AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

EDM Monday Briefing: Possible E. Coli Contamination Forces Beef Recall

Emergency and disaster management briefing for June 15, 2020: Firefighters continue to battle the lightning-caused Bighorn Fire under the command of a Type I Incident Management Team; nearly 43,000 pounds of ground beef have been recalled over E. coli contamination concerns; the East Canyon Fire broke out near Durango on Sunday and has already consumed nearly 1,000 acres; at least 19 people are dead and nearly 200 are injured after a tanker truck filled with liquid nitrogen gas exploded in China; four wildfires erupted in Texas over the weekend, one of which is still burning out of control; after being denied entry to a bar in San Antonio, a man opened fire into the crowd and shot eight people; a wildfire burning in the Kaibab National Forest has rapidly consumed 24,000 acres; and a recent drainage project on Jacksonville’s Westside may actually be making area flooding worse.

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1) Firefighters continue to battle the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains just north of Tucson, Arizona. The fire, which was ignited by lighting over a week ago, has consumed at least 13,200 acres and was only 22 percent contained as of Sunday night. Under a Type I Incident Command Team, more than 630 personnel have been assigned to the wildfire, which has been most active in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness around Romero Canyon and Cathedral Rock.

2) Nearly 43,000 pounds of ground beef is being recalled by a company based in Swedesboro, New Jersey. Lakeside Refrigerated Services is recalling 42,922 pounds of ground beef because it may be contaminated with E. coli. The raw ground beef was distributed to retailers nationwide and includes products with the labels of Marketside Butcher Organic, Thomas Farms Grass-fed (patties also), and Value Packs.

3) A wildfire sparked by lightning broke out just west of Durango, Colorado, on Sunday, quickly consuming 200 acres and prompting mandatory evacuations near the La Plata-Montezuma county line. Named the East Canyon Fire, the blaze grew to about 900 acres overnight. Fire officials noted that the area in which the wildfire is burning has plenty of fuel, which has elicited a robust firefighting response. Firefighters battling the fire are unlikely to be aided by rainfall, as weather forecasts for the region over the next several days call for hot, dry, and windy conditions.

4) A tanker truck explosion in southeastern China on Saturday killed 19 people and injured nearly 200 others. The tanker was carrying liquid nitrogen gas (LNG) when it exploded on a highway in Wenling. The damaged truck fell off the expressway onto a factory below, causing a second explosion that extensively damaged nearby buildings, causing some to collapse. The explosion also ignited fires that raged through the night.

5) Four wildfires ignited in Texas over the weekend, three of which are now contained. One fire continues to burn in Coke County — the McDaniel Fire. The blaze has scorched at least 3,200 acres and was only five percent contained as of Sunday evening. Fire officials are asking for people to avoid State Highway 158 as the fire is burning close by and traffic may need to be diverted.

6) A gunman opened fire on a crowd of people outside a bar in San Antonio late Friday night, injuring eight people. The man was with a group of people who were denied entry to a bar because they were inebriated. He shouted that he was a UFC fighter from California and then made his way to his vehicle. The gunman then he pulled out a gun and began firing into the crowd, striking a total of eight people before he fled the scene.

7) A wildfire, ignited on June 8 from an unknown cause, has now consumed 24,000 acres in the Kaibab National Forest in northeastern Arizona. Dubbed the Mangum Fire, the blaze continues to burn out of control amid near Red Flag Conditions, which are hampering firefighting efforts. A Type 2 Incident Command Team has been assigned to the fire, along with over 435 personnel that are being supported by air tankers dropping fire retardant.

8) A recent drainage project in Jacksonville, Florida’s Westside is allegedly making flooding worse for area residents. The Old Plank Road Outfall Improvements project was meant to help control water flow in the Whitehouse area. The project was designed to reduce the impacts of a 100-year storm flood. However, residents say since the drainage culverts were installed, flooding has increased. The water has negatively impacted residents, including washing away one man’s driveway.

 

Kimberly Arsenault serves as an intern at the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency where she works on plan revisions and special projects. Previously, Kimberly spent 15 years in commercial and business aviation. Her positions included station manager at the former Midwest Express Airlines, as well as corporate flight attendant, inflight manager, and charter flight coordinator. Kimberly currently holds a master's degree in emergency and disaster management from American Public University.

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