Two Calif. Fires Now Thought to Be Arson

October 24, 2007 4:08 PM

ABC News' Jack Date, Jason Ryan and Pierre Thomas Report: 

Two California fires -- the Rosa fire in Riverside County and the Santiago fire -- are being actively investigated as arson. According to the Riverside County Fire Department Spokesperson Judy Hagemann, the Rosa fire is being considered an arson based on their investigation and evidence.

The Rosa is 85% contained and has consumed 411 acres. The fire is expected to be fully contained by 1800 hrs, Thursday, Hagemann told ABC News. The department is seeing the public's help for any information that could help the investigation.

The Santiago blaze in Orange County, fire officials say, is a suspected arson and FBI and ATF agents have joined local investigators in the search for clues.

Orange County officials confirm to ABC News that they believe the Santiago fire raging in Southern California was intentionally set.

"There were three points of origin; it is definitely an arson," Orange County Sheriff's Department Public Affairs Director Jim Amormino tells ABC News.

Amormino says no search warrants have been executed, no arrests have been made and the department does not have suspect information at this time. 

Federal law enforcement officials have been assisting local authorities as they investigate the matter, and are expected to announce a reward as early as this evening in the hopes of encouraging the public to help in their probe.

Investigators are checking reports of suspicious activity at a number of locations where fires originated, including reports of people fleeing the scenes.

A federal law enforcement official tells ABC News that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has activated its national response team to support the Orange County Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement agencies in the investigation of a possible arson. 

The team is comprised of 24 investigators, and includes certified fire investigators, scientists and engineers and agents.

Additionally, "FBI Evidence Response Teams have been working with other federal, state and local authorities to identify the source of the Santiago fire," Laura Eimiller of the FBI's Los Angeles office tells ABC News.  The FBI units are trained in the collection of crime scene evidence.

Local authorities deny reports that a search warrant had been executed on an Orange County residence.  "It's an ongoing investigation, but the rumors of a raid are false," said Orange County Fire Authority spokesman David Romano.

The Orange County Fire Authority has established an arson tipline:  1-800-540-8282.

ABC News' Russell Goldman contributed to this report.

This post has been updated.

October 24, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (41) | TrackBack (0)

Dulles Airport Evacuated Briefly Due to Suspicious Bag

October 22, 2007 3:44 PM

ABC News' Lisa Stark Reports: Officials evacuated parts of Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. because of a suspicious bag.

The bomb squad was called in Monday to investigate a suspicious carry-on bag at the security checkpoint.

The evacuation affected the departure level and a portion of the arrival level below the checkpoint.

Officials established a safety zone around the security checkpoint and spoke with the passenger who brought the bag.

The Transportation Security Administration began the evacuation at 3:15pm. Over an hour later, the TSA said the suspicious item had been cleared.

ABC News' Pierre Thomas, Matt Hosford, and Jason Ryan contributed to this report.

October 22, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

NASA Shelved Air Safety Study

October 22, 2007 1:52 PM

ABC News' Lisa Stark Reports: Airplane engine failure, planes hitting birds in the air, violent weather-related turbulence -- these details and more are in an air safety study that NASA has shelved.

Government officials involved in a shelved study NASA commissioned to look into air safety tell ABC News that they were very disappointed when the project was ended. They thought it could have been a real boon for safety and they are hoping that the data gets used, sources tell ABC News.

When the Associated Press asked NASA for the data in report, and filed a Freedom of Information Act request, NASA said they couldn't release the data because it might undermine the public's confidence in the aviation system, and could be detrimental to the airlines. So now Congress is asking questions, wanting to know from NASA what this data is, why hasn't it been released, and what's going on with it.

It all stemmed from a 1997 Gore Commission Report on Aviation, when the Clinton administration was determined to reduce the air accident rate by 80 percent.

In order to find out the causes of problems and accidents, NASA developed a survey and interviewed about 24,000 airline pilots, asking pilots a series of some 90 questions about their experiences with close calls in the air.

NASA intended to include air traffic controllers and flight attendants in the study of valuable safety information, however in 2005 the interviews stopped, the data was never released, and the question now becomes -- why?

Those who have been involved in the project are loath to talk on-camera or on-the-record, but are telling ABC News that they were very disappointed when the project was ended. They thought it could have been a real boon for safety and they are hoping that this data gets used.

Just last week, NASA sent out an email  to those involved in the project, asking them to destroy any data that they had on hand. Some people believe that it's because NASA wants to make sure they are sitting on all of the data themselves and no one else has it out there.

NASA has stated that the information is sensitive, it could hurt the airlines and it could undermine the confidence of the flying public. There are some in NASA who believe they may still be preparing a report on all of this data, but NASA officials have yet to confirm this.

October 22, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)

Wildfires Evacuate 250,000 in San Diego County

October 22, 2007 1:15 PM

At least 250,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes as 100,000 acres of Southern California burn in several wildfires, according to the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenneger, who has already declared a state of emergency, said at a press conference that California is working with Arizona and Nevada to arrange additional firefighting support. The dry weather and wind, he said, has made the entire state vulnerable to wildfires.

"First we have to pray that the wind slows down because the wind is the number one enemy right now,” Schwarzenneger said.

The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Services, meanwhile, has requested four Blackhawk helicopters equipped with firefighting equipment from the California National Guard. The Nevada National Guard has pledged an additional helicopter.

DEVELOPING...

October 22, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (86) | TrackBack (0)

Hijacked Fuel Tanker Found in D.C.

October 19, 2007 12:41 PM

ABC News' Jack Date and Pierre Thomas Report:  A stolen fuel tanker truck carrying 7100 gallons of diesel fuel has been found intact in southeast Washington, D.C.

D.C. Metro Police are on scene and investigating, and a spokesman for the department confirms that the vehicle was unoccupied and that no arrests have been made.

The truck was taken from the 3100 block of Vera St. in Baltimore around 5:00 a.m. Friday morning.  Baltimore City Police Spokesman Sterling Clifford said the assailant, described as a male wearing a blue jumpsuit, brandished a semi-automatic handgun at the driver.

After the theft, the truck and its tanker trailer, operated by Baltimore Tank Lines, were seen heading towards Interstate 95.  Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are connected by I-95.

Clifford said, "This is being investigated as a robbery, there is no connection to terrorism at this point."  The Joint Terrorism Task Forces from Washington and Baltimore have been assisting local police in the investigation as a precaution.

The Maryland Department of Homeland Security has also been monitoring the situation, and the Baltimore City Police Department has taken the lead on the investigation.

October 19, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (95) | TrackBack (0)

Senator Kennedy Undergoes Surgery

October 12, 2007 11:48 AM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports:  U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., underwent surgery in Massachussetts today to clear his carotid artery. His office says  the procedure was preventive and non invasive.  The blockage was discovered during an evaluation of his back and spine.

Kennedy has had back problems since he was in a plane crash in 1964  and never spends too much time standing. He will apparently be out of the hospital in a few days.

STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY

"As part of a routine evaluation of Senator Kennedy's back and spine, MRI studies picked up an unrelated, asymptomatic blockage in the Senator's left carotid artery.  This morning, Senator Kennedy underwent preventive surgery at

Massachusetts General Hospital to remove the blockage.  The surgery, which was performed by Doctor Richard Cambria, was routine and successful. After a very brief recovery period, Senator Kennedy will resume his normal schedule in Washington and in Massachusetts."

October 12, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)