Software made Los Angeles fire response times untrustworthy, report says   
Emergency response times provided by Los Angeles fire officials to the public and City Hall leaders cannot be trusted because of problems with software used to prepare the numbers, according to a report by an expert assigned to audit the Fire Department's data analysis. The report called on the department to stop using the software until the problem is fixed and recommended an overhaul of the unit that analyzes statistics for Fire Chief Brian Cummings, according to a copy obtained Monday night by The Times.
latimes.com

Sacramento family displaced after firefighters delayed by brownouts   
A family is displaced after their home caught fire. Firefighters say they were delayed by brownouts. The fire broke out close to midnight Wednesday on Grand Avenue near Kern Street in Sacramento. Firefighters arrived within minutes, but said their response was affected because the closest engine was browned out.
KTXL-TV Fox 40 Sacramento

Related: Sacramento firefighters march to protest cuts to fire budget   
Sacramento firefighters marched to Sacramento City Hall on Tuesday afternoon to dramatize their solution to prevent the deepest cuts in the history of the city fire department. Members of Firefighters Union, Local 522, then held a news conference to unveil their solution to a department deficit pegged at $4.2 million. Union President Ryan Henry said the city could save the jobs of 62 firefighters by raising rates for ambulance transport by $100. He said that move alone could generate about $2 million.
KCRA-TV NBC 3 Sacramento

Wendy’s Restaurant Gutted by Fire in Lancaster; Firefighter Injured   
A firefighter was injured while battling a blaze that engulfed a Wendy's fast food restaurant in Lancaster Tuesday. About 40 firefighters fought the blaze, which broke out around 4:30 p.m. at the restaurant located near the coroner of Avenue I and 10th Street West. The injured Los Angeles County firefighter was treated at the scene.
KTLA-TV WB 5 Los Angeles

Station Fire victim testifies Mercury Casualty Co. underpaid by two-thirds   
Testifying in the trial of a lawsuit brought by claimants against Mercury Casualty Co., a Pacoima man said Tuesday he was paid less than one-third of the amount he believed was necessary to repair ash and soot damage to his home from the 2009 Station Fire. Luis Vargas told a Los Angeles Superior Court jury that he received $7,500 from Mercury, but that the damage to his Jamie Avenue residence was $25,000.
Oakland Tribune & Inside Bay Area

San Bernardino County firefighters prepare for fire season with training in Fontana   
San Bernardino County firefighters on Tuesday began the first of six days of wildland fire training in preparation for fire season. Around 60 firefighters worked in an area off Sierra Avenue and north of Summit Avenue in Fontana, igniting light grasses, extinguishing flames and cutting fire breaks, said fire spokesman Mark Murphy. Sheriff's aviation personnel assisted, by dropping water from helicopters.
San Jose Mercury News

Sacramento City Council to take first crack at police, firefighter cuts  
The Sacramento City Council gets its first chance today to dive into a proposed budget that would cut nearly 100 police officers and firefighters, the most severe cutbacks ever to the city's public safety ranks. As part of a plan to fill a $15.7 million deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1, City Manager John Shirey has proposed laying off 62 firefighters and 34 police officers. Another 10 employees in the Police Department would also lose their jobs.
Sacramento Bee

L.A. County’s 911 system burdened by non-emergency calls  
During an eight-hour period at L.A. County Fire Station 41 last week, paramedics responded to a handful of calls but only one actual emergency — a man who reportedly had a seizure while driving on the 105 Freeway. Several other calls, they said, could have been handled differently if there were other options. The call from Marks was one. "Really, what are we going to do for gout?" Capt. Ernie Clayton asked.
Los Angeles Times

Firefighters Battle 2nd Alarm Blaze at Palmdale Strip Mall  
Los Angeles County firefighters battled a second alarm blaze at a large strip mall complex in Palmdale Tuesday morning. The fire was reported around 3:58 a.m. in the 2200 block E. Palmdale Boulevard, between E. 22nd and E. 25th streets. A sign on the front of the building said "CGL Clothing," with a banner advertising a grand opening.
ktla.com

Fresno’s new fire chief ready for challenges  
Fresno's new fire chief is ready to accept a new but not impossible challenge. Monday was Rob Brown's first day on the job and he spent part of it with Action News. Fresno is facing a tough budget situation, and even so, the new chief has high expectations for his department. But all of that is on hold, at least temporarily, while he spends the next few months meeting his team.
KFSN ABC 30 Frenso/Visalia

Update: Underwater Cameras Search For Missing Sacramento Firefighter  
Investigators have narrowed the search for a missing Sacramento firefighter to an area in the northwest part of Camp Far West Lake, they said Monday. Assistant Chief Niko King, of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, said officials believe William Porter is in that area of the lake, but it's a risky dive -- hence, why crews are using underwater robotic cameras to look for the man.
KCRA-TV NBC 3 Sacramento

Dry winter portends busy California wildfire season  
There have already been more than 800 wildfires in California this year - nearly triple the number for this time last year - prompting state fire officials this week to warn residents to prepare for what could be an infernal summer.
sfgate.com