The Race to the Abyss — Fuel of Choice

IN PROGRESS…

• TIA [September 24, Confidential 10]
• RNR [December 3, Confidential 10]

---

Nominated Groups:

• All Groups
  

FIRE-EARTH PRESENTATION 120902 — The Race to the Abyss: California vs. Australia [part two]

More fuel for faster race!

[Presented by FIRE-EARTH Science.]

• Presentation available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

---

FIRE-EARTH Top Ten Alerts

• All Groups

Latest FIRE-EARTH DIRECTIVES, ALERTS, FORECASTS, BULLETINS and MESSAGES available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

 

 

 

 

 

The Race to the Abyss: California vs. Australia

IN PROGRESS…

TIA [September 24, Confidential 10]
TNWG [October 22,Confidential 10]

Nominated Groups:

• All Groups
  

FIRE-EARTH PRESENTATION 111302 –  It’s the Ecology, Stupid!

Which will get there first, Australia or California?

[Presented by FIRE-EARTH Science.]

• Presentation available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

FIRE-EARTH Top Ten Alerts

• All Groups

Latest FIRE-EARTH DIRECTIVES, ALERTS, FORECASTS, BULLETINS and MESSAGES available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

 

 

 

FIRE-EARTH Alert: Earthquake Forecast — California

FESC 03 -111002

Nominated Groups:

• CJ
• UUT
• IGE
• OCT
• TML

FIRE-EARTH Alert: Earthquake Forecast — California [12 months]

• FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecast for California Region is now available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

FIRE-EARTH Top Ten Alerts

• All Groups

Latest FIRE-EARTH DIRECTIVES, ALERTS, FORECASTS, BULLETINS and MESSAGES available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

Significant Earthquake Strikes near La Verne, CA

CBW – 082902 – 2

M 4.4 earthquake strikes 4km N of La Verne, CA

Earthquake Details:

Magnitude: 4.4 mww [USGS]
Location: 34.140°N, 117.773°W; 6.1 km depth
Distances: 209km W of Ile Hunter, New Caledonia
Time: 2018-08-29 @ 02:33:28 UTC
Felt reports: 5,943 AoR
Largest aftershock AoR: M3.4 [T + 1 mins.]

Other significant/noteworthy EQs:

M 6.4 – 136km ENE of Anatahan, Northern Mariana Islands
Location: 16.761°N 146.872°E
Depth: 59.9 km
Time: 2018-08-28 22:35:13 (UTC)

M 5.0 – Caspian Sea, offshore Azerbaijan
Location: 38.834°N 48.857°E
Depth: 10.0 km
Time: 2018-08-28 12:57:14 (UTC)

N. America Wildfire Update – 081302

The U.S. Wildfire Situation Report

Report issued by NIFC – Monday, August 13, 2018  @ 05:30 MT

National Preparedness Level:  5  [on a scale from 1 to 5 – as of July 27 at 2 pm MDT ]

More than 30,000 firefighters and support personnel continue to work on 110 large fires that have burned 1.7 million acres in 14 states. Extreme fire behavior was reported in Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Washington. The Cougar Creek, Boffer, Grass Valley, Coal Hollow, Rabbit Foot, Cabin Lake fires all gained thousands of acres yesterday causing many nearby residents to be evacuated.

Weather: Critical fire weather conditions will continue across the northern Great Plains from central Montana east across North Dakota, as a breezy, dry northwesterly flow develops behind a front. A trough of low pressure extending southwest from south central Canada into the Pacific Northwest will promote near normal temperatures across the northwestern corner of the country. Widely scattered thunderstorms will drift northward into the Great Basin from the Southwest. Developing storms on the northern fringes of the moisture plume will tend to produce little rainfall. In the East, a strong, broad area of low pressure will allow wet conditions to continue across the Mid-Atlantic States and the Deep South. Localized flooding is possible in some areas across the Deep South from the continuance of precipitation. Scattered showers and storms will bring some relief to Texas, as a stalled-out area of low pressure lingers over the Panhandle…

Daily statistics 8/12/18
Number of new large fires: 9
Number of active large fires: 110
[Total does not include individual fires within complexes.]
States currently reporting large fires:
Alaska (17), Arizona (13), California (10), Colorado (12), Hawaii (1), Idaho (11), Montana (7), Nevada (1), New Mexico (3), Oregon (13), Texas (1), Utah (7), Washington (12), Wyoming (2).

California
Fires: 10
Acres: 680,027
New fires: 0
Contained fires: 0

Acres from active fires: 1,719,176
Fires contained: 2

Year-to-date statistics 2018 (1/1/18 – 8/12/18)
Fires: 40,079
Acres: 5,661,659

10-year average Year-to-Date 2008-2017
Fires: 42,899
Acres: 4,418,011

Canadian Fires and Hectares Burned

FIRES YEAR-TO-DATE: 5,759
HECTARES YEAR-TO-DATE: 959,661 [2,371,322 acres]

Calif Earthquake; Powerful Mining Explosion in Pennsylvania

M5.3 Earthquake Strikes Calif Coast, W of LA

KMPH – 040602

Calif Coast, W of LA – CHANNEL ISLANDS REGION, CALIFORNIA (43)

Magnitude: 5.3 mw
Location: 33.837°N 119.726°W – 29km SW of Santa Cruz Is. (E end), CA
Depth: 9.9 km
Time: 2018-04-05 19:29:16 (UTC)
Initial felt reports: 12,090
[USGS]

Mining Explosion

OGS – 040602

M 2.6 Mining Explosion – 30km SSW of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

Location: 41.478°N, 77.384°W
Depth: 0.0 km depth [near ground level]
Time: 2018-04-05 22:19:52 UTC

Significant Earthquake Strikes Offshore California

Heba-453T

M4.3 quake occurs 32km SW of Lompoc, CA –USGS

EQ Details:
Magnitude: 4.3 mw
Location (uncertainty): 34.421°N 120.678°W (±0.5 km)
Depth (uncertainty): 4.3 km (±1.1)
Origin Time: 2017-10-26 20:38:51.340 UTC
Number of Phases: 83
Minimum Distance: 21.8 km (0.20°)
Travel Time Residual: 0.25 s
Azimuthal Gap: 218°
FE Region: OFFSHORE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA (43)

Iceland’s Latest Seismicity

M 4.6 – 119km S of Akureyri, Iceland
Location: 64.609°N 18.002°W
Depth: 10.0 km
Time: 2017-10-27 00:16:43 (UTC)

M 4.6 – 118km SSE of Akureyri, Iceland
Location: 64.643°N 17.559°W
Depth: 10.0 km
Time: 2017-10-26 23:26:35 (UTC)

Deadly Hepatitis A Outbreak: California Declares State of Emergency

More than 581 of cases of deadly Hep A reported in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Cruz counties

At least 490 people have contracted Hep A,  and 18 people have died from the liver disease since March of this year, California Department of Public Health reported.

California governor declared a state of emergency on Friday to allow the state increasing its supply of vaccines.

The outbreak is already America’s second largest since the 1990s.

Anyone can get hepatitis A, but you are at higher risk if you pic.twitter.com/Xs1ASPHSVb

— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) September 19, 2017

A quarter of America’s homeless,about 120,000 people, live in California.

Hepatitis A can be spread by: pic.twitter.com/2U4WuvS9HG

— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) September 19, 2017

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis A? pic.twitter.com/cBSOK3Kcfh

— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) September 19, 2017

 

Strong Earthquake Strikes N. Chile

Heba-112W

M6.3 quake occurs 36km SSW of Putre, Chile

Magnitude: 6.3 mww (± 0.1)
Location: 18.521°S,  69.641°W  (± 5.9 km)
Depth: 82.4 km (± 5.2)
Origin Time: 2017-10-10 06:32:20.800 UTC
Number of Phases: 97
Minimum Distance: 24.9 km (0.22°)
Travel Time Residual: 1.47 s
Azimuthal Gap: 27°
FE Region: TARAPACA, CHILE
Source: USGS

---

Heba-483H

Significant Earthquake Strikes N. California

Magnitude: 4.1 mw
Location: 37.310°N, 121.679°W (± 0.1 km), 14km ESE of Alum Rock, California
Depth: 7.9 km  (± 0.3)
Origin Time: 2017-10-10 00:53:18.220 UTC
Number of Stations: 80
Felt Reports: 5,144 [1:46 PDT on October 10, 2017]
Number of Phases: 78
Minimum Distance: 4.8 km (0.04°)
Travel Time Residual: 0.06 s
Azimuthal Gap: 33°
FE Region: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Source: USGS

 

Firestorm Kills 10, Destroys 1,500 Structures in California

Ferocious fires ravaging multiple parts of California forcing mass evacuations

Deadly blazes in Northern California have scorched 75,000 acres.

• Fanned by 60mph winds, 14 blazes are ravaging eight counties throughout Northern California.
• The raging fires have killed at least 10 people and destroyed at least 1,500 homes, businesses and other structures.
• About 75,000 acre were scorched in just a few hours, prompting mass evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents.

Anaheim Fire

Meanwhile,  a brush fire broke out in Anaheim Hills, prompting mandatory evacuations on Monday.

The fast-moving fire, dubbed Canyon Fire 2, grew to about 5,000 acres prompting Orange County fire officials to  evacuate thousands of residents from 1,100 homes. Air quality warnings have been issued in parts of Los Angeles County.

Many of the #NorthBayFires can be seen on the GOES 16 fog product.#cawx pic.twitter.com/2xWlKo9WP4

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) October 10, 2017

October Fires

The most destructive blaze in recent California history, the Cedar fire in San Diego County in 2003, destroyed more than 2,800 homes. The Witch fire, also in San Diego County, destroyed more than 1,600 homes in 2007. In 1991, Tunnel fire in the Oakland Hills, killed 25 people and raze 2,900 buildings. All of those fires were sparked in October.

Satellite imagery of the #wildfires in #California today captured by the VIIRS instrument DayNight Band. More info @ https://t.co/MPP390W64K pic.twitter.com/7KAvRMh9uT

— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) October 9, 2017

The Red Flag Warning continues for the North and East Bay Hills and Valleys + the Santa Cruz Mountains through tomorrow am. #cawx pic.twitter.com/NpGNIIW2yW

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) October 9, 2017

GOES 16 satellite imagery showing North Bay areas covered in smoke as multiple fires continue to burn.#cawx pic.twitter.com/I6UXBtcjf4

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) October 9, 2017

#GOES16 satellite update: around 3 am Monday morning. Satellite continues to show multiple wild fires across the North Bay, and a new fire start has been detected just to the east of Cloverdale. Strong and gusty northeast winds will continue through at least mid morning. #cawx pic.twitter.com/jufkkU38wZ

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) October 9, 2017

M5.7 Quake Strikes Mendocino Ridge, Offshore California

Grace-173G

M 5.7 – 218km W of Ferndale, California

EQ Details:

Magnitude: 5.7 mww [USGS]
Location: 40.416°N, 126.828°W; 15.1 km depth – 218km W of Ferndale, California
Time: 2017-09-22 19:50:15 UTC

• AG: Diagnostics now available via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

 

US Wildfires Consume 7,378,212 Acres

National Fire Preparedness Remains at Maximum Level 5 –NICC

Upgraded to level 5 (on a scale from 1 to 5) on August 10, 2017

• Montana declares a state of disaster due to wildfires.
• California: State of Emergency Declared in N. California Due to Wildfire.

Currently, 130 new fires including 88 large fires have burned 1.2 million acres in the West and Alaska.

Number of new large fires: 21
Number of active large fires: 88

[Total number includes full suppression and resource managed fires. Total does not include individual fires within complexes.]

States currently reporting large fires: Alaska (2), California (11), Idaho (14), Montana (31), Nevada (5), Oregon (19), Utah (1), Washington (4), Wyoming (1)

• TOTAL FIRES: 46,648
• TOTAL ACRES: 7,378,212

Prescribed Fires and Acres (Year-to-Date)

• Fires: 66,510
• Acres: 2,931,011

Ten Year Average (2007–2016 as of today)

• Fires: 49,570
• Acres: 5,380,768

Canada: British Columbia extends wildfire emergency for fourth time

Canadian province of British Columbia has extended a state of emergency for a fourth time until September 15 amid destructive wildfires raging across the region, the provincial government reported.

• Hundreds of forest fires across British Columbia have consumed about 900,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) and forced up to 50,000 people from their homes.

Canada Fires and Hectares (YTD)

• Fires: 4,939
• Hectares: 3,022,960 (~7.5 million acres)

nifc.gov/nicc/

State of Emergency Declared in N. California Due to Wildfire

Extreme heat puts 36.5 million Californians, or 98% of population, under a heat advisory –NWS

California Governor has issued an emergency declaration for a raging wildfire in Butte County in the northern part of the Golden State.

The so-called Ponderosa Fire has consumed about 3,800 acres and destroyed at least 30 homes, prompting evacuation orders to residents of more than 500 homes in the area, fire officials said.

San Francisco sets all-time heat record at 106 degrees (41.1ºC)

“San Francisco continues to climb. Latest high temperature for downtown is an incredible 106 degrees!” the NWS’s Bay Area station reported Friday.

Previous all-time record high in Downtown #SanFrancisco was 103 set on June 14, 2000. High so far today: 106! #CAwx #CAheatwave

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) September 1, 2017

Recap of #BayArea high temperatures on 9/1. San Francisco (106°) and SFO Airport (104°) set all-time record highs. #CAheat #CAwx #heatwave pic.twitter.com/9E9ye7dyfX

— Daniel Alrick (@SFmeteorologist) September 2, 2017

Statewide Wildland Fire Map for Saturday, September 2, 2017 pic.twitter.com/XKL7hgrCgo

— Cal OES (@Cal_OES) September 2, 2017

36.5 million Californians are under a Heat Advisory/Warning this weekend – or about 98% of the state's population. #CAheat #cawx #heatwave pic.twitter.com/cBSboyqysI

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) September 1, 2017

34 Wildfires Burning ¼ Million Acres across 12 States

Large fire activity continues across 12 states from Alaska to Florida

National Preparedness was raised to Level 3 on  June 28 at 2:00 pm MDT (on a scale from 1 to 5)

Daily statistics Saturday, July 1, 2017 – 05:30 MT [NIFC]

Number of active large fires: 34
[Total number includes full suppression and resource managed fires. Total does not include individual fires within complexes.]

• Uncontained large fires: 24
• Number of new large fires : 10
• Number of small fires: 109

Acres from active fires: 249,029

States currently reporting large fires:
Alaska (3)
Arizona (7)
California (5)
Colorado (1)
Florida (1)
Idaho (2)
Nevada (2)
New Mexico (5)
Oregon (2)
Texas (1)
Utah (1)
Washington (4)

Year-to-date statistics 2017 (1/1/17 – 7/1/17)

• Fires: 30,000
  
• Acres: 2,833,498 [Up 34% YOY]
  

2016 (1/1/16 – 6/30/16)

• Fires: 25,657
• Acres: 2,110,041

Annual average prior 10 years 2006-2016

• Fires: 32,587
• Acres: 2,022,815

Prescribed Fires and Acres Year-to-Date

• Fires: 60,526
• Acres: 2,864,796

Canada:

YTD: 1,640 fires; 421,570 acres [170,676 hectares]

Strong Earthquake Strikes Guatemala Coast

GPSC-081-TP

M6.8 quake strikes 23km SW of Puerto San Jose, Guatemala [USGS]

EQ Details:
Magnitude: 6.8mww
Location: 13.753°N, 90.949°W; 46.8 km depth
Time: 017-06-22; 12:31:04 UTC

FIRE-EARTH Reference: 000697 – Update 061901

Other Significant Earthquakes:

M 3.0 – 1km ESE of El Cerrito, California
37.909°N, 122.292°W; 4.6 km depth
2017-06-21, 19:00:20 UTC

M 4.5 – 28km ESE of Hawaiian Ocean View, Hawaii
18.926°N, 155.538°W; 38.1 km depth
2017-06-21, 20:09:06 UTC

Shallow Earthquake Strikes near Isla Vista, California

M4.1 quake strikes 13km W of Isla Vista, California

The event was followed by at least one aftershock, as of posting.

EQ Details

M 4.1 – 13km W of Isla Vista, California
Location: 34.421°N, 120.007°W
Depth: 2.6km
Time: 2017-05-17 04:42:25 (UTC)

M 3.1 – 14km WNW of Isla Vista, CA
Location: 34.457°N 119.998°W
Depth: 6.0 km
Time: 2017-05-17 04:43:29 (UTC)

• Seismic analysis and forecast are available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

Oroville Dam: Probability of WCS

• CJ Members
• EAC
• OC Teams

Catastrophic failure: Seismicity and fatigue

[Prepared by FIRE-EARTH Science Team.]

• Report is available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

Fisheries Disasters Declared for Nine West Coast Species

“Sudden and unexpected large decreases in fish stock biomass…”

Commercial fishery disasters have been declared for nine salmon and crab fisheries in Alaska, California and Washington, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Each of the following fisheries experienced “sudden and unexpected large decreases in fish stock biomass due to unusual ocean and climate conditions,” NOAA said.

In Alaska:

• Gulf of Alaska pink salmon fisheries (2016)

In California:

• California Dungeness and rock crab fishery (2015-2016)
• Yurok Tribe Klamath River Chinook salmon fishery (2016)

In Washington:

• Fraser River Makah Tribe and Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe sockeye salmon fisheries (2014)
• Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay non-treaty coho salmon fishery (2015)
• Nisqually Indian Tribe, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, and Squaxin Island Tribe South Puget Sound salmon fisheries (2015)
• Quinault Indian Nation Grays Harbor and Queets River coho salmon fishery (2015)
• Quileute Tribe Dungeness crab fishery (2015-2016)
• Ocean salmon troll fishery (2016)

Additional details are available from the following sources:

http://www.noaa.gov/news/commerce-secretary-pritzker-declares-fisheries-disasters-for-nine-west-coast-species

http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/sfa/management/disaster/index.html

Seismic Swarm Continues in SoCal

• CJ Members
  
• EAC
  
• OC Teams

250 Shocks Swarm Area SE of Salton Sea, CA

• Full analysis available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

 

M7.8 Quake Strikes Solomon Islands

M7.8 earthquake strikes 69km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands

The quake struck at a depth of 41km, according to USGS/EHP.

NO threat of Pacific-wide tsunami as a result of this earthquake.

EQ Details

• Magnitude: 7.8Mw
• Location: 10.676°S, 161.330°E; depth of 41km;  69km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands
• Time: 2016-12-08 17:38:46 UTC

Aftershocks: At least 20 significant aftershocks, measuring up to M6.5, struck the region as of posting.

M6.5 earthquake strikes 160km W of Ferndale, California

EQ Details

• Magnitude: 6.5Mwb
• Location: 40.475°N, 126.153°W; depth of 12.1km; 160km W of Ferndale, California
• Time: 2016-12-08 14:49:46 UTC

“Most Devastating” Wildfire Destroys Scores of Homes in SoCal

Ferocious wildfire in Squirrel Valley, Kern County destroys 100 homes, structures threatens 1,500 more

One of the most devastating wildfires I’ve ever seen —Kern County Fire Capt.

The explosive Erskine Fire has consumed about 5,400 acres since Thursday afternoon in Lake Isabella, Kern County, about 65km northeast of Bakersfield, destroying at least 80 homes, two dozen structures, and threatening 1,500 more.

The fire is “extremely dangerous, extremely volatile,” said Kern County Fire Capt. Tyler Townsend.

“I’ve never been in a wildland fire where I’ve seen so many homes burn. It’s one of the most devastating I’ve ever seen,” said Townsend.

Mass evacuations have been ordered in the areas threatened by the blaze including the rural communities of South Fork, Weldon, Onyx, Lakeland Estates, Yankee Canyon and Mountain Mesa, according to official reports.

 

Wildfire in Utah Forcing Hundreds of Evacuations

The Saddle Fire in Pine Valley, Utah intensifies

LATEST: The Saddle Fire is now forcing hundreds of evacuations in the Pine Valley recreation area north of St. George, Utah. Several trail and road closures are now in place, US Forest Service-Dixie reported.

The lightning-sparked Saddle Fire, which started on  June 13, has now grown to more than 650 acres, threatening at least 185 structures.

Meanwhile, NWS reported RECORD HEAT across Utah.

[Official] U.S.  Wildfire Stats

Some 132 new fires, including 21 large fires (7 new) burning 135,372 acres.

States currently reporting large fires:

Alaska (2), Arizona (3), California (5), Colorado (4), Montana (1), New Mexico (1), Utah (2)
Washington (1), Wyoming (2)

Year-to-date statistics
2016 (1/1/16 – 6/22/16) Fires: 23,453; Acres: 1,959,315
2015 (1/1/15 – 6/22/15) Fires: 25,633; Acres: 623,886

Annual average prior 10 years
2006-2015 Fires: 33,361; Acres: 1,768,405

Largest Fires (≥ 2,400 acres)

Arizona

• Cedar: acres= 40,340; personnel= 967; cost-to-date= $6.7million
• Wildcat: acres= 1,502; personnel= 238; cost-to-date= $2.3million
• Brown: acres= 15,282; personnel= 230; cost-to-date= $1.2million

California

• San Gabriel Complex: acres= 4,900; personnel= 1,041; cost-to-date= $2.4million
• Border 3: acres= 6,020; personnel= 1,550; cost-to-date= $2.7million
• Sherpa: acres= 7,969;  personnel= 1,678 ; cost-to-date= $15.4million
• Pony: acres= 2,858; personnel= 343;  cost-to-date= $14.9million

New Mexico

• Dog Head: acres= 17,912; personnel= 938; cost-to-date= $7million

Wyoming

• Short: acres= 2,300; personnel= 277; cost-to-date= $710k

Federal Fire Disaster Declarations [Fire Management Assistance Declarations]

• Utah Saddle Fire (FM-5130)
• California Fish Fire (FM-5129)
• California Border 3 Fire (FM-5128)
• New Mexico Dog Head Fire (FM-5127)
• Oregon Akawana Fire (FM-5126)
• Arizona Tenderfoot Fire (FM-5125)
• California Old Fire (FM-5124)
• New Hampshire Stoddard Fire (FM-5123)
• Oklahoma 350 Fire Complex (FM-5122)
• Kansas Burr Oak Fire (FM-5121)
• Kansas Anderson Creek Fire (FM-5120)

Canada Totals:
Year-to-Date: 2,342 fires
Total Burned: 890,619 hectares [1 Hectare = 2.47 Acres]

States of Emergency Declared in Canada, California, Alabama

UPDATED

States of emergency declared for two BC communities in Canada’s energy heartland

“It’s causing a lot of problems for a lot of people. This time everything washed out” —Dawson Creek resident 

“This is a big-time event, how it’s affected the highways and streets and roads,” Mayor Dale Bumstead told CBC News. “Our hospitals and fire halls are separated, we’ve only got one link and some of the roads and streets and transit infrastructure have been severely damaged.”

Many roads and rail lines in the region have been washed out or damaged by flooding. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation)

The Ministry of Transportation say hundreds of rural properties have been “severely affected” by flooding.

A state of emergency has been declared in Dawson Creek, B.C. where flooding has left behind significant damage to city infrastructure, roads and homes.

Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa Caldwell said the 89.8 mm of rain that fell in Dawson Creek during the daytime June 15 is an all-time high according to records going back 90 years.

The town of Chetwynd, about 100km west of Dawson Creek, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday.

In May, multiple communities north of Fort St. John were evacuated as ferocious wildfires swept northeast British Columbia.

Santa Barbara County declares a state of emergency as Sherpa fire spreads

Santa Barbara County official have declared a state of emergency as Sherpa fire grew to about 7,5200 acres by early Saturday.

More than 1,200 personnel were responding to the fire amid continued threat to structures, agricultural crops, state parks, and critical infrastructure, officials said.

Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for El Capitan, Refugio, Venadito and Las Flores canyons north of Santa Barbara. Several neighboring communities have received evacuation warnings.

However, many locals have voluntarily evacuated because of the poor air quality across the entire county.

Avocado, citrus and olives groves have already been consumed by the fire, but it’s too early to quantify the extent of the damage, officials reported.

Temperatures are expected to get hotter [probably exceeding 100F] and the winds stronger this weekend, forecasters have warned.

New Mexico

Meanwhile, the so-called Dog Head Fire in New Mexico, has consumed about 18,000 acres since Wednesday.

The destructive fire burning southeast of Albuquerque, has destroyed dozens of homes and structures, forcing mass evacuations, and prompting Gov. Martinez to declare a state of emergency earlier this week.

Alabama declares state of emergency following widespread power outages

Gov. Bentley has declared a state of emergency for Alabama following widespread power outages caused by Friday’s severe weather.

The Executive Order will allow crews from other states to assist in the restoration of power to about 50,000 customers left in the dark as powerful storms swept through the state.

The majority of the outages occurred in Mobile, where 13,500 customers were without power.

Other damage reports include broken poles, downed cables and uprooted trees statewide.

“This is a big-time event, how it’s affected the highways and streets and roads,” said Bumstead. “Our hospitals and fire halls are separated, we’ve only got one link and some of the roads and streets and transit infrastructure have been severely damaged.”

 

Significant Earthquake Strikes South of Palm Springs, CA

M5.2 strikes 44km S of Palm Springs, Calif.

Centered at 33.431°N, 116.443°W [20.0 km NNW of Borrego Springs] the event occurred at a depth of 12.3km, reported USGS/EHP.

• The quake struck at 08:07:11 UTC [2016-06-10] and was followed by a swarm of at least nine aftershocks, as of posting.

Testimonies [EMSC]

Witness location : La Quinta (United States) (28 km NE from epicenter)
Strongest I have felt in a long time. Things really rattled. Pictures sitting on furniture came down

Witness location : Palm Desert (United States) (32 km N from epicenter)
First felt a rumble then the house shook and could here stretching sounds. This was the scariest I’ve experienced in CA in last50 years. The cats were terrified and are hiding somewhere in the house. Street lights still on, nothing fell inside house which seems to be intact.

Witness location : Cathedral City (United States) (38 km NW from epicenter)
the whole ground shaking… seeing everything around shaking is the scariest feeling imaginable… i felt like the ground was going to open.

Witness location : Cathedral City (United States) (38 km NW from epicenter)
We are used to earthquakes in Southern California but for some reason, this one was felt as a very big one. Surprised it was only 5.2. I heard most people felt it through southern California from San Diego to Joshua Tree.

Witness location : Temecula (United States) (65 km W from epicenter)
Born and raised in Ca. & this earthquake truly got my attention. We were sleeping in my second story and it shook so vigorously I thought the earthquake felt like a 6.0 pretty bad rattling on second floor.

Witness location : Homeland (United States) (70 km NW from epicenter)
Felt way bigger than a 5.2 was a lot longer than other quakes.

Witness location : Fallbrook (United States) (75 km W from epicenter)
There was some thunderous sound and the whole house swayed.

Witness location : Rosarito (Mexico) (132 km SW from epicenter)
Scary woke up to approx 10 second jolt in Baja Mexico felt like a railroad train passed by me.

Witness location : Los Angeles (United States) (204 km NW from epicenter)
At the hospital and noticed the curtains and IV bag shaking.

Witness location : Mohave Valley (United States) (238 km NE from epicenter)
Lived here 20 years in mohave desert never felt anything like this. 3 to 4 seconds of rolling pretty strong

Witness location : Bullhead City (United States) (258 km NE from epicenter)
I’m in Arizona and felt light shifting like motion, totaling 6-10 seconds

Witness location : Bodfish (United States) (303 km NW from epicenter)
A little rolling lasted a couple seconds.

Other Significant Seismicity

• M5.3 at 38.396°N, 144.528°E; depth=25.1km  about 249km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan 2016-06-10 12:07:02 UTC

 

Mass Evacuation Ordered as Wildfire Threatens Homes in SoCal

“Old Fire” consumes 500 acres, threatens 1,200+ residences in Calabasas, LA County

The fast moving wildfire broke out Saturday afternoon and rapidly burned about 500 acres in and around Calabasas neighborhoods prompting the authorities to order at least 5,000 people to abandon their homes.

The fire was fulled by strong winds, low relative humidity and 100-degree (F) temperatures.

The fire was apparently sparked when a pickup truck struck a power pole on Mulholland Highway in Calabasas, according to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

“Witnesses reported that the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed before colliding into a power pole, causing the pole to fall and a transformer to explode, thus igniting the Calabasas fire.”