49 Fire dispatch records unavailable
Some residents frustrated with lack of information
An official timeline of emergency response to the 49 Fire remains unavailable a little more than two months after the blaze devastated Auburn. A Public Records Act Request from the Journal to Cal Fire asking for the complete dispatch records from the hours when the fire started to when it was contained the next day was denied. A letter signed by Kim Spire, staff services analyst in the legal services department, states that “we are unable to comply with your request as they are part of an active criminal investigation.” “These records will not be available for release until the matter has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled,” Spire wrote. On Oct. 19, Cal Fire officials announced that arson was the reason 350 acres, 63 homes and two businesses were burned in the Aug. 30 blaze that totaled $40 million in losses. Officials released no suspect information or any details as to how the fire started other than to say two different blazes were started about 20 minutes and a quarter-mile apart from each other. On Thursday, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said the investigation was ongoing and there was no suspect information available. He said many arson investigations can take months or years and some are never solved. “With a fire investigation we want to make sure we put as much effort into being correct,” Berlant said. “We will never rush an investigation just to get it out there. We want to feel 100 percent certain about the cause of the fire.”
Waiting difficult for victims However, waiting for that information is difficult for fire victims like Joe Castelli and his wife, Faye Matthews-Castelli. The couple lost their livelihood when flames consumed their rental home off Parkway Drive in North Auburn. Castelli estimates he lost about $70,000 in music-recording gear and Matthews-Castelli lost 600 boxes of greeting cards ready to ship with her hand-painted artwork on them. The couple did not have renter’s insurance and said they were planning to move into a new home soon. Castelli told the Journal this week that now their feelings of shock and grief have turned into anger. “You have no idea how angry we are,” Castelli said. The husband and wife feel that fire crews worked to save businesses first before defending the homes that bordered an empty field that was in the fire’s path. “Our whole bone of contention is they did not do the service they needed to do,” Castelli said. The couple cited a 2003 fire during which the empty field was covered in flames but homes were spared. “I just don’t understand why they didn’t go to the field,” Matthews-Castelli said. Berlant said the fact that two separate fires were started added to an already challenging fight for fire crews. “We already felt from day one we were able to get a lot of equipment in there quickly,” Berlant said. Berlant said now knowing there was a second fire could explain why some residents felt there was too much time before they saw a fire truck reach their neighborhood. “There’s a pretty good possibility (fire agencies) may have been on the different side of a different fire,” Berlant said. He said wind blew embers in various directions and up to half-a mile-away. He added that newer homes in fire danger areas are typically built with better fire-resistant materials than older homes. “One of our first priorities was to protect those structures but as the wind was blowing over firefighter’s heads, it made it much more difficult,” Berlant said. The couple says they are also frustrated that fire officials have not released a suspect description or more information about the day of the fire. “We should have a description of the person,” Castelli said. “How are we as citizens going to help law enforcement?” Matthews-Castelli agreed that more information about the investigation should be revealed. “Who are they investigating and why is this information being withheld from the public?” Matthews-Castelli asked. “I need to know these things.”
Officials doing the best they can, victim says Another 49 Fire victim, Jack Kenny, offered his support for firefighters and the job they faced on a dry, hot, windy Sunday. “I think they did the best possible job they could considering the circumstances,” Kenny said. Kenny is in the process of rebuilding his home of 25 years. Construction began last week and the footings were expected to be put in Friday. He said the fact that the fast-moving fire killed no one is “amazing.” Kenny said he is supportive of the arson investigation. “There’s a lot of stuff they have to investigate,” Kenny said. “I think they’re doing a good job.” Kenny lost a cat in the fire and four days later, his aging dog died. He said he hopes officials are able to catch whoever is responsible for a “terrible thing to do.” “If they catch them, I’d like to sit on the jury,” Kenny joked. If there is any silver lining for the Castellis at this point, they said it’s the tremendous help they’ve received from community members and local churches. “Thank God for the Auburn community,” Castelli said. “They’ve been so good to us.” However, the couple said they would continue to question what information is released to the public. Castelli said their anger wasn’t going to go away anytime soon. “We’re very angry and that anger is not going to go away,” Castelli said. “No amount of money or reward is ever going to make us feel better.” Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.
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Arson hotline Cal Fire officials continue to encourage the public to call with tips regarding the start of the 49 Fire. The fire, which began at about 2:22 p.m. Aug. 30, destroyed 63 homes, two businesses and damaged more. Daniel Berlant said that every detail is important. “Even the slightest detail may not seem important to that person but it may be the link to us tying (the investigation) together,” Berlant said. There is a $10,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect. Call Cal Fire’s arson hotline at (800) 468-4408
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I'm not saying it wasn't arson, but I went up 49 the next day and it appeared to have started with that suspected telephone pole. How did they explain the photos of the transformer smoking and sparking? At the very bottom of the pole on the east side of 49 just north of Bell was a V-shaped burn pattern spreading north east from the pole. Did anyone else see that? And you could see how the fire got wider from that point north. I guess someone could have started it at the bottom of the pole. But when you add in the photos of the transformer on top of the pole being on fire....gee. Golly gee. Golly gee willeckers! What am I missing?
Nicibag, You are missing all the facts. Wait until the professionals complete their investigation.
When people feel victimized and angry, they often don't think clearly. They need someone to blame and authority figures often get stuck with that role.
Sorry that the Castelli's lost their property, but a little bit of renters insurance would have gone a long way. Hopefully they can find a better way to direct their anger. The fire crews did all they could that day and despite the losses it was one great job.,!!!!!!!! As it could have been much much worse.
Nbag, if you saw the pole you would have noticed that the cutouts on the underground riser were CLOSED and that the fire probably burnt UP the pole via the molding and conductor. If I was an arsonist that would be the perfect spot to start a fire! It certainly has diverted your attention!
As for Dispatch Who was Dispatched, Where were they Dispatched to and What Time Were They Dispatched ???
Jon...I am with you...I love facts...the public just isn't getting any of them....
Too early to release the facts. It might hinder the criminal part of the investigation if there is one.
If CAL FIRE will not give you their timeline dispatch tapes, place a request to Placer County 911 dispatch... Placer County should have a pretty close timeline due to amount of Placer Sheriff's and Placer Fire Districts which responded...... Cal Fire/Placer County both know what the tapes say- which is better coordination is needed between Placer County 911/Fire Districts and CAL FIRE.... Both Dispatch Center personnel know they could have got more resources to the scene quicker than they did and that alot more resources were available in the county, alot closer than Humbolt, Butte, Napa counties. Placer County Fire Agencies resources were severely under utilized. To be honest... under the smoke and screens of the investigation- you may never heard the tapes or see transcript.
I urge you all to attend your local fire agency board of directors meetings and ask questions on their responses times,what changes have been make for closer resources to respond to major incidents.... Put the elected officals in hot box.
I said it before and I will say now.... One Dispatch Center for ALL fire/ems in Placer County is needed, better resource coordination, closest fire engine regardless of boundry, Fire Service Trained Dispatchers,,,,No more roseville, rocklin, lincoln dispatch centers... You will hear from Chief Officers that the boundries are dropped... but each area puts their "spin" on the geo-file for dispatch computer.
I am very sorry for the couple's loss, but some renters insurance would have helped. It is a very in expensive way to protect your belongings.
Not carrying renters insurance is like not having car insurance. Those of us that do pay for the ones that do not.
I feel really bad for this family, but to have $70,000+ of equipment in your home, equipment that is your livelihood, and no insurance seems rather irresponsible. So what are they looking for with the dispatch records, someone else to blame? Why is it we allow people to cover for their own lack of responsibility by taking advantage of someone else. If they sue Cal Fire who do you all think pays for it.
Don't dis' the firemen. They did a great job. However, the arson investigation was corrupted by PG&E. Looking for the second arsonist is like looking for the "other shooter" of JFK. I still think they eliminated the fire at the pole too early and focused on PG&E saying "look over there."
My parents lost their home in this fire and as devastating as that has been, playing the blame game does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. What will it change when and if we find out who is responsible? Nothing. The homes are still gone, people still lost possessions and pets. Amazingly, no human lives were lost. My wife is a retired arson investigator and we have good friends who still do that job. In general, arson is one of the most difficult crimes to successfully prosecute. (if the DA will even look at the case) Obviously, with this case, they will make every effort, but short of a credible eyewitness, it is incredibly difficult as often much of the evidence is destroyed in the fire. We may never know who started these fires. A fairly large transient population in that area may also make it more difficult.
As for the response to the incident, with the conditions that firefighters faced and the fire jumping from one place to another, our family believes that they did the best job possible. My parents home was very close to the field and the fire made a drastic change of direction and made it impossible to respond in time to save most of those homes, most of which burned to the ground in less than 5 minutes. There is no stopping a firestorm like that. It would be easy to blame the owner of that field(which we believe is privately owned, although I have not confirmed that) but in financial times such as these, weed abatement programs are one of the first programs to be cut.
ChuxxR,
Another grand conspiracy in the making eh?
Anybody with power and authority is corrupt and evil....anything else,
well....anything else just isn't very exciting is it Chux?
continued...
So people, lets exercise a little restraint in the blame game and let the professionals do their job. Releasing the dispatch records will accomplish nothing other than possibly compromising the ongoing investigation and realize that we may never have a final resolution.
To the Castelli's, it is terribly unfortunate that you lost so much, but renters insurance is generally very affordable. Take some personal responsibility for your inactions and stop blaming everybody else for your losses.
I am glad that the majority of the community's reaction has been similar to that of Mr. Kenny's. Remember that these firefighters put their life on the line every day to protect you. A fire like we had with the conditions that they faced is incredibly dangerous and those on the front lines. It is also incredibly unfair to blame those tasked with coordinating the response with a large number of different agencies and their operators in an ever changing firefight. Like combat, it is an extremely fluid situation with many different variables and potential outcomes.
If the investigation does not include a 3rd party electrical engineer.... hum. If there are confirmed 2 sets... then it probably was arson....
Early on there was a forensic electrical engineer involved the investigation and they looked very closely at the PG&E equipment.
Cappy.. tks for that info...if that was in an article i missed it.
Not accusing any one espicially the fire fighters. Just curious, what is so tough about showing us how the system works?
The owner of the vacant field is responsible for keeping his property clear of fire dangers. Code Enforcement should have advised him/her/they of their responsibility.
I am curious as to the dispatch times myself,l this information will come out later on, fires happen every day, everyone should be prepared in some way or another, express ones anger at the arsonist...instead of the people that helped to save lives and property, and be accountable and responsible for your property as one never knows what may happen. No lives were lost, property is property....
My son was one of those responding to the fire........and he later told me that he had a propane tank blow up close enough to him to have a piece of shrapnel hit his hard hat and also cause blisters on the bottom of his feet from the heat. He also stated he would serve our community again in a second flat. He came from Chico to fight the fire.
I am just glad no one was killed; possessions are just that-possessions that can be replaced. Granted it is going to take time and lots of work but at least you are not mourning the loss of a loved one.
Please count your blessings as I do!
"firewatcher" do have any idea what you are talking about? or are you just one of those monday morning quarterbacks that listen to the scanner thus know how to run an incident? The people who were on scene of that fire first requested any and every resource available to them. keep in mind if you take all the Fire/ EMS resourses from the area you leave that area striped so that if there is another emergency in that area there will be someone who will respond. You should get your understand the basics of the fire service before you tell everyone to be in an outrage.