California wildfires

[Chris]

Satellite image....

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gwSSrT7-LciDlr1tYmyE9e19oX9QD91IQ2A00

 

[editec]

Poor Golden State.

I look at the tens of thousandz of square miles of heavily forested land that I live next to, and wonder what would happen if Maine had a really serious dought and multiple forest fires sparked off by multiple lightening strikes.

No way in hell we could stop them, if circumstances were just wrong enough, I think.

The East coast has been fairly lucky, so far.

We've got some real timber here which, if it got really dry like the west coast tends to get, and then it caught fire in muliple places from heat lightening or something?

I doubt mankind could stop the East Coast forests from burning for weeks without some help from God himself.

We have these Appalation forests because we basically live in a temporate rain forest.

If the rains held off long enough, the whole East Coast is nothing but fire trap for about 60,000,000 people.

 

[politicsezine]

Every year this happens and every year I seriously wonder if someone (or multiple people) are deliberately setting some of these fires as a form of pyroterrorism... but if that was the case why only target California?

If it was serious pyroterrorists wouldn't they target all of the United States and go on a fire-lighting spree?

 

[Chris]

Poor Golden State.

I look at the tens of thousandz of square miles of heavily forested land that I live next to, and wonder what would happen if Maine had a really serious dought and multiple forest fires sparked off by multiple lightening strikes.

No way in hell we could stop them, if circumstances were just wrong enough, I think.

The East coast has been fairly lucky, so far.

We've got some real timber here which, if it got really dry like the west coast tends to get, and then it caught fire in muliple places from heat lightening or something?

I doubt mankind could stop the East Coast forests from burning for weeks without some help from God himself.

We have these Appalation forests because we basically live in a temporate rain forest.

If the rains held off long enough, the whole East Coast is nothing but fire trap for about 60,000,000 people.

Where I live in Va. there is a wildfire burning in the Dismal Swamp that they can't put out. They say it will take 6 inches of rain in a 24 hour period to put it out. In the 1920's a fire in the same area burned for 3 years. Some days there is so much smoke here that it looks like fog.

 

[editec]

Kirk,

That's horrible. And you say that a fire there lasted 3 years?

Dismal Swamp, indeed.

 

[Chris]

Kirk,

That's horrible. And you say that a fire there lasted 3 years?

Dismal Swamp, indeed.

Yes, three years. The peat is 6-12 feet deep and it burns and smolders. They have no idea when they will be able to put it out. It's like the Springfield tire fire on the Simpsons.

It give our area an "end of the world" quality to it.

 

[BrianH]

Every year this happens and every year I seriously wonder if someone (or multiple people) are deliberately setting some of these fires as a form of pyroterrorism... but if that was the case why only target California?

If it was serious pyroterrorists wouldn't they target all of the United States and go on a fire-lighting spree?

From what I've heard, there's a new resiliant pine-beetle that's been taking over in the last few years. It's been killing millions and millions of trees, leaving them more vulnerable to fires. My wife and I went to Colorado for our honeymoon and it was unbelievable. I had been there about 10 years before and I looked completely different. You can look at sky lines and see just large clumps of brown trees....and they keep spreading. Many Coloradoans are really upset over it. I'm sure this could be the case in other Northwestern-mountainous states as well....I could be wrong, but it's a possibility.

 

[waltky]

Wildfire season out west...

California fires spread; blazes tamed in Colorado
Mon, Jul 10, 2017 - A pair of California wildfires have quickly spread, threatening hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations at a popular lakeside campground and a summer camp where flames temporarily trapped children and counselors, a fire official said.

In other parts of the western US, evacuation orders were lifted in Colorado and Montana towns threatened by wildfires, while air and ground crews battled a growing grass fire in northwestern Colorado. The fire that started early on Saturday afternoon in California’s Santa Barbara County had spread to both sides of Highway 154 and was “completely out of control,” county Fire Department Captain Dave Zaniboni said. About 90 children and 50 counselors were struck at the Circle V Ranch and had to take shelter there until they could be safely evacuated. The Santa Barbara County fire was one of three in California that grew quickly as much of the state baked in heat that broke records.

A record that stood 131 years in Los Angeles was snapped when the temperature spiked at 36.7°C downtown. The previous record of 35°C was set in 1886, the US National Weather Service said. Forecasters warned that temperatures up to 43.3°C would be common in some inland areas and could be deadly for the elderly, children and outdoor workers. Air quality reached “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” levels in areas inland from Los Angeles. High temperatures and dry gusts tripled the size of another Santa Barbara wildfire to about 77km2 over eight hours and forced evacuations of about 200 homes in a rural area east of Santa Maria, fire spokesman Kirk Sturm said.

Cars drive past flames from the “Wall Fire” along Forbestown Road in Oroville, California​

After five years of severe drought, California got a big break with record rainfall and snowpack in parts of the state this year that has delayed the start of fire season in some places, but has also led to explosive vegetation growth that could fuel future fires. In northern California, a Butte County wildfire swept through grassy foothills and destroyed 10 structures, including homes, and led to several minor injuries. The blaze about 97km north of Sacramento grew rapidly to nearly 11km2 and was 20 percent contained, the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

The area burning was about 16km south of Oroville, where spillways in the nation’s tallest dam began crumbling from heavy rains this winter and led to temporary evacuation orders for 200,000 residents downstream. In Colorado, residents of nearly 500 homes outside the ski town of Breckenridge were allowed to return home on Friday night. The grass fire in northwestern Colorado had burned 47km2 and was spreading in several directions at once because of wind patterns from passing thunderstorms, fire information officer Chris Barth said. A wildfire in southern Wyoming grew to 8km2. An unknown number of cabins remained under evacuation orders.

California fires spread; blazes tamed in Colorado - Taipei Times

 

[HenryBHough]

Perhaps, if we are very lucky, we'll get to fully understand the meaning of the term "flaming liberals".

 

[waltky]

Fires that are among the worst in state history...

California fires: Thirteen dead in wine country
Tue, 10 Oct 2017 - Wildfires that are among the worst in state history burn more than 100,000 acres in just 12 hours.

At least 13 people have now died in fast-spreading fires that are ravaging parts of California's wine region. A state of emergency was declared in northern areas after mass evacuations, with 2,000 structures destroyed. About 20,000 people fled from Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties in response to some the state's worst-ever wildfires. Such fires are more common in southern California but a combination of dry weather and strong winds has fuelled the destruction in the north.

Fifteen fires were burning across eight Californian counties​

Cal Fire officials said on Tuesday morning that 17 wildfires in nine counties have burned more than 115,000 acres in just the past 12 hours. "These fires have destroyed structures and continue to threaten thousands of homes, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents," Governor Jerry Brown said. President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for the fire-ravaged state, allowing federal emergency aid to be sent. There is little sign the weather in the coming days will bring much relief to firefighters, BBC Weather says. More tinder dry conditions are forecast, with no rain expected. Meanwhile, in southern California, a separate wildfire burnt 24 homes or other buildings in the wealthy Anaheim Hills area of Orange County, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.


What do we know of the loss of life and damage?

The fires - considered among the deadliest in state history - have sent smoke as far south as San Francisco, located about 60 miles (96km) away. A new fire is reportedly burning near the Oakmont area of Santa Rosa, a city that has already been devastated by the blazes. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the city by flames so hot that glass melted on cars. Details of how the seven people died in Sonoma were not immediately available, but country sheriff Rob Giordano said he expected the death toll to rise. "There is a lot of burned homes and a lot of burned areas, so it's just logical that we're gonna find more people," he said. Two people also died in Napa county and one in Mendocino county when thousands of acres burned in one valley.

Sonoma County officials said they had received more than 150 missing-person reports by Tuesday. Authorities said they have found a few of the missing persons but most of the reports were still under investigation, Sonoma County spokesman Scott Alonso said. Dozens of vineyard workers were reportedly airlifted to safety overnight. Wineries belonging to the rich and famous were abandoned. One belonging to musician Dave Matthews was closed and at risk of being burned to the ground, staff said, as was the nearby Francis Ford Coppola Winery. The vine harvest is already under way and many of the grapes have been picked.

Why did the fires spread so fast?

See also:

Wildfires cause 'dark' skies at California Disneyland
Tue, 10 Oct 2017 - Visitors to the theme park witness eerie orange vistas and ash clouds from nearby wildfires.

The Disneyland theme park in southern California is Halloween-themed for the duration of October. However, as wildfires rage in the Californian countryside surrounding the park, visitors are posting images of "surreal" orange skies and ash clouds. Nate Griffey is an annual pass holder and visits the park once or twice a week. He snapped the ash "falling all over Disney" on Monday 9 October. Speaking to the BBC, Nate said: "You did have to watch out so you didn't get ashes in your eye and make sure you didn't inhale."

Jennifer Barnych posted photos to social media saying "the sky keeps getting darker here." On seeing the photos of ominous ash-clouds, one person on Twitter asked "Is the world ending or something?" The park is close to the community of Anaheim Hills, where thousands of residents have been evacuated as wildfires spread through the area. Rachel Serfati posted photos to social media with the caption "no filter used whatsoever". Andrew Veis was visiting the park on Monday with his wife and two-year-old son. He told the BBC: "It was surreal and spooky. The skies looked apocalyptic almost. "Our thoughts are with the brave first responders and the families who are in danger."

Wildfire's 'dark' skies at Disneyland

 

[waltky]

Fiery conflagrations in California...

California wildfires: Death toll climbs to 31
Fri, 13 Oct 2017 - The fires raging across northern wine counties are now the state's deadliest in 84 years.

The number of people confirmed dead in wildfires sweeping northern California has climbed to 31, as officials warned that conditions would worsen. Hundreds of people remain missing as at least 22 fires rampaged across the state's famous wine country. More than 8,000 firefighters are now battling the flames. The wildfires have destroyed more than 3,500 buildings and homes over 170,000 acres (68,800 hectares) and displaced about 25,000 people. Seventeen people are now confirmed killed in Sonoma County, with another eight in Mendocino County, four in Yuba County and two in Napa County, officials said. The updated casualty figures mean the wildfires are the deadliest in California since 1933, when 29 people died in fires at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

Strong winds that have fanned the flames eased in recent days, but forecasters warned they were set to pick up again on Friday night. "We are not even close to being out of this emergency," Mark Ghilarducci, state director of emergency services, told reporters. State fire chief Ken Pimlott warned of "erratic, shifting winds all weekend". Sonoma County Sheriff Rob Giordano said recovery teams with cadaver dogs were searching the smouldering ruins of homes. "We have found bodies that were completely intact, and we have found bodies that were no more than ash and bone," he said.

Only chimneys remain standing in fire-ravaged districts of Santa Rosa​

It is not yet clear what started the fires on Sunday night, but officials say power lines blown over by strong winds could be the cause. One of the greatest threats to life is believed to be around the town of Calistoga, Napa County, where the entire population of 5,000 has been ordered to evacuate. Geyserville, a town of around 800 people, and the community of Boyes Hot Springs, both in Sonoma, were also evacuated. The huge fires have sent smoke and ash over San Francisco, about 50 miles away, and over some towns and cities even further south. At least 13 Napa Valley wineries have been destroyed, a vintners' trade group says.

Map showing active wildfires in California​

Cannabis plantations in fire-scorched Mendocino County could lose millions as many are uninsured, according to Nikki Lastreto of the local industry association. Marijuana farmers cannot insure their businesses since federal law bans the drug. Though recreational cannabis was legalised in the state in 2016, California's retail market does not open until next January.

Death toll climbs in California wildfires

See also:

Death toll from California wildfire rises, search begins
- The death toll in the disastrous California wildfire great to 31 late on Thursday, even as weary fire crews began making progress against a firestorm.

The fire has been spreading dramatically over the last few days and rescuers are now conducting a grim search for bodies amid the ashes of burned communities. In a press conference late on Thursday, Sonoma County Sheriff Robert Giordano told reporters that a 15th person was found dead in his county. He said that search crews and cadaver dogs began sifting through debris for the first time on the day. Later in the day, officials confirmed the discovery of four more bodies. According to Sonoma County, Cal Fire and Yuba County officials, overall a total of 31 deaths have been reported, 15 in Sonoma County, eight in Mendocino County, four in Yuba County and two in Napa County.

At the briefing Giordano said that the searches could take hours, and identification will be difficult. He said, “So far, in the recoveries, we have found bodies that were almost completely intact and bodies that were nothing more than ash and bone.” He added that in the latter cases, sometimes the only way to identify someone is through a medical device, like an ID number with a metal hip replacement. Giordano said, “We will do everything in our power to locate all the missing persons, and I promise you we will handle the remains with care and get them returned to their loved ones. It could be weeks or even months before all the bodies are identified.”

Meanwhile, state and local officials expressed optimism that milder-than-expected winds and additional firefighting crews from across California were allowing them to make progress against the fires. Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tom Gossner said that hundreds of firefighters were battling the devastating Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa and added, “We need to hit this thing hard and get it done. It’s time to finish this thing.” According to Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey, as of Thursday, staff estimated 2,834 homes were destroyed in the city of Santa Rosa alone. Coursey said that about 400,000 square feet of commercial space was burnt too. Officials also added that the flames had destroyed the city’s newest fire station, on Fountaingrove Parkway.

Cal Fire spokeswoman Heather Williams has said that there is still concern for Calistoga and elsewhere. Officials are expecting winds between 10 mph and 20 mph on Thursday night, and stronger seasonal winds over the weekend. Meanwhile, the fire around Mt. St. Helena hopped Highway 29, which runs adjacent to the mountain north of evacuated Calistoga. Amy Head, a Cal Fire spokeswoman said, "It's so thick [with vegetation], it's so steep. The fire is unpredictable. We don't want to get trapped on this mountain." Further, crews have managed to start a containment line for the 43,000-acre Atlas fire. Residents have been warned that they might have to evacuate eastern sections of town closest to the fire.

Death toll from California wildfire rises search begins

Related:

Horrifying Drone Footage Shows Wildfire Devastation In Santa Rosa
October 11, 2017 - Wildfires have turned entire neighborhoods in Santa Rosa, California, to ash, according to drone footage The Association Press posted Tuesday.

The video shows still-smoldering homes burned to their foundations, blackened trees, and cars that look like they were destroyed in warfare. Standing out in the rubble are the charred skeletons of refrigerators, patio furniture and barbeque pits.

Firefighters continue to battle at least 22 large wildfires across multiple counties, and are preparing for winds to make conditions even worse. The blazes have already burned some 117,000 acres, destroyed about 3,500 structures and triggered mass evacuations. At least 21 people have been killed.

The Tubbs Fire in particular ripped through residential areas of Santa Rosa late Sunday and early Monday. As of Wednesday, it alone had burned 28,000 acres and killed at least 11 people, making it the sixth-deadliest fire in California’s history, according to officials. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has declared a state of emergency for Napa, Sonoma, Yuba Butte, Lake and Mendocino counties.

Horrifying Drone Footage Shows Wildfire Devastation In Santa Rosa

 

[waltky]

Death toll hits 40 in California wildfires...

Death toll hits 40 in California wildfires; thousands find homes destroyed
Oct. 15, 2017 -- The death toll in the Northern California wildfires hit 40 as firefighters entered the second week of attempting to douse multiple blazes and residents returned to find nothing left to salvage from their homes.

Cal Fire reported Sunday nearly 11,000 firefighters "made good progress" in containing the 15 wildfires, which is one less than the day before. Because winds across Northern California were fairly light, the red flag warnings were lifted at 8 a.m. On Saturday night, Sonoma County announced that its coroner had confirmed two more deaths, bringing the death toll there to 22. Nearly 75,000 people -- down from 100,000 on Saturday -- have been evacuated from the fires that have scorched 217,566 acres and destroyed about 5,700 structures, Cal Fire said Sunday.

A new development lies in ruins in Santa Rosa, Calif.​

That includes several thousand homes, including in the wine country of Napa. "You realize, you don't put your boots on and your gloves on and go sift through stuff. There's nothing to sift through," Janice Mathis told KOVR-TV. "The first thing we think of is we're fortunate." She owned a three-bedroom home with her husband Bill. More than 100 homes across this neighborhood near Silverado Resort in Napa burned down in the Atlas fire that killed two people. The Silverado Resort escaped major damage. Michaella Flores, who was uninjured in Las Vegas when a gunman opened fire on the crowd at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, returned to Santa Rosa days later to find her home destroyed by fire. "It's just a very helpless feeling," she said to CNN. "I just thought, well, I've been in these situations before. It shouldn't be a big deal. But when it's happening to you, it's a whole different realm."

Firefighters battle the Nuns fire along Highway 12 in Santa Rosa, Calif.​

Flores, a former firefighter and paramedic, said: "I don't sleep. I haven't had any time to process any of this." The Federal Emergency Management Agency is assessing damage, providing aid to local agencies and offering federal funding to residents affected by the fire. The National Guard is helping the California Highway Patrol block the roads, as Caltrans crews in the hills work to remove debris and downed power lines, CHP Capt. Chris Childs said. "We're going to be here for weeks," said Robert Vicham said to the Los Angeles Times as he controlled the traffic flow on a two-lane highway. "I'm 51 and been in California my whole life, and I've never seen a fire this bad."

A firefighter battles the Nuns fire along Highway 12 in Santa Rosa, Calif.​

Three fires have consumed more than 133,000 acres, according to Cal Fire. The Atlas fire in Napa and Solano counties had reached 51,057 acres and was 56 percent contained followed by the Nuns fire in Sonoma County that scorched 47,106 acres and was 25 percent contained, and the Tubbs fire in Sonoma and Napa counties at 35,470 acres and 60 percent contained. Although red flag warnings were across Northern California, they remain in South California where there are small fires. And though the winds had died down and temperatures were hovering in the mid-80s Sunday, dry air will continue to ignite grass and vegetation into fuel. National Weather Service forecaster Steve Anderson said to the Los Angeles Time: "It's been drying out the mountains."

Death toll hits 40 in California wildfires; thousands find homes destroyed

See also:

Wildfires Now Up To 100 Miles Wide as Death Toll Reaches 40
15 Oct 2017 | At least 5,700 homes have been destroyed as the wildfires continued to burn for a sixth day.

They fled in fear nearly a week ago. Now they're ready to go back. While wildfires are still burning powerfully in parts of Northern California, some of the tens of thousands of evacuees are getting antsy to return to homes that aren't under immediate threat. Others want to see if they still have homes to return to. But authorities are staying cautious in the face of blazes that have now killed at least 40 people and destroyed at least 5,700 homes. "We're on pins and needles," Travis Oglesby, who evacuated from his home in Santa Rosa, said to Sonoma County Sheriff Robert Giordano on Saturday. "We're hearing about looting."

Although some evacuees were returning home in Mendocino County, the latest estimates were that about 100,000 people were under evacuation orders as the fires burned for a sixth day. Plans were in the works to reopen communities, but they were not ready to be put into effect, said Dave Teter, a deputy director with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Douglas and Marian Taylor stood outside their apartment complex Saturday in Santa Rosa with their two dogs and a sign that said "End evacuation now." Their building was unharmed at the edge of the evacuation zone with a police barricade set up across the street. The couple said they are spending about $300 per day to rent a motel and eat out, and they want to return home because the fire does not appear to threaten their home.

Fresno firefighter Peter Lopez holds a water hose as he monitors a backburn while fighting a wildfire in Glen Ellen, Calif.​

At an evacuation center at the fairgrounds in the Sonoma County city of Petaluma, volunteers sorted through mounds of donated baby wipes, diapers, pillows, shoes and clothing. Randy Chiado and his wife, Barbara, evacuated Monday from the Oakmont section of Santa Rosa. They stayed for several days with a friend in Santa Rosa but left Saturday when flames approached again and sought refuge at the fairgrounds. "After so many times of 'It's coming, get ready. It's coming, get ready,' it just gets nerve-wracking," Barbara Chiado said. Life away from home has been difficult and dangerous. Randy Chiado said a man who may have suspected he was a looter tried to punch him through his car window and yelled for a friend to get a gun when the Chiados turned onto a residential street. He said he was able to push the man off and drive away.

The couple planned to spend the night with other evacuees in a room set up with cots. "It's like jail," he said. Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, though officials think they'll locate most of them alive. Most of the deceased are believed to have died late on Oct. 8 or early Oct. 9, when the fires exploded and took people by surprise in the dead of night. Most of the victims were elderly, though they ranged in age from 14 to 100. "It's a horror that no one could have imagined," Gov. Jerry Brown said, after driving past hundreds of "totally destroyed" homes with Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris.

From the sky, large subdivisions that burned to the ground looked like black and white photos. Each neatly outlined lot is full of ashen rubble. Cars are burned a darker gray. Trees still standing are charred black. Only streets look unscathed. Brown, 79, and Feinstein, 84, said the fires were the worst of their lifetimes. The two veteran politicians reminded people that the blazes remain a threat and that people need to leave their homes when told to go. No causes have been determined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility. In all, 17 large fires still burned across the northern part of the state, with more than 10,000 firefighters attacking the flames using air tankers, helicopters and more than 1,000 fire engines. Signs posted in Sonoma thanked the firefighters. One declared them "heroes among us."

Source

Related:

California Making Progress Containing Wildfires
October 15, 2017 - Evacuees from a number of counties in California have been allowed to return home as fire fighters say they've turned a corner in containing blazes that have devastated the state. "Conditions have drastically changed from just 24 hours ago, and that is definitely a very good sign. And it's probably a sign we've turned a corner on these fires,'' said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"We're starting to see fires with containment numbers in the 50 and 60 percent, so we're definitely getting the upper hand on these fires," he added. Belia Ramos of the Napa County Board of Supervisors spoke to reporters Sunday morning for what she said would be the last time as Napa County, best known for producing wine, moved into recovery mode. “This is our last planned press conference and the reason for that is that we are now switching over towards recovery mode. It’s a day I have looked forward to for a week. A week ago this started as a nightmare and the day we’ve dreamed of has arrived," Ramos said Sunday.

A wildfire burns behind a winery, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, California.​

But fire fighters across the state are still battling flames. The death toll rose to at least 40 on Saturday, with at least 16 fires burning. One side of the fire zone stretched for 160 square kilometers, destroying some 5,700 homes and businesses. Some 100,000 people have evacuated their homes. But some have stayed behind. "It was wind driven. Wind driven is basically powerful winds started pushing and intensifies the fire," said Captain Jimmy Bernal of the Rancho Fire District. The flames have crept into the town of Sonoma, a name synonymous with the California wine industry, forcing 400 households in the city of 11,000 to evacuate.

Homes burned by a wildfire are seen, Oct. 11, 2017, in Santa Rosa, California.​

The strong, dry Santa Ana winds that blow down from the mountains every late summer and early fall are creating conditions that make the fires spread easily. Some gust to 64 kilometers per hour, pushing the flames over fire breaks dug by firefighters. More than 9,000 people — many of them exhausted — are fighting the California wildfires, both local fire personnel and thousands of volunteers, who have poured into the area over the last few days. The firefighters have come from other parts of California, and as far away as Australia.

California Making Progress Containing Wildfires

 

[waltky]

27,000 are being forced to evacuate their homes...

1 dead as 27,000 evacuate wildfires in Southern California
Dec. 5, 2017 -- One person has been killed and 27,000 are being forced to evacuate their homes as fast-moving wildfires torch Southern California.

The Thomas fire in Ventura County -- the first fire -- started last night and quickly grew. The second blaze, the Creek fire, started at 4 a.m. near Sylmar. Authorities say the fires have burned through more than 45,000 acres of land in the city of Ventura by Tuesday and has destroyed 150 structures.

The Thomas Fire burns in Ventura County, Calif, on Monday, where officials said more than 26,000 acres have been burned and one person has died.​

Officials said at least one death in Ventura County has been reported, from an automobile crash that occurred as the victim tried to evacuate. One firefighter was hit by a car while protecting a home. He is being held at a hospital for evaluation.

https://cdnph.upi.com/svc/sv/upi_com/3411512474091/2017/3/132f761110862635e25dc832711978ba/1-dead-as-27000-evacuate-wildfires-in-Southern-California.jpg[/img
The Thomas Fire burns in Ventura County, Calif, on Monday, where officials said more than 26,000 acres have been burned and one person has died. [/center]

Firefighters are confronted by 50 mph winds that, accompanied with the intensity of the blaze, could make it difficult to contain. "The prospects for containment are not good," Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. "Really, mother nature is going to decide." "We urge you, you must abide by these evacuation notices," Ventura County Sheriff Jeff Dean said on Monday. "We saw the disasters and the losses that happened up north in Sonoma and this is a fast, very dangerous moving fire." "As far as getting ahead of the fire, that's exactly what we're doing right now, but it's in defense of structure and property right now, not actually trying to put the fire out," Lorenzen said.

More than 1000 firefighters are fighting the blaze with zero containment so far.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/12/05/1-dead-as-27000-evacuate-wildfires-in-Southern-California/3411512474091/?utm_source=upi&utm_campaign=mp&utm_medium=5[/quote]​

 

[Old Rocks]

Fires at 98 square miles now. No containment.

 

[hjmick]

My old stomping grounds...

 

[skookerasbil]

Is there a run on marshmallows?

 

[ShootSpeeders]

I look at the tens of thousandz of square miles of heavily forested land that I live next to, and wonder what would happen if Maine had a really serious dought and multiple forest fires sparked off by multiple lightening strikes.
.

Hey einstein. You folks in maine get much much more moisture than CA. You're not gonna get a really big forest fire in your lifetime.

 

[ShootSpeeders]

Brownie spends billions of dollars a year on freebies for illegals so they will vote democrat when that money should be spent on fire prevention and control. Trump should refuse to help out the state till they stop being a sanctuary (outlaw) state.

 

[ShootSpeeders]

From what I've heard, there's a new resiliant pine-beetle that's been taking over in the last few years. It's been killing millions and millions of trees, leaving them more vulnerable to fires. My wife and I went to Colorado for our honeymoon and it was unbelievable. I had been there about 10 years before and I looked completely different. You can look at sky lines and see just large clumps of brown trees....and they keep spreading. Many Coloradoans are really upset over it. I'm sure this could be the case in other Northwestern-mountainous states as well....I could be wrong, but it's a possibility.

Yeah - the pine-borer beetle is killing trees by the millions in the rockies. CO had a very bad drought from 2001-13 which weakened the trees and also they haven't been getting the real cold winter temps that kill off the beetle. The state needs some nights where the mountains get down to -40 F and that hasn't been happening.

 

[TomParks]

California has wildfires like Oklahoma has tornadoes.....I cant believe the insurance companies cover fire prone areas