California Fires

[scmhogg]

The fires aren't near us yet. So, it appears that JR and jkristia, who live close to me are all safe. SantaClaritaLen, may be in its path. Latest news said 10,000 homes imperiled.

I feel like the guy who jumped off the Empire State Building. At the 20th floor he was heard to have yelled, "So far, so good."

Steve

[Uncle Cracker]

Here's hoping that everything turns out OK for everybody. Remember that houses and things can be replaced... If the authorities say "Get OUT", do it.

[ragswl4]

Although it was not in the media too much we had a fire (Cottonwood Fire) that started burning towards Idyllwild, Ca where we are building our new home. The highway was closed for two days as they brought the fire under control. The firefighters from Big Bear did something to turn the fire from burning to the East in the direction of Idyllwild to burning to the North away from the areas where homes were located. A few orange groves were lost at the base of the mountain near Hemet, Ca but as of now I don't believe any homes or structures were lost. I think around 2500 acres were burned before they got control of the fire. Gotta have a lot of respect for the firefighters.

The last large fire near Idyllwild, the Espranza Fire cost the lives of 5 Idyllwild firefighters. Highway 243 that runs through Idyllwild is named the Espranza Firefigters Highway in their memory. The residents of Idyllwild also built a home for the family of the Captain that lost his life and left behind his wife and 5 children. This turned out to be an arson fire. The guy who set the fire was convicted of 5 counts of murder just this year.

Hoping all those in the path of the current fires make out OK. Scary when the fires get out of control.

[crokett]

It seems California has wildfires every year. What is it about the climate out there that lends itself to this? I mean, I've been in NC for 15 years and can't remember any here. There was one in SC earlier this year but that was arson.

[Tom Slick]

It's the terrain and ecosystems that cause wildland fires. They are a natural cycle and good for the health of the system. Nature has a 30 year burn cycle that humans attempt to control. California, is naturally a very dry place and we get triple digit weather during the summer with zero rain. It does not rain here between April and October. Also keep in mind that most of these fires usually happen in very low populated areas and the main role of the firefighter is to contain property damage, not to put the fire out.
Cal Fire, the lead agency in fighting wildland fires, employs almost 20,000 people during the year, has 575 stations (a station can be a hut with 1 person in it), 580 engines (some are under contract), and almost 50 aircraft. They'll also enlist the Air National Guard and Reserves, along with the Navy and Army to do aerial fire fighting.
If that gives you any insight to the scale of our fire season.

[TB Roye]

The biggest problem with the wildfires is there are to many people living in the hills and many don't make their home fire resistant, ie cutting brush, tile roofs. There is a big fire going on now 40 mile east of me in Auburn CA Many homes and business lost including a BORG. Hot, dry summers, some wind and bang we are burning. Californias motto should be Shake and Bake.

Tom

[scmhogg]

We're still okay here in Simi. I just heard that two firefighters lost their lives last night. They lost control of their truck, whilst fleeing the fire, that had over-run their position.

The local paper has some awesome pics of the fires.

http://www.venturacountystar.com/pho...ildfires/3737/

Steve

[Santa Clarita Len]

The fires aren't near us yet. So, it appears that JR and jkristia, who live close to me are all safe. SantaClaritaLen, may be in its path. Latest news said 10,000 homes imperiled.

I feel like the guy who jumped off the Empire State Building. At the 20th floor he was heard to have yelled, "So far, so good."

Steve

Thanks for your concern, I am not near the fires and I don't expect to be. I am however concerned about my daughter and her family that live in Sand Canyon and the fire is traveling in their direction from Acton and I pray it is stopped before it gets to them. They have two youngsters, two horses, two dogs, one cat, one 38 ft. boat hooked up to a huge diesel truck (ready to go) and limited means of ingress and egress. Tomorrow is my day to go there and babysit my grand kids and if there are any orders to evacuate the kids and I are out of there.

[crokett]

Len,

Be safe.

Those pictures are sobering. That is a huge fire in those pics.

[jackellis]

I drove back past the Auburn fire last night but by that time it was in the mopping up phase. Today I moved my airplane from the Bay Area to Tahoe and had to make an unscheduled stop in Grass Valley while the winds died down in Truckee. I learned that a modified 747 was used to help fight the Auburn fire. 29,000 gallons of fire retardant in that beast. At least they didn't grab tree pieces like the DC-10 did on its first run.

As Tom Roye points out, fires all across the west and in Alaska are common during the summer months because it's dry and hot. You prepare for it the best you can and then you learn to live with it. Man's propensity to suppress fires only makes the problem worse because naturally occurring fires typically burn up dead branches and turn them into fertilizer, but the longer between fires, the more fuel and the more intense the fire becomes.