California is Burning (Again)

[char]

I'm of the opinion that unless you can walk away from your house and it won't burn down as a wildfire passes through that at some point it will burn.

If you live in the woods and aren't in touch with this reality....

[bodywhomper]

of course, that is a potential reality of living in the woods. the risk can still be mitigated, though. also, in CA, especially southern ca, whole neighborhoods in built-out suburban areas have burned down due to wildfire. these were neighborhoods at the wildland/urban interface. the fires burned deep into the neighborhoods.

[char]

of course, that is a potential reality of living in the woods. the risk can still be mitigated, though. also, in CA, especially southern ca, whole neighborhoods in built-out suburban areas have burned down due to wildfire. these were neighborhoods at the wildland/urban interface. the fires burned deep into the neighborhoods.

I'm aware. Spent many years trying to stop fires from doing their thing. But the reality is that they will do what they want on some days. And people don't seem able to grasp that.

[char]

of course, that is a potential reality of living in the woods. the risk can still be mitigated, though. also, in CA, especially southern ca, whole neighborhoods in built-out suburban areas have burned down due to wildfire. these were neighborhoods at the wildland/urban interface. the fires burned deep into the neighborhoods.

I'm aware. Spent many years trying to stop fires from doing their thing. But the reality is that they will do what they want on some days. And people don't seem able to grasp that.

No fire that burned homes came as a shock to firefighters. It is just reality.

It doesn't matter if helicopters fly at night, or if there are more airtankers or more firefighters.

[bodywhomper]

you can probably make that statement about any natural hazard: eq, flooding, hurricane, etc. many (not all) people understand conceptually that they live in a high hazard area, but understanding and dealing with the aftermath of their disaster are two different things. following with what you're saying, i often notice a public misunderstanding of what "defensible space" means, i.e. people think that it means their homes won't burn. at least our streets and sidewalks are no longer timber.....

in CA, however, fires in forests would be doing something different if the forests were managed differently. a similar argument can be made about floods and floodplains.

[char]

you can probably make that statement about any natural hazard: eq, flooding, hurricane, etc. many (not all) people understand conceptually that they live in a high hazard area, but understanding and dealing with the aftermath of their disaster are two different things. following with what you're saying, i often notice a public misunderstanding of what "defensible space" means, i.e. people think that it means their homes won't burn. at least our streets and sidewalks are no longer timber.....

in CA, however, fires in forests would be doing something different if the forests were managed differently. a similar argument can be made about floods and floodplains.

Yes, they would behave differently, but our forests haven't been managed differently, so they don't.

And yes, people are as disconnected with many other natural phenomena.

[Meadow Skipper]

...the reality is that (fires) will do what they want on some days. And people don't seem able to grasp that.

No fire that burned homes came as a shock to firefighters. It is just reality.

It doesn't matter if helicopters fly at night, or if there are more airtankers or more firefighters.

Quoted for truth. Especially the last sentence.

[~mikey b]

Oh yeah? What do you know?

Have to admit we are on high alert around here. Always ready to bug out at a moment's notice, but that's the redneck in me I guess.

I've got a big tree falling project planned for this fall. I wish I could have afforded to drop the trees in the spring, but doing it now would mean a lot of limbs and brush on the ground. I'll wait until after the harvest when I can burn it all.

Public seems to be more aware and more nervous. Folks are scrambling to do clearing projects and such.

[splat]

Western great basin has hardly had a burn for the past 2-3 summers due to a general lack of thunder bumpers.
One good storm through the mountains and across the desert and its gonna run.
Markleeville fire was damn early and just a taste.

[bodywhomper]

calfire was dropping retardant less than half mile from my house. contained as a 50'x50' area.

It turns out the fire was about 400' from my house. My next door neighbor showed me the burn this evening after i got home. He and another neighbor were first on scene with shovels in hand. They bugged out when the planes arrived. Super close call.

[LightRanger]

It turns out the fire was about 400' from my house. My next door neighbor showed me the burn this evening after i got home. He and another neighbor were first on scene with shovels in hand. They bugged out when the planes arrived. Super close call.

https://youtu.be/OfPWpEKhgfk?t=11s

[Meadow Skipper]

Thread (or is it smoke) drift: AK's taking an ass-kicking, NIFC's worried, here's the snapshot:
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-...627-story.html

[char]

Thread (or is it smoke) drift: AK's taking an ass-kicking, NIFC's worried, here's the snapshot:
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-...627-story.html

I'd bet the military gets activated next month. Crews as well as the typical aircraft support.

[Meadow Skipper]

I'd bet the military gets activated next month. Crews as well as the typical aircraft support.

I'll be interested to see if military crews go out. I did the battalion thing in 2000 and 2001, then when 9/11 happened getting military crews kind of became a non-starter.

[LightRanger]

then when 9/11 happened getting military crews kind of became a non-starter.

Seems like we've wound down enough now that they might have more manpower available now?

Excellent LAT article.

[Meadow Skipper]

Seems like we've wound down enough now that they might have more manpower available now?

Maybe. Back in my day, when the national preparedness level went to 5 they'd set up a temporary military liaison office at NIFC to help coordinate military activation. Probably still the SOP. Preparedness level 5 means resources are basically exhausted.

You can find the preparedness level on the national sit report:
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

Each geographic area also sets their own preparedness level. As of yesterday the national preparedness level was 3:
https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/fireinfo_prepLevels.html

Excellent LAT article.

Heh, I have history with a number of the people in the picture and mentioned in the text. The guy second from the left in the pic, I trained when he was a rookie AK hotshot, he's from the Taos Pueblo and he and his brother were long-time AK jumpers and his brother was a Taos patroller for years. Get me a drink and I'll tell more stories.

[splat]

Since you were into smokejumping, MS, you know the story of Freefall Hall?

[Albeer]

Unfortunately the management strategy that would lessen wildfire risk would entail lots ofherbicide and daily watering of biomass. Cutting trees or thinning are feel god strategies.

[bodywhomper]

Unfortunately the management strategy that would lessen wildfire risk would entail lots ofherbicide and daily watering of biomass. Cutting trees or thinning are feel god strategies.

Why do you say that? Landscape-level biomass reduction in CA is just starting to gain momentum and funding. Prescribed fire will become a larger tool.

[Meadow Skipper]

Since you were into smokejumping, MS, you know the story of Freefall Hall?

Everyone's heard that one. You ever read Murry Taylor's book? Lots of good stories.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Bad fire here in Wenatchee, something like a dozen homes burned. Very hot and erratic winds, very low humidity. To make matters worse there is a huge warehouse fire that started this evening(they're not sure if it was caused by blowing embers)in a cardboard recycling facility adjacent to fruit packing warehouses with very large tanks of anhydrous ammonia. Scary situation. Safe where we are but a large part of the town is vulnerable right now.

[LightRanger]

Bad news dude. Stay safe.

[bodywhomper]

The Lowell fire started this afternoon and went to 4000ac in less than half a day. Currently, Thus one has potential to be a "large incident." http://yubanet.com/2015Local/Lowell.php

[LightRanger]

Power out at your house? Smoke is going to suck overnight.

[teledad]

Saw the plume from Donner Summit at about 4. Looked pretty big already then. Made for a nice sunset though.