Posts Tagged ‘California Fires’
Posted by feww on October 15, 2017
Red Flag Warnings remain in effect across N. California as strong north winds increase fire activity
Gusty winds increased fire activity on Saturday, forcing more than 100,000 people to abandon their homes including 3,000 from the city of Santa Rosa, as of Saturday, Cal Fire reported.
More than 10,000 fire personnel are trying to control 16 large wildfires that in total have burned at least 214,000 acres (~86,600 hectares).
These extremely destructive blazes, have destroyed an estimated 5,700 structures, killing at least 40 people, with hundreds of others reported as missing including 235 in Sonoma County alone.
The death toll is expected to rise as cadaver dogs begin searching the rubble from thousands of incinerated homes.
Red Flag Warnings
Red Flag Warnings remain in effect across Northern California due to strong north winds, which have already increased fire activity. A Red Flag Warning is also in effect in Southern California through the weekend, Cal Fire reported.
Deadliest Wildfires in California History
The wildfires are now the deadliest in California history, surpassing the previous record of 29 deaths from the 1933 Griffith Park fire in Los Angeles.
Wildfire Season Currently Third Worst in the US History
This year’s wildfire season is currently (Saturday, October 14) the third worst in the US history, with more than 8.7 million acres charred, behind 2015 (9.3 million acres) and 2012 (8.9 million acres). The ten-year annual average (2006 – 2016) is 6 million acres, according to NIFC.
Countrywide Active Resources (NIFC)
Fires: 28 | Cumulative: 605,997 acres | Crews: 251 | Engines: 933 | Helicopters: 60 | Personnel: 11,254
Posted in News Alert | Tagged: California Fires, deadly fire, Mass Evacuation, Red Flag Warning, Redwood Valley, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, wildfire | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on September 4, 2009
Breaking News: Station fire arson; homicide investigation underway
“No-Good” for “Lifestyle” and fires cost too much to “fight!”
A [Neanderthal ] took up residence [in SoCal], dug a cellar [deep inside the forest] and built a log house on top of it; paved up large tracts of the forest and mountainside and bought two cars. After 20 years he decided SoCal was no good for living, for most of his forest had gone, the water table had dropped by 8 yards and he didn’t have enough water to spare the fish [and the cost of ‘fighting’ the fires had become unaffordable.] —Adapted from My Life, My Trees, by Richard St. Barbe Baker [Quoted by EDRO]
Station Fire 38% Contained
This UPDATE was posted on September 3, 2009 at 5:32 PM PDT (September 4, 2009 at 00:32 UTC)
Some 4,735 fire crew have contained about 38 % of the Station Fire, estimated at 144,743 acres.
Five other fires are still burning in SoCal:
- Oak Glen 3 (San Bernardino Unit, Cal Fire): 1,159 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is four miles north of San Bernardino. Minimal fire activity was reported.
- Morris (Angeles National Forest): 2,168 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is five miles north of Azusa.
- Big Meadow (Yosemite National Park): 6,283 acres at 60 percent contained. This fire is two miles northeast of El Portal. Structures remain threatened and roads are closed. Precipitation fell on the fire yesterday.
- Pendleton (San Bernardino Unit, Cal Fire): 860 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is burning two miles east of Yucaipa. Fire activity was minimal.
- Red Rock (Klamath National Forest): 1,382 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles west of Fort Jones. Minimal fire activity was reported.
Year-to-date statistics:
Fires: 65,483; Acres: 5,459,428
10-year average
Fires: 62,862; Acres: 5,754,861
Cost of fighting “wildfires?”
(CALFIRE Budget)
1998/9: $44 million
2008/9: Just under $1.7 billion
2009/10: $2.0 billion (?)
A rise of more than 45 folds!
Problem with SoCal:
“No-Good” for “Lifestyle” and fires cost too much to “fight!”
SoCal Fires: “Nothing personal; it’s just business, folks!”
External Links:
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Posted in Angeles National Forest, Azusa, california water table, Klamath National Forest, Oak Glen 3, Station Fire, Yosemite National Park | Tagged: CalFire, calfire budget, California Fires, cost of fighting fire, SoCal Fires, Yucaipa | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 29, 2009
Image of the Day: Rancho Palos Verdes on Fire
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declares a state of emergency for Los Angeles and Monterey counties as new brush fires consume more than 12,000 acres.
Residents watch a brush fire burn in Rancho Palos Verdes, California August 27, 2009. Photo: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
For the latest on California brush fires and the US “wildfire” stats see:
https://feww.wordpress.com/calif-fires-2009/
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Posted in Calif governor, downtown Los Angeles, La Canada Flintridge, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, state of emergency | Tagged: calif fires 2009, California Fires, Los Angeles county, Monterey county, Rancho Palos Verdes, Schwarzenegger, US fire stats, US forest fires | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 14, 2008
Wildfires: The Golden Fleecing of America
The Raw Facts
- Cost of fighting wildfire in California since July 1: $285 million [And it’s just the beginning!]
- Daily cost of fighting the fire [which should be allowed to burn out] : up to $13 million
- Cost of fighting California fires a decade ago: $44million a year
- Why aren’t the fires allowed to burn naturally? Need the unburnt fuel for next year’s fires!
- “There is no more fire season as we know it — the fire season is now all year-round,” said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in July while touring wildfires in N. California. “That means that we don’t have enough resources.“
Burn Baby, Burn!
In this July 5, 2008, file photo, firefighters watch as a brush fire burns out of control in the Santa Ynez Mountains near Goleta, Calif. (AP Photo/Phil Klein, File). Image may be subject to copyright. See Fair Use Notice.
- California’s budget deficit: $15.2 billion [Are you surprised? They don’t call us the Golden State for nothing. Our forests are paved with the precious stuff!]
- Calif. Sen. Feinstein is seeking $910 million in emergency funding [for now anyway.]
- Forest Service has already spent about $900million, or 75 percent of its fire-suppression budget, and the season hasn’t even peaked yet.
- Last year Forest Service spent more than 50 percent of its entire budget on fires, compared with only 13 percent in 1991.
- Allstate Corp., as if it had already smelled a rat, stopped selling new homeowner policies in California in 2007. They have 50,000 fewer homeowner policies in the state this year than in 2006. (WSJ)
Our forecast for 2009 California fires?
They’d cost more to “fight” than the 2008 Fires. Guaranteed!
Get the message?
Related Links:
Posted in Climate Change, energy, environment, food, Global Warming, health, politics, Tourism, Travel | Tagged: Allstate Corp, California Fires, Feinstein, Goleta, San Diego, Scripps Ranch, socal, The Golden Fleecing of America, the Golden State, wildfires | 4 Comments »
Posted by feww on August 4, 2008
Fighting wildfires is big business! There would always be enough fuel for new blazes.
Wildfires: The Golden Fleecing of America
The Raw Facts
- Cost of fighting wildfire in California since July 1: $285 million [And it’s just the beginning!]
- Daily cost of fighting the fire [which should be allowed to burn out] : up to $13 million
- Cost of fighting California fires a decade ago: $44million a year
- Why aren’t the fires allowed to burn naturally? Need the unburnt fuel for next year’s fires!
- “There is no more fire season as we know it — the fire season is now all year-round,” said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in July while touring wildfires in N. California. “That means that we don’t have enough resources.“
Read more …
California Fires Update # 3
SISKIYOU COMPLEX STATUS: Southwest of Happy Camp, CA
- Start date: 6/21/08
- Cause: Lightning
- Estimated Size: 59,678 acres
- Percent Contained: 60%
- No. of Firefighters: 1,492
- Injuries to date: 8
Ukonom Complex Status:
- Start date: 6/20/08
- Cause: Lightning
- Estimated Size: 42,195 acres
- Percent Contained: 66%
- No. of Firefighters: 438
- Injuries to date: 6
Blue 2 Status
- Start date: 6/20/08
- Cause: Lightning
- Estimated Size: 6,846 acres
- Percent Contained: 52%
- No. of Firefighters: 400
- Injuries to date: 2
(Source)
Yolla Bolly Complex Fire Update
- Acres Burned : 72,367
- Crews: 10
- Cause: Lightning
- Date Started: June 20, 2008
- Percent Contained: 30%
Rich and Belden Fires FACTS (!)
- Rich Fire: 5,199 acres / 15% contained
- Belden Fire: 474 acres / 70% contained
- Costs for both fires: $2,591,500
- Incident Type : Wildland Fire
- Cause: Under Investigation
- Date of Origin: Wednesday July 29th, 2009
- Location: 20 miles west of Quincy, CA
- Total Personnel Committed: 1,065
- Size: 6,371 acres
- Percent Contained: 45%
Plumas County:
Rich Fire
Location: 20 miles west of Quincy
Administrative Unit: Plumas National Forest
Canyon Complex
Location: Various locations within the Plumas Forest
Administrative Unit: Plumas National Forest
Siskiyou County:
Bear Wallow Complex
Location: 14 miles west of Etna
Administrative Unit: Klamath National Forest
Panther Fire
Location: 15 miles south of Happy Camp
Administrative Unit: Klamath National Forest
Siskiyou Complex
Location: Southwest of Happy Camp
Administrative Unit: Klamath National Forest
Ukonom Complex
Location: 5 miles north of Somes Bar
Administrative Unit: Six Rivers National Fores
Trinity County:
Iron & Alps Complex
Location: Junction City
Administrative Unit: Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Lime Complex
Location: 5 miles west of Hayfork
Administrative Unit: Shasta-Trinity National Forest
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Posted in Climate Change, energy, environment, food, Global Warming, health, politics, Tourism, Travel | Tagged: Business as usual, California Fires, Canyon Complex, Plumas County, Rich Fire, SISKIYOU COMPLEX, Ukonom Complex, wildfire | 3 Comments »
Posted by feww on July 31, 2008
“A Conspiracy Against the Public”: For political reasons, Google has blocked this post. [Aug 14, 2008]
Wildfires are big business. Big business is good business!
Here’s how the formula works:
1. Calif residents, instead of being discouraged (for obvious reasons), are encouraged to build their dream homes at the edge of wildlands, areas prone to wildfire. More than 1 million homes (about 61% of all new housing) built in California, Oregon and Washington between 1990 to 2000 were erected at the edge of fire-prone wildlands, a University of Wisconsin study reported.
2. Brush clearing and creation of firebreaks are frowned upon because they are regarded as “too expensive!” The “excess fuel” which is not cleared away [or allowed to burn out the previous years] increases the danger to life and property, which continue being erected on ill-situated sites. The 2003 fires which extended from the Mexican border to Los Angeles suburbs, claimed about 20 lives, including one firefighter, and about 2,750 homes and other building. Official damage estimates ranged from $1.25 to $2 billion, making the fires the most expensive in state history. Now, they’ve got everyone by the short and curlies [soon their hearts and minds will follow!]
3. Thus a mini cold hot war is declared [an “arms race” with forest fires,] and the stakes are upped each year.
4. But what ever happened to President [sic] Bush’s Healthy Forests Initiative (HFI)? Wasn’t it meant to stop the wildfires? Using the hype of the 2002 fire season, the Bush administration proposed a series of drastic administrative changes to the way our National Forests are managed. Combined, these proposals will give free reign to the timber industry across National Forests under the guise of “fuel reduction.” The President’s ill-named “Healthy Forests Initiative” will do little to protect communities and homes from forest fires, instead this sweeping initiative is concentrated on decreasing public involvement, reducing environmental protection and increasing access to our National Forests and other federal lands for timber companies.
Hiding behind the Smokescreen! President [sic] George W. Bush signs the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 at the Department of Agriculture Wednesday, December 3, 2003. White House photo by Tina Hager.
Bottom Line?
5. Wildfires are big business. You can’t afford to upset them. There must be enough fuel left in the wildlands each year for the business to remain profitable!
“In Southern California, clearing out the ‘excess fuels’ that have resulted from past fire suppression, and reconfiguring the landscape to create more firebreaks and other barriers to fire, would have been expensive but feasible,” said Robert Nelson, professor of environmental policy at the University of Maryland.
“So why didn’t government take effective management and policy action to reduce fire risks before total disaster struck?” Nelson asked. “Leaving aside the individual human tragedies, the costs [of 2003 wildfires] would certainly have been less than the $2 billion (and climbing) that is now projected in terms of fire-fighting costs and lost property values.”
Now, that wasn’t so difficult to understand, was it?
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Posted in Climate Change, energy, environment, food, Global Warming, health, politics, Travel | Tagged: Bushfire, California Fires, George W. Bush, Google censorship, Healthy Forests Restoration, Smokescreen, wildfires | 1 Comment »
Posted by feww on July 29, 2008
“A Conspiracy Against the Public”: For reasons unknown to Moderators, Google has blocked this post [it only shows up via Technorati.com and examiner.com] – Aug 14, 2008
The Telegraph Fire rages on, but what would the next fire be called, the Internet Fire?
The figures are astronomical. The frequency, magnitude, acreage and cost of wildfires are growing each year. Like the Internet statistics, the costs are clocking 9-digit figures.
Agent Orange over Vietnam? No, an air tanker dropping its load of fire retardant on the slopes of Mt Bullion near Mariposa. Photo by Michael Maloney / The Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
Big Fires: Big Business!
In the 1990s the Forest Service spent just over $300 million a year fighting wildfires. In 2007 the cost jumped up to nearly $1.4 billion, a 4.7-fold rise (466 percent).
In California the rise was more “modest,” only 152 percent.
In the 1990s the wildfires consumed an average of about 3.6 million acres a year. Since 2000, the average was more than doubled to about 7.3 million acres. Last year, the figure nearly tripled to more than 9 million acres. The charred acreage this year is on track to break 2007 record.
Is this a thermonuclear explosion? A volcanic eruption? No, It’s a massive convection column of smoke rising above Los Padres National Forest during the $141million Zaca fire. Photo: Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
The Zaca Fire, which began burning northeast of Buellton in Santa Barbara County, California, started on July 4, 2007 and by August 31 it had burned about 240,210 acres (972.1 km²). The fire was declared controlled on October 29, 2007, at a cost of $141million.
Help Make Wildfires Fun (!)
Build your home at the edge of fire-prone wildlands, a million homeowners can’t be wrong! Right? More than 1 million homes (about 61% of all new housing) built in California, Oregon and Washington between 1990 to 2000 were erected at the edge of fire-prone wildlands, a University of Wisconsin study reported.
Tell You What…
Let’s uproot all the trees, shrubs and bushes, pave over the mountains and cement the wildlands … till there’s nothing more left for fire to consume!
Related New Links:
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Posted in Climate Change, energy, environment, food, Global Warming, health, politics, Tourism, Travel, University of Wisconsin | Tagged: A Conspiracy Against the Public, California Fires, cost of wildfires, Los Padres National Forest, Mariposa, Mt Bullion, oregon, The Telegraph Fire, US wildfires, Washington | 5 Comments »
Posted by feww on July 28, 2008
“A Conspiracy Against the Public”: For reasons unknown to Moderators, Google has blocked this post [it only shows up via Technorati.com and examiner.com]
SOS: The Telegraph Fire
An out-of-control 26,000-acre wildfire, dubbed the Telegraph Fire, about 12 miles west of Yosemite National Park has consumed 12 homes, engulfed 27 other buildings and threatens thousands more.
“There’s no fire history in the past 100 hundred years. That’s one of the reasons this fire’s been able to burn so erratically,” said a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Orange County Firefighters Tyler Johnson, left and Mike Reinhold look at fires burning across the Briceburg mountains along side the Merced River Sunday, July 27, 2008 in Briceburg, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
Officials have ordered the evacuations of some 500 homes under immediate threat, most of which were in the town of Midpines. Hot, dry weather is expected to continue into the week.
Meanwhile, the Custer National Forest fire in Montana, had grown to about 3,000 acres by late Sunday and charred five summer homes and an outhouse in the Camp Senia area, reports said.
- Jennifer and Harry Strawbridge watch their property go up in flames on the slopes of Mount Bullion. Photo by Michael Maloney / The Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
Statewide – Fire Overview – Issued by Cal Fire
Sunday, July 27, 2008 9:00 a.m.
Current Situation: On June 20, 2008, a thunderstorm system moved over California striking over two thousand lightning sparked fires. Today over 98 percent of those fires have been contained. California’s firefighters have received assistance from firefighting agencies across the state, nation and several foreign countries. Conditions throughout California remain extremely dry and fire danger remains very high.
On Friday afternoon a new fire broke out in Mariposa County. The Telegraph Fire is burning near the community of Midpines and is threatening approximately two thousand homes. Firefighters observed extremely erratic fire behavior due to the dry conditions and the fact that the area has not burned in the past 100 years.
Statistics:
Fires: Peak Fires: 2,093
Contained: 2,067
Active: 26
Acres charred: 1,060,907
Personnel Committed: 11,793
Resources Committed:
- Engines: 660
- Crews: 267
- Dozers: 129
- Water Tenders: 216
- Helicopters: 78
Items of Interest:
Highway closures: Firefighters remind everyone to use extreme caution while driving on roads affected by fires. All major roads are now open. There may be some delays on State Highways 70, 299. Travelers are advised to seek current information on secondary road closures from local law enforcement.
Evacuations: Areas of Mariposa and Trinity counties are under evacuation orders at this time. Residents are advised to monitor their local fire situation, check with local law enforcement agencies for information, and be prepared to evacuate when necessary.
Structures:
- Threatened: 4,310 residences, 86 commercial, 1,113 outbuildings.
- Destroyed: 158 residences, 1 commercial, 139 outbuildings.
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Posted in Climate Change, Drought, energy, environment, food, Global Warming, health, politics, Tourism, Travel | Tagged: A Conspiracy Against the Public, Briceburg mountains, cal fire, California Fires, camp senia, Custer National Forest, Merced River Canyon, Midpines, Montana, The Telegraph Fire | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on July 18, 2008
“Hurricanes and wildfires are as essential to nature’s ‘housekeeping’ system as blood circulation is to maintaining homeostasis.”
“Nature does what it does best to maintain a livable planet. But she can’t be expected to save you from yourselves every time. If you build your dream cabin in the crater of an active volcano, in a forest prone to wildfires, on a beach in the path of hurricanes and tsunamis … nature may ‘misunderestimate’ your wisdom!” ~ A Member of Creating A Sustainable Future
Map of the cumulative tracks of all tropical cyclones during the 1985–2005 period. Image Author: Nilfanion on 2006-08-05. Background image from Image:Whole_world_-_land_and_oceans.jpg (NASA).
Although cyclones take an enormous toll in lives and personal property, they are important factors in the precipitation system of places they impact because they bring much-needed precipitation to otherwise dry regions. Tropical cyclones also help maintain the global heat balance by moving warm, moist tropical air to the middle latitudes and polar regions. The storm surge and winds of hurricanes may be destructive to human-made structures, but they also stir up the waters of coastal estuaries, which are typically important fish breeding locales. (Source)
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Posted in Climate Change, energy, environment, food, health, Tourism, Travel | Tagged: blood circulation, California Fires, homeostasis, Hurricane Bertha, Hurricanes, misunderestimate, natural disasters, natural phenomena, nature’s housekeeping system, wildfires | 1 Comment »
Posted by feww on July 6, 2008
Trick or Treat?
A home in the path of a fast moving wildfire burns out of control in the northern part of Poway, California October 22, 2007. More than 120,000 residents have been evacuated and numerous homes have been lost due to the multiple fires burning in San Diego county. REUTERS/Fred Greaves (UNITED STATES). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
Posted in Climate Change, energy, environment, state of emergency, Trick or Treat | Tagged: California Fires, Halloween, lifestyle, multiple fires, San Diego county | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on July 4, 2008
4th of July Red, white and Blue Recipes!
US President George W Bush has declared a state of emergency for the whole of California. BBC/Getty Images. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
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Posted in Climate Change, energy, environment, food, Global Warming, health, politics, Tourism, Travel, Trick or Treat | Tagged: 4th of july, Arnold Schwartznegger, California Fires, George W. Bush, Halloween, lifestyle, multiple fires, San Diego county, socal, state of emergency, Trick or Treat, United States | 3 Comments »
Fire Earth 
