We have Station Rio Vista and Air San Francisco’s MH65 Dolphins (helicopters) in the search,” he added.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Executive Inn on E. 18th Street; APD, another resident help victim out of her room

By Allen D. Payton

Con Fire personnel responded to a small fire in one of the rooms at the Executive Inn on E. 18th Street Saturday afternoon, July 8, 2023. It’s the location of the City’s homeless hotel offering transitional housing.

According to Battalion 8 Chief Scott Valencia, it was “a very small fire in the bedroom. The sprinklers kept it in check. This is a normal response for a commercial fire, four engines and two trucks. One victim had burns to the hand. The cause is still under investigation.

According to Fire Marshal & Assistant Chief Chris Bachman, “the female victim in her 20’s was passed out on the bed. Antioch PD and another resident assisted the victim to get her out of the room. She was transported to UC Davis Medical Center.”

“Not only was it a sprinkler save of the room, but a sprinkler save of a life, as well,” he stated.
“Because it was a change of occupancy from hotel to transitional housing, Con Fire required a sprinkler system and they retrofitted it,” Bachman explained. “Today was a great example of why the code identifies that our occupancies require sprinklers, now and how the sprinkler system saved not only the building but a life.”

Small fire at Antioch’s homeless hotel burns hand of female resident Saturday

Executive Inn on E. 18th Street

By Allen D. Payton

Con Fire personnel responded to a small fire in one of the rooms at the Executive Inn on E. 18th Street Saturday afternoon, July 8, 2023. It’s the location of the City’s homeless hotel offering transitional housing.

According to Battalion 8 Chief Scott Valencia, it was “a very small fire in the bedroom. The sprinklers kept it in check. This is a normal response for a commercial fire, four engines and two trucks. One victim had burns to the hand. The cause is still under investigation.

According to Fire Marshal & Assistant Chief Chris Bachman, “the female victim in her 20’s was passed out on the bed. Antioch PD and another resident assisted the victim to get her out of the room. She was transported to UC Davis Medical Center.”

“Not only was it a sprinkler save of the room, but a sprinkler save of a life, as well,” he stated.
“Because it was a change of occupancy from hotel to transitional housing, Con Fire required a sprinkler system and they retrofitted it,” Bachman explained. “Today was a great example of why the code identifies that our occupancies require sprinklers, now and how the sprinkler system saved not only the building but a life.”

Limited response plan implementation ensures responses to exceptionally high volume of fireworks-caused fires

Antioch had most with 22 and worst structure fire destroying garage, damaging two homes in which four residents displaced, dog died

Martinez man loses part of hand holding an exploding firework

By Steve Hill, PIO, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

July 6, 2023 – Contra Costa County Fire Protection District today made available details of the fire and EMS activity, much of it fireworks related, occurring across the district on the Independence Day holiday evening.

For the six-hour period from 8 p.m., July 4, to 2 a.m., July 5, the district dispatched crews to 69 fire incidents. This represents a more than 400 percent increase over other recent Tuesdays, which in June, averaged 20 fire dispatches for the entire day. Year-over-year, fire incidents were up nearly 60 percent.

The holiday evening’s 69 fire incidents point to the dangers of fireworks use in current heightened fire danger conditions. Eleven of these fires are known to have been caused, and another 51 suspected of having been caused by fireworks.

While the cool weather was favorable and the midweek timing had the holiday falling on a work night, fires numbered some 60 percent more than 4th of July 2023’s 44 fire incidents for the same evening period.

In spite of more than 60 grass, vegetation and other exterior fires burning across the district on the

Four Residents Displaced, Dog Dies in Antioch Fire

evening of the Fourth, only four structure fires ensued. Of these, in three cases, fireworks could not be ruled out as the cause. In the worst structure fire of the evening, in the 2 a.m. hour in Antioch, a garage was destroyed, and two adjacent homes substantially damaged as a result of fireworks. In all, four residents were displaced, and a dog died, as a result of this unnecessary fire.

20% Increase in Emergency Medical Service Incidents 

Calls for emergency medical services were also up over normal, non-holiday periods with some of this increase likely attributable to fireworks activity. On the Fourth, 240 EMS incidents were dispatched with 64 of these occurring between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. the next day. Total EMS responses represent about a 20% increase over more typical weekdays. On average, Con Fire responds to just over 200 EMS incidents daily.

In one particularly egregious case, a 66-year-old male in Martinez was gravely injured in the 10 p.m. hour when he lost part of a hand while holding an exploding firework.

Considerable preparation across the district, including upstaffing of additional dispatchers; two hand crews and equipment; two fire dozers; and the district operations center, staffed by multiple chief officers; resulted in rapid and overwhelming responses, which served to limit fire spread, and resultant damage when fires did occur.

All 60-plus grass and exterior fires were kept small, limiting potential for structure damage as a result of rapid and overwhelming responses as well as early notifications to 911 by residents.

During possible attempted gas theft

By Allen D. Payton

According to the Contra Costa Fire Protection District (Con Fire), a fire in the Antioch BART parking lot on Thursday was extinguished after a total of six vehicles were extensively damaged. Con Fire crews, along with Antioch and BART police, responded. The fire appears to have been caused during an attempted gasoline theft. The incident remains under investigation.

Especially during flu season; ConFire says respiratory virus calls are straining CCC EMS resources

By Contra Costa Health Services

To ensure continued timely response to true medical emergencies, Contra Costa Health (CCH) encourages residents to call 911 only if the need for care is truly an emergency.

Contra Costa County’s emergency medical system traditionally serves higher-than-usual numbers of patients this time of year, and this month healthcare providers and the agencies providing emergency ambulance service are especially impacted because of COVID, flu and other respiratory viruses.

According to Con Fire, “Respiratory virus calls are straining CCC EMS resources.”

Several hospitals in the community are reporting critically high level of patients occupying beds, with more than 1,200 inpatients reported throughout the county as of Friday. Hospital emergency departments are similarly impacted.

Calling 911 for your health emergency is recommended if it involves:

• Chest pain, difficulty breathing or a fast (120+ beats per minute) resting heartbeat
• Numbness or weakness in any part of the body, seizures, or difficulty speaking
• Fainting, unconsciousness, dizziness, sudden severe pain or headache, or confusion
• Sudden blindness or vision changes
• Heavy bleeding that will not stop with pressure, or broken bones
• Choking, drowning or near drowning
• Severe burns
• Poisoning or drug overdose
• Allergic reactions, especially if there is difficulty breathing
• Someone making a credible threat to harm themselves or someone else

There are other good reasons to call 911 as well. But to reduce strain on the county’s healthcare system, CCH asks anyone considering whether to seek emergency care if a 911 call is the best way to get the services they need, or if contacting an advice nurse or urgent care might be more appropriate.

When many people seek care through 911 at the same time, it reduces the number of emergency ambulances in circulation, ready to respond when someone in the county needs lifesaving care.

Based on a paramedic’s assessment of a patient’s condition and if the number of available emergency ambulances is very low, the paramedic may suggest a patient visit an urgent care on their own or call an advice nurse.

During the winter virus season, patients visiting emergency departments at hospitals in the county may also need to wait longer depending on circumstances at the time they arrive and the severity of their illness or injury.

 

Dos minutos puede ser todo lo que tiene para escapar un incendio doméstico, el desastre más frecuente del país

During Oct. 9-15, practice your escape plan and test your smoke alarms; residents in need can contact the Red Cross to request a free smoke alarm installation

This National Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15, the American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region urges everyone to practice their two-minute home fire escape plan and test their smoke alarms to stay safe from the nation’s most frequent disaster.

Two minutes is the amount of time that fire experts say you may have to safely escape a home fire before it’s too late. These crises account for most of the 60,000-plus disasters that the Red Cross responds to each year across the U.S. — locally in the Northern California Coastal Region, home fire responses are 18% higher during cold months than warmer times of year.

“As the threat of home fires increases with colder temperatures, Fire Prevention Week serves as an important reminder to prepare now,” said Ana Romero, Regional Preparedness Manager. “Practice your two-minute home fire escape drill and test your smoke alarms monthly to help keep your family safe.”

HOW TO PRACTICE YOUR TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Practice your plan with everyone in your household; also teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like and what to do in an emergency. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including a printable escape plan and safety tips for cooking and home heating — the leading causes of home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association, which is sponsoring Fire Prevention Week with the theme, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.”

• Include at least two ways to exit every room in your home in your escape plan.
• Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
• Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.
• Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they likely need to be replaced because components such batteries can become less reliable. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.
• Tailor your escape plan to everyone’s needs in your household. If you or a loved one is deaf or hard of hearing, install strobe light and bed-shaker alarms to help alert you to a fire.

IF YOU NEED HELP

If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit us at SoundTheAlarm.org/NorCalCoastal to request an appointment.

Red Cross volunteers and partners perform smoke alarm installations and home fire safety visits wherever possible to ensure our communities are safe.

Here is the full circle story of Burnie Gipson, who lives in Martinez, California. His previous home in San Francisco suffered a fire and the Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers responded to provide help and care to him and other displaced residents. After moving to Martinez, Burnie reached back out to the Red Cross to set up a free smoke alarm installation in his new home.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES

Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign with community partners has saved at least 1,393 lives — including 24 here in the Northern California Coastal Region— by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. Locally, Red Cross volunteers and partners have installed 42,309 alarms and helped make 15,807 households safer. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Durante la Semana de la Prevención de Incendios, practique su plan de escape y pruebe sus detectores de humo; los residentes que lo necesiten pueden ponerse en contacto con la Cruz Roja para solicitar una instalación gratuita de alarma de humo

Esta Semana de la Prevención de Incendios (del 9 al 15 de octubre), la Cruz Roja Americana Región de la Costa Norte de California insta a todos a practicar su plan de dos minutos de evacuación de incendios en el hogar y probar sus alarmas de humo para mantenerse a salvo del desastre más frecuente del país.

Dos minutos es la cantidad de tiempo que los expertos en incendios dicen que puede tener para escapar de forma segura de un incendio doméstico antes de que sea demasiado tarde. Estas crisis representan la mayoría de los más de 60,000 desastres a los que la Cruz Roja responde cada año en todo Estados Unidos. Localmente, las respuestas a los incendios domésticos son un 18% más altas durante los meses de frío que las épocas más cálidas del año.

“A medida que la amenaza de incendios domésticos aumenta con las temperaturas más frías, la Semana de la Prevención de Incendios sirve como un recordatorio importante para prepararse ahora”, dijo Ana Romero, Gerente Regional de Preparación. “Practique su simulacro de escape en caso de incendio en el hogar de dos minutos y pruebe sus alarmas de humo mensualmente para ayudar a mantener a su familia segura”.

CÓMO PRACTICAR SU SIMULACRO DE DOS MINUTOS

Practique su plan con todos en su hogar; también enseñe a los niños cómo suena una alarma de humo y qué hacer en una emergencia. Visite CruzRojaAmericana.org/incendios para obtener más información, incluyendo un plan de escape imprimible y consejos de seguridad para cocinar y calentar el hogar, las principales causas de los incendios domésticos, según la Asociación Nacional de Protección contra Incendios, que patrocina la Semana de la Prevención de Incendios con el tema, “El fuego no espera. Planifica tu escape”.

• Incluya al menos dos formas de salir de cada habitación de su casa en su plan de escape.
• Seleccione un lugar de reunión a una distancia segura de su casa, como la casa de su vecino o un punto de referencia, como un árbol específico en su patio delantero, donde todos sepan reunirse.
• Coloque detectores de humo en cada nivel de su casa, incluidos los dormitorios y las zonas de descanso interiores y exteriores. Pruebe las alarmas mensualmente y cambie las baterías al menos una vez al año, si su modelo lo requiere.
• Compruebe la fecha del fabricante de sus detectores de humo. Si tienen 10 años o más, es probable que deban reemplazarse porque componentes como las baterías pueden ser menos confiables. Siga las instrucciones del fabricante de la alarma.
• Adapte su plan de escape a las necesidades de todos en su hogar. Si usted o un ser querido es sordo o tiene problemas de audición, instale alarmas de luz estroboscópica y para agitar la cama para ayudar a alertarle de un incendio.

SI NECESITA AYUDA

Si no puede darse el lujo de comprar detectores de humo o no puede instalar uno físicamente, la Cruz Roja puede ayudar. Visite nuestro sitio web ActivaTuAlarma.org para solicitar un turno. Los voluntarios de la Cruz Roja junto con socios locales realizan visitas para instalación de alarmas de humo gratuitas y prevención de incendios en el hogar cada vez que resulta posible.

Esta es la historia de circulo completo de Burnie Gipson, residente de Martinez, California. Su anterior hogar en San Francisco sufrió un incendio y los voluntarios del Equipo de Acción en Desastres de la Cruz Roja asistieron

para ayudar y proveer cuidados a el y a otros residentes desplazados por el fuego. Luego de mudarse a martines, Burnie contacto a la Cruz Roja para instalar una alarma de incendios en su nuevo hogar.

LA CAMPAÑA DE PREVENCIÓN DE INCENDIOS EN EL HOGAR SALVA VIDAS

Desde octubre de 2014, la Campaña de La Cruz Roja contra incendios en el hogar con socios comunitarios ha salvado al menos 1.393 vidas -incluyendo 24 en la Región de la Costa Norte de California- al educar a las familias sobre la seguridad contra incendios, ayudarles a crear planes de escape e instalar alarmas de humo gratuitas en zonas de alto riesgo en todo el país. Localmente, los voluntarios y socios de la Cruz Roja han instalado 42.309 alarmas y han ayudado a hacer 15.807 hogares más seguros. Para saber más sobre la campaña y cómo puede participar, visite CruzRojaAmericana.org/IncendiosDomesticos.

Sobre la Cruz Roja Americana:

La Cruz Roja Americana alberga, alimenta y ofrece Alivio a víctimas de desastres; suministra aproximadamente el 40% de la sangre que necesita el país; enseña habilidades que salvan vidas; distribuye asistencia humanitaria internacional; y brinda apoyo a veteranos, miembros de las fuerzas armadas y sus familias. La Cruz Roja Americana es una organización sin fines de lucro que depende de los voluntarios y de la generosidad del pueblo estadounidense para entregar su misión. Para más información, visite redcross.org o CruzRojaAmericana.org, o visítenos en Twitter en @RedCross.

Started in garage, ConFire responds in minutes

By Allen D. Payton

The man who died in a residential fire on Serpentine Drive in Antioch Monday night, July 25 in Antioch has been identified by the Contra Costa Coroner’s office as 61-year-old Frank Koukis. According to the victim’s brother, three dogs also perished in the fire.

ConFire Public Information Officer Steve Hill said, “we have determined the origin of the fire was in the garage which is where the victim was found.”

“The fire is not suspicious in nature,” he continued. “We have not been able to rule out that carelessly discarded smoking materials were the possible cause. But the investigation continues.”

“The first call came in at 8:04 p.m. from a neighbor who reported two people and three dogs lived there,” Hill explained. “Our battalion chief was on the scene by 8:06 and the first of three engines arrived at 8:09 p.m., and the other two were there within two minutes. The fire was knocked down five minutes after we were on scene.

“A total of five engines, breathing support, two ambulances and two battalion chiefs responded to the scene,” he shared. “Antioch Police and Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies also responded.”

A post on the ConFire Twitter feed at 8:59 pm read, “ConFire is working a fatal structure fire on Serpentine Drive in Antioch. Fire is under control. Unfortunately, one victim was located by crews. Investigators on scene.”

As of 10:20 pm, a fire crew was continuing the cleanup after extinguishing the flames.

“Nearly 20,000 gallons per minute”

By Allen D. Payton

After burning and filling the air over Antioch and Pittsburg with smoke for almost two months the Marsh peat fire in Pittsburg appears to be extinguished. (See related article)

In a post on their Facebook page on Saturday, July 23, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) reported that they have “ended flooding today that has, for 7 days, with help from CC Water Dist. & the property owner, put some 200 M gallons of water on the Marsh peat fire in Pittsburg. No apparent hotspots or smoke remain, though we continue to monitor for flareups.”

On Friday, they reported that the “Marsh peat fire flooding is proving extremely effective with only small areas continuing to put off some limited smoke today. Flooding continues at nearly 20,000 gallons per minute. Con Fire is hopeful of complete extinguishment in coming days.”