2020 Wildfire Season

[yeahman]

Damn KQ, that's awful to hear, stay safe..

[Lone Star]

you got this KQ hope it just saves you some fall chores and nothing worse

[KQ]

Powerlines down

[~mikey b]

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2020/...0F-9bot8Zp8gvU


attempted helicopter rescue of trapped campers unsuccessfull

[bobz]

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2020/...0F-9bot8Zp8gvU


attempted helicopter rescue of trapped campers unsuccessfull

Ugh, terrible news.

There's a bit of geographical confusion going on in that article: The death wouldn't have been near Lake Edison, as Edison seems to be at a safe distance (for now) from the fire, even though its driveable access routes are now completely blocked; the hiker death might have been (somewhat) near China Peak ski area which is much closer to the current fire line, but that isn't clear either.

Anyway, looks like reports of VVR "caravaning" out today (which I got from their FB page) were optimistic; their FB update says that they're sheltering, keeping folks fed (now 70 people including "officers"), and hoping for evacuation (presumably via helicopter at this point) tomorrow.


Stay safe, KQ.

[evdog]

Hope everything turns out ok, KQ


I had a pretty interesting weekend. I'd planned to do some exploring in the area above Shaver Lake and Huntington Res. Apparently the fire started about an hour after I left home Friday evening. Got up to that general area late Friday night. On Saturday I made my way up from the Kings River towards Dinkey Creek and Shaver Lake. As I came around a corner this came into view, more or less in the exact direction I was heading. Didn't look big, but I figured my plans would be changing.

Another driver I talked to said the fire was near Tamarack Resort (by China Peak). He'd been turned around at a CHP roadblock on Hwy 168 so he went back to Pine Flat Lake and up the back way.

Near Dinkey Creek I saw some sheriff deputies unloading side by sides from a truck. Asked where the closures were and they said Bald Mtn was being evacuated along with everything between there and Huntington Res.




There was a short ride I'd wanted to do closer to Shaver Lake so I checked it out. Emerged from the trees at one point to this view. The fire was burning just beyond the ridge, less than 2mi away. Yikes




Wider view. Looks like the spot I took this pic from has now burned.

I'd been told areas south of Dinkey Creek Rd were not being evacuated and there were still tons of people camped there. I decided to head out of the area after my ride anyways. With fire that close I figured the whole area would soon be shut down.




I headed south down towards Camp Nelson. There has been a fire burning in Golden Trout Wilderness by Forks of the Kern for a month or so but it didn't seem to be growing much and I figured it wouldn't be an issue. I spent Sunday riding. Waking up this morning smoke was much worse. Went out for a ride around 9am. When I got back to the truck around 11 I found this note on the windshield. Was wondering why the campground cleared out, some of the campers were still going strong at 4am so I'm sure they got a rude awakening. Headed home rather than try to stop for any additional rides along the way.

[gravitylover]

I hope all is well for you Jaxx and KQ.

[Norseman]

morning satellite roundup

[KQ]

morning satellite roundup

.....

[KQ]

Crews left around midnight but had to be called out again at 2am. Fire got into the treeline along the river.

Town of Malden WA burned down last night 90% of structures burned to the ground.

[Norseman]

These blew up overnight! I'm concerned for the little burgs along 22... Gates, Detroit, Mill City, Lyons.

[telehacker]

9/07
The wind event that came thru Pocatello was the strongest wind system I have seen in the 15 yrs of living here. We were luck and had no uncontrolled fire on the ground at the time of arrival. We started out dry and it blew for several hours then the rain came. 1st rain in several months for us. Now for all the IC, ground folks that had fire on the ground at the start of this your fire is really big this morning and and things have changed greatly.

Hope we did not get anyone hurt in this event. 2020 fire season is on par with the rest of the amazing (JOKE) year of 2020.

PraY FOR rain

[GoldMember]

Crews left around midnight but had to be called out again at 2am. Fire got into the treeline along the river.

Town of Malden WA burned down last night 90% of structures burned to the ground.

Wow, scary night for you. Hope your horses were safe and never under threat. They (and you) could have done without the stress of the fire, I'm sure.

Malden was the very first place I lived as my family was there when I was born. We moved to Tekoa when I was about 6 months and I've never been back but it still strikes a chord that my very first home was likely destroyed yesterday. I need to ask my brother if he knows the outcome. Sad day but not nearly as devastating as what many went through. Tough day.

[yeahman]

Feels like the fucking Apocalypse in the west right now. Sucks. We had some rain/snow yesterday and frost this morning, but the forecast is dry and warming and windy. Stressful. Vibes to everybody affected and good luck. Pray for rain.

[Norseman]

the satellite imagery is nuts. i'll stop posting these if it gets old.

in addition to the huDge smoke plumes, dust/ash streams west from helens, hood, and rainier.




yesterday i saw a dust plume being blown up and over the north face of rainier from the strange heavy north winds.

there are a few fires in puget sound now, including one forcing evacuations in bonney lake

[PNWbrit]

the satellite imagery is nuts. i'll stop posting these if it gets old.

in addition to the huDge smoke plumes, dust/ash streams west from helens, hood, and rainier.




yesterday i saw a dust plume being blown up and over the north face of rainier from the strange heavy north winds.

there are a few fires in puget sound now, including one forcing evacuations in bonney lake

And a 10 acre fire alongside 410 between Enumclaw and GW

[DJSapp]

I'm just going to go ahead and guess that the Creek Fire has likely reached China Peak. The fire perimeter was 3 miles short of the mountain as of this morning's update. RIP Sierra Summit.

[~mikey b]

PG&E power shut off to a bunch of the Sierra and foothills. Pirating wifi at the moment.

windy as fuck

[~mikey b]

I'm just going to go ahead and guess that the Creek Fire has likely reached China Peak. The fire perimeter was 3 miles short of the mountain as of this morning's update. RIP Sierra Summit.

maybe not

they flew a few folks out of there this morning - I know the ski area will be a priority

[DJSapp]

maybe not

they flew a few folks out of there this morning - I know the ski area will be a priority

You might be right. Just checked up on FIRMS and it looks like it's not progressing that way at the moment, but if this wind that we have gets down there, I wouldn't count on it having much of a chance.

[puma]

the satellite imagery is nuts. i'll stop posting these if it gets old.

in addition to the huDge smoke plumes, dust/ash streams west from helens, hood, and rainier.




yesterday i saw a dust plume being blown up and over the north face of rainier from the strange heavy north winds.

there are a few fires in puget sound now, including one forcing evacuations in bonney lake

Crazy.

[Lone Star]

^^^^ know youre worried about the velocity but as long as the direction stays E-ish.... shubbe gud

[The AD]

Pretty amazing how quickly the smoke blew into Western Washington last night. I can still smell smoke outside my house right now, but the air looks fairly clear.

[PNWbrit]

This guy seen walking towards 410 fire this morning.

[KQ]

^that's awesome! LOL!

Really dodged a bullet last night. Given how bad the wind was here yesterday (blowing 30mph, gusting over 50mph) it could have been far worse but at the time it started the winds relaxed just a bit. Still amazed it wasn't worse.

My nearest neighbor took this photo: