I’ve heard a former state fire marshal talking about this policy “mistake” in a public forum... a mistake in hindsight. It first came to light and recognition in 2003.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lone Star
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I’ve heard a former state fire marshal talking about this policy “mistake” in a public forum... a mistake in hindsight. It first came to light and recognition in 2003.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lone Star
What are you, a Finn??Quote:
Originally Posted by old goat
Hard not to notice the tall green trees with a few patches of charred bark standing among the ash piles that were houses. "Forest fire," while not 100% wrong seems the wrong descriptor. Hopefully study happens, lessons are learned, and policies changed. Parents got a visit from the county fire officials for the first time ever, signs of progress.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lone Star
Wildland fire professionals and researchers have known about defensible space and houses spreading fire to each other for a long time (I knew about this and it was part of standard Calfire in brief 20 years ago when I went down there).
Defensible space standards, home spacing and enforcement etc are a political problem not a knowledge problem.
The fire guys around here say that defensible space works for smaller fires, not big ones. The problem with big ones is wind blown embers, not advancing fire front, and the only prevention is fire-hardening individual houses. A lot of wood decks around here--having a fire-resistant roof doesn't do much good when your deck's on fire. I'm no expert, but that's what we're being told. We still do the defensible space of course, but we're under no illusion it will always protect us. One problem in our neighborhood---defensible space is only enforced on developed lots and there is still lots of undeveloped private buildable land adjacent to us that is overgrown and ready to burn.
Regarding spaces between homes in suburbs. I agree that it’s political. Apparently, the big up and coming change will be in the states wildfire hazard severity zone mapping.
Wind blown embers are a huge problem, especially in later season fires when the deciduous trees are just waiting for the strong wind to release their leaves. When that strong wind is pyro-based, you get the problem experienced by paradise.
The more space between houses the farther houses extend into the wildland urban interface.Quote:
Originally Posted by bodywhomper
Gunnison Fire north of Chico be burnin'
I believe it’s more about zoning codes and planning. Where I grew up in Orange County, the lot sizes stayed the same but newer and newer subdivisions (often in former ag fields and orchards) had homes built closer and closer together.Quote:
Originally Posted by old goat
I did some “raking” today at my house with a br600 and a McLeod. :D
I was scheduled to help on a 17ac Rx private property burn in my neighborhood next week that just got cancelled. It was being led by a hired burn boss. The burn boss's input yesterday was that 1,000-hour fuels in the area are already below historic minimums and the property owner will likely need to be mopping up and patrolling the property all summer and fall.
Can you explain for us homeowners who still use rakes. I think I understand from the googles but not sure.
I’m a novice at this, too. The observation by the burn boss (the person who prepared the burn plan for this property and will be leading the burn), dead logs on the ground between 3-8” diameter (1,000-hr fuel) that should still have a high moisture content from the wet season and not be ready to burn well during a typical May in the Sierra foothills are currently very dry. The burn boss is predicting that a prescribed burn at the property, which includes a lot of that sized fuel and larger and was mostly predicted to not ignite under his plan, would likely burn and smolder for months and require a lot of time to extinguish after the rx burn is over.Quote:
Originally Posted by old goat
Typing on my phone. Did I get it right.
Also, Calfire may install their burn ban next week.
Perfect explanation.Quote:
Originally Posted by bodywhomper
That probably means Truckee's outdoor wood and charcoal fire pits, BBQ's, etc will be banned as well.
Tracking local 1000 hr fuel moisture is an excellent way to determine the severity of fire conditions.
That and wind.
CA snowpack reaches melt out at record-earliest date in season.
Along with record low fuels moisture, this shit is (maybe) gonna suck (somewhere) and we won't know until it's already upon us.
Be prepared. Make plans. Get ready for refugees and to send support.
https://weatherwest.com/archives/9452
https://twitter.com/weather_west/sta...387533313?s=21
and the smoke....
Water is still flowing well over the Clementine Dam but it doesn’t sound like it will continue for long.Quote:
Originally Posted by lepistoir
mrs ::: :::'s childhood home likely burned down today in Camarillo
WHILE she was there visiting her mom who recently went into the hospital.
she has her laptop, purse & her mom's suv
Luckily she is safe; her mom is safe
Thus far the hospital is safe too
the helicopter shots are nuts
all sorts of homes gone and the wind isn't abating yet
fukfukfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck
https://abc7.com/post/ventura-county...ning/15518152/
https://app.watchduty.org/
Quote:
Originally Posted by ::: :::
woah. sorry man
Bummer. Sorry and hope your MIL is ok. Having your wife there already is likely really helpful.
Friend in the local FD drove up to see & somehow the house is still there!
Fire’s not done tho (zero% contained last I looked) & the winds are at red flag until tomorrow afternoon.
Long night ahead for the brave regional emergency forces
Wild how big that fire got so quickly.
I had a trail work project scheduled yesterday. Got word from rangers as we were starting that the City/county just issued an order against employees using any power tools in open space parks. They decided not to let us use hand tools either. No complaint here, I'd hate to be that guy who unintentionally starts a fire.
We have a trail network on a piece of land owned by a large developer. They're planning to put 3,000 homes on it. Their project was approved by city council and then successfully sued due to inadequate wildfire evacuation capacity (only two 2-lane roads in/out). This area burned in 2002. It took less than 20 min for the fire to burn from Hwy 67 to I-15. That's 8-10 miles. No way they're evacuating 3,000 homes in that little time. Fires like the Mountain fire prove it.
A day or two before the mountain fire they apparently issued the strongest fire danger warning in the area's history, so I guess it's lucky that a couple of other small fires in the area haven't taken off.