Category Archives: Web Exclusive

Ventura City Firefighters on scene at Montgomery Ave home fire in 3 minutes

Residents of a single family home located in the 700 block of Montgomery Ave. were awakened to the smell of smoke and the sound of fire alarms in the early dawn of Nov.27.. The home owner quickly ran into the living room from his bedroom and witnessed the television set and the items on top of an adjacent hutch– on fire. He evacuated his wife and 1 year old child and grabbed an extinguisher and fought the blaze.

Ventura City Firefighters were on scene in 3 minutes and ensured the fire was completely extinguished and performed salvage and overhaul to preserve as much personal property as possible and mitigated damages. The fire remained contained to the entertainment center. Whereas the fire directly entered the wall cavity through a wall speaker, an investigation with a thermal camera discovered that the heat and smoke damage was contained within the wall due to fire blocking.

A common military phrase often used by one of Ventura’s Police Commanders, ‘Victory Favors the Prepared’, was evident this morning. An unattended candle started the fire on a credenza that spread to a speaker and television. However, based on the preparation of the resident, a complete disaster was avoided and now the emergency is relegated to being an inconvenience.

A modern whole house smoke detector system, quick access to a fire extinguisher, swift actions by the occupant, and quick response by the fire department are credited in minimizing the emergency.

The Ventura City Fire Department would like to remind residents to be careful in placing and using candles and make sure they are never placed near combustibles, nor ever unattended. Additionally, as temperatures fall and the use of heaters increase, we are asking residents to have older furnaces and floor heaters inspected, a common cause of fires in older homes.

Looking back at severe weather in Ventura in 1992 & 1998

If you are so inclined, take the time and watch these videos.

News coverage of 1992 floods in Ventura, CA.
Ventura River floods the RV park off of Main St.
PART 1 10 Minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjTZEY9i…

PART 2 The first 4 mins are about Ventura and then it goes to LA if you scan forward to the 7.39 mark it picks back up in Ventura
https://youtu.be/u8O0PtjnYW4

Less than 3 min promo video of the Ventura RV Park. It gives a great overview of the area that was shown flooded out in the previous videos.
https://youtu.be/DuKmsEwPSr4

1998 Ventura River Flood Highlights
Shows the raging Ventura River and Matija Dam by Ventura County Watershed Protection …
https://youtu.be/80HFhAvXWxc

Here is a link to many articles written about the flooding from the 1992, 1997-98 and 2005 storms
http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/floo…

1992 Ventura, California flood, part 1 of 2
Television news coverage of the 1992 floods at Ventura, CA. Part 1 of 2
youtube.com

Ventura City Fire Department responds to fire burning in Ventura River bottom adjacent to Ventura County Fairgrounds

fire (1)On Nov.23, at 9:25am the Ventura City Fire Department received a report of a fire burning in the Ventura River bottom adjacent to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a 75’ x 100’ fire burning in the aforementioned location. Firefighters extinguished and overhauled the fire with hand tools and water achieving full containment 2 hours after the initial report. The cause of the fire was determined to be an escaped warming fire from a nearby homeless encampment. No firefighters were injured as a result of this incident.

Black Friday was black smoke

Just after the official start of Black Friday, at 12:40am shoppers at the Pacific View Mall reported seeing active smoke pouring from the roof at Lowe’s Home Improvement store. Active alarms were ringing and employees had yet to start their shift, thus the building was empty at the time of the alarm. First arriving firefighters made access into and on top of the building.

As firefighters made access into the building, the air was clear of smoke. Crews investigated the interior while the truck company and an additional engine company made access to the top of the building via the aerial ladder. Crews on the roof encountered a fully involved heating and air conditioning unit. Flames erupted from the unit, however the roofing material had not completely become involved in fire. The fire was knocked down in approximately 13 minutes keeping the fire contained to the forced air ventilation unit and surrounding area. A thorough inspection made sure that the fire did not spread beyond the ventilation system into the roof structure.

Initial damage estimates were $20K. The building manager arrived on scene and worked with Ventura Fire’s Prevention specialist to ensure a smooth opening for the business in the morning. There are no expected impacts beyond needed repairs to the unit. The building was left in the care of Lowe’s management.

KTLA on site in Ventura covering capsized 16ft vessel with a 65 year old fisherman unaccounted for

On Nov. 11, at 8:40 pm two men were outside of the Ventura Harbor on Friday night lobster fishing when their 15 foot skiff was hit by a 5 foot wave and was overturned outside of the rock groin on Greenock Lane, just adjacent to Marina Park. Both men in their 60’s were fully clothed and attempted to swim to shore. They both became separated as they entered the surf line. A resident on Greenock Lane made contact with one man as he made it to shore, the other mariner was not found and 911 was contacted.

Ventura City Firefighters with the assistance of many agencies responded into the area and began a coordinated search for the missing boater. The last point of contact was determined, and a search commenced– from the shore, in the ocean, on the jetty, and in the air. Ventura Port District, Coast Guard and the Oxnard Fire Department searched the surf line with boats and personal water craft.

Ventura County Copter 9 and Coast Guard Air Helicopter performed a patterned search pattern by air. A group of 6 ocean rescue swimmers deployed from the surf line and performed a coordinated search where the missing man was last seen. They also searched from Greenock Jetty to the Sand Trap (that is adjacent to the north jetty harbor entrance). As one of the Rescue Ocean Swimmers was searching within the surf, he was approached and bumped by a juvenile, 6 foot long– great white shark. No rescuers were injured. All swimming personnel were removed from the search; but air operations, shore search groups, and those searching on watercraft continued.

The vessel had drifted into shore and fractured parts of the boat had scattered onto the beach. The vessel was temporarily secured.

The intense search continued for nearly two and a half hours. Dark conditions, increasing offshore winds, and moderate surf complicated the search. Just before midnight, the incident was turned over to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Coast Guard, who has ultimate authority beyond the water line. An extended search will continue through the night and the Ventura County Sheriff’s department will size up the conditions in the morning and will determine how they will proceed.

As of Nov. 23 he has not been located.

From the Harbor Patrol blotter

8:41pm, received a dispatch to a water rescue off Greenock lane, a capsized 16ft vessel with a 65 year old fisherman unaccounted for. Officers responded and began a search for the missing person with Ventura Fire, Oxnard fire, U.S. coast guard and VC sheriff. The call was eventually turned over to VC Sheriff and the U.S. coast guard.

8:00am, continuing the search for the lost fisherman with U.S. coast guard and VC sheriff search and

rescue.

3:30pm, called off the search for the missing fisherman for the day.

The greatest threat facing humanity

Ahead of the historic United Nations conference in Paris on climate change, join the Ventura Sierra Club in a call to immediate action on the greatest threat facing humanity, climate change. November 29, at 1pm, community leaders and local politicians will gather on the steps of Ventura City Hall to demand the transition to 100% clean energy in Ventura County. A colorful brigade of sunflowers will lead the climate march to the E.P. Foster Library Topping Room for a presentation by Dr Nancy Merrick of Ventura, former student of Dr. Jane Goodall on climate change and its impact on Chimpanzees in West Africa.

Does exercise delay Parkinson’s decline?

By Matilda Charles

People who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease might want to reconsider doing strenuous exercise as a means of keeping their physical abilities.

A recent short-term study concluded that normal, frequent movements are better for Parkinson’s patients than working out. The study was funded by some power hitters — the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the National Institutes of Health — and conducted by Parkinson’s research teams at the University of Michigan. Their conclusions bear paying attention to, even though they might seem contrary to logic.

Many Parkinson’s patients begin to reduce the amount of time they spend moving. Whether it’s a walk around the block, doing dishes or strolling the aisles of the grocery store, many prefer to forgo those daily activities to keep from falling or losing balance.

In the four-week study, using 48 participants, researchers looked at the result of non-exercise movement versus exercise activity. They did PET scans of the brain to look at dopamine levels and used questionnaires to learn about the participants’ level of activity and the type they did — daily routines or exercise.

Researchers tested whether a strenuous exercise program such as swimming or aerobics could help with symptoms. The answer: No, it’s the daily, small activities that were protecting motor skills. It’s those routine movements that were linked to fewer motor symptoms, even in those patients with lower dopamine levels.

So, say the researchers, get up and move. Any kind of movement appears to help, as long as it keeps you active and doing your normal, daily tasks.

Reminder: The open enrollment period to sign up or change your Medicare health and drug plan ends

Monday, Dec. 7.

General Magnaplate faces potential federal lawsuit for illegal storm water discharges

The Environmental Defense Center (“EDC”) and Keller Rohrback L.L.P. has notified Ventura global coating company General Magnaplate of EDC’s intent to sue the company for allegedly operating its electroplating facility in violation of the federal Clean Water Act.

The notice letter alleges that the facility is illegally discharging storm water containing pollutants, including zinc and aluminum, into the Santa Clara River, less than two miles from where the River flows into the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Clara River, southern California’s last naturally free-flowing major river, is critical to the communities’ health and recreation, and is home to numerous endangered species.

EDC and Keller Rohrback’s investigation has revealed that, over the past five years, General Magnaplate has apparently continuously violated California’s General Industrial Storm Water Permit (“General Permit”) by discharging iron, zinc, aluminum, and other pollutants in concentrations that are magnitudes above lawful limits.

“General Magnaplate’s ongoing pollution in violation of the Clean Water Act threatens our communities, beach-goers, and the numerous species that rely on this important watershed,” stated Maggie Hall, Staff Attorney at the Environmental Defense Center. “By notifying General Magnaplate of our intent to sue, we hope to force them to clean up their operations and protect the Santa Clara River from polluted runoff.”

The General Permit is intended to protect our state’s waterways from pollution caused by storm water runoff from industrial facilities. Storm water is among the nation’s top sources of water contamination. Electroplating facilities like General Magnaplate are required to collect and analyze storm water samples for iron, zinc, aluminum, and other pollutants.

The Santa Clara River was listed in 2005 as the 10th most endangered U.S. waterway. It also provides crucial aquatic ecosystem functions in the region, including groundwater recharge and riparian habitat. The River is home to as many as 17 species listed as threatened or endangered, and includes critical habitat for many species, including the Santa Ana Sucker, Tidewater Goby, Unarmored Threespine Stickleback, California Red Legged Frog, Arroyo Toad, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Least Bell’s Vireo, and the Southern California Steelhead.

General Magnaplate has been in operation since 1980, and has global corporate headquarters in New Jersey.

Under the Clean Water Act, potential litigants must send a 60-day notice of intent to sue before lawsuits can be filed alleging that a facility is in violation of the Act. While EDC and Keller Rohrback are committed to pursuing legal remedies if necessary, their hope is that submission of the notice will prompt General Magnaplate to comply with its mandatory permit requirements, thereby protecting water quality, without court intervention.

Submersible dive expedition in the Channel Islands

This boat has been seen in the Ventura Harbor, we asked John Higgins to explain what it is.

“Deep Sub LLC (the cat owner) and the Undersea Voyager Project (owner of a two man submersible) have partnered with The Nature Conservancy and the University of Oregon to accomplish a submersible dive expedition in the Channel Islands. The trip is based out of Ventura Harbor to explore the waters around Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands below 150’. Fantastically, during the ice age 15,000 years ago sea level was 200’ lower, so the islands were bigger and connected by a land bridge. Presumably, the Indians would have moved down to live at the water’s edge; the trip will be using the sub to look for evidence of those Indian encampments. Because the study area is below 150’, the sub is better suited to the mission than scuba divers. Besides looking for Indian history, the sub will be used to explore the undersea geology of the land bridge and historic oil seeps around the islands. The expedition is very grateful for the support of the Ventura Harbor Patrol, Harbormaster and Port.”

John Higgins, Harbormaster