Wrongful Death Suit Over California Wildland Air Drop To Continue

A lawsuit filed by the family of a Utah battalion chief killed when a Very Large Air Tanker (VLOT) dropped 19,600 gallons of fire retardant on his position while operating at the Mendocino Complex Fire in California in 2018, will continue following a ruling by a US District Court judge.

CalFire Settles With In-N-Out Burger Over 2017 Fire

A lawsuit filed by CalFire to recoup the costs associated with the Huasna Fire in 2017, has been settled with In-N-Out Burger. The fire in San Luis Obispo County burned nearly 250 acres over the course for four days and cost nearly $1.2 million to fight.

Utah Widow Suing CalFire Over Tanker Related LODD

The widow of Utah battalion chief killed last year while deployed at a wildland fire in California, is suing CalFire, the owner of a 747 airtanker, and two Cal Fire firefighters. Heather Burchett filed suit for the wrongful death of Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett, of the Draper City Fire Department

Too Many Fire Law Headlines

It is one of those days at Fire Law, where there are simply too many headlines to follow them all. So take your pick. Will it be the Everett, Washington firefighters that drove a drunk homeless man out of town and left him, or the Hartford lieutenant who assaulted a captain at a fire scene apparently because the captain disrespected him, or the Oregon firefighter who is charged with sexually assaulting a colleague while training last year in Texas, or whether CalFire is obligated to pay the PSOBP benefits to contract firefighter-pilots killed in air-tanker crashes.

Cal Fire Sues Property Owner To Recoup $25 Million in Costs

Cal Fire is suing a property owner and two caretakers in hopes of recouping over $25 million in costs associated with fighting the Mountain Fire back in July, 2013. The fire burned over 27,000 acres, destroyed 23 structures, and required 260 engines, 20 helicopters, 12 fix wing aircraft, and 3500 firefighters before being brought under control.

CalFire Engineer Contests Demotion Over Red Light Camera Gesture

Today’s burning question: I am an engineer… well, I was an engineer. Anyway, I was going through an intersection that had a red light camera and we had our red lights and siren going and I knew the camera was ...

Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone