N. Calif. Fire Doubles in Size, Threatens 6,300 Structures, Forces Mass Evacuations

Massive blaze destroys dozens of homes, threatens 6,301 buildings, forces tens of thousands of evacuations in northern Calif.

The 54,000-acre Rocky Fire wildfire, burning north of San Francisco, exploded to twice its size in less than 24 hours, destroying dozens of homes, threatening more than 6,300 structures, and forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee their homes.

The 220-square-kilometer blaze is burning in Lake, Yolo and  Colusa counties  and was  less than 5 percent contained, as of posting. [Last Updated by CalFire on August 2, 2015 at 8:00pm PDT]

Tens of thousands of people are currently under mandatory evacuation orders.

The fire is burning near Morgan Valley Road and Rocky Creek Road, east of Lower Lake, across the three counties of Lake, Yolo and Colusa.

Rocky Fire Incident Information [provided by CalFire]
Acres Burned – Containment: 54,000 acres – 5% contained
Structures Threatened: 6,301
Structures Destroyed: 24 residences and 26 outbuildings destroyed; 3 structures damaged.

Evacuations: NEW – A Mandatory Evacuation order has been implemented for all residents on Ogulin Canyon Road. Law enforcement is currently in the area and informing residents of the mandatory evacuation. All of Ogulin Canyon road will be closed to traffic. A Mandatory Evacuation order is in effect for all of Spring Valley. Law enforcement is currently advising Spring Valley residents of the mandatory evacuation. The Highway 20 corridor will be closed from New Long Valley Road to Highway 53. The Mandatory Evacuation includes Paradise Canyon, New Long Valley Road, Old Long Valley Road, Salt Canyon, Indian Hill Road, Flaming Hills Lane, Benmore Canyon, Red Rock Road, Red Rock Court, Round Mountain Road, North West of Highway 22, Fern Way, Juniper Way, Holly Way, Golden Red Way, Shasta Road, Cougar Road, Jeep Trail, Smith Lane, Pueblo Trail, Quail Trail, Ogulin Canyon Road, Meadow Creek Road, Cache Creek Road, Wolf Creek Road, Spring Valley Road, Riverview Road, Rocky Ridge, Chalk Mountain Road, Lakeview Campground, Cache Creek Winery, Noggle Winery, Elm Way, Dogwood, Cedar, Blue Berry, Acacia Way, Acacia Street, Doe Trail, Madrone Way, Peach Way, Quince Way, Redwood Way, Sequoia Way, Tamarack Way, Weeping Willow Way, Yucca Way, Coyote Way, Elk Way and Fox Way. An Advisory Evacuation is in effect from Highway 53 west to Sulphur Bank Road along Highway 20.

Mandatory: Jerusalem Valley area east of Soda Creek, Bonham Road, Quarter Horse Lane, Mustang Court, Bronco Court, Sunset Court, Morgan Valley east of Bonham Road, Canyon Road, June Bug Road, Cambell Ranch Road, Sloan Ranch Road, Sky High Ranch Road, Rocky Creek Road, Dam Road from the gate to the dam, Grizzly Canyon, Long Branch Drive, Lance Road, Cougar Road, Red Rocks, Meridian Road, Antelope Road, Mule Skinner Road, Flint Look Place, Moccasin Road, Roundball Road, Watertrough Road, Grigsby Canyon, Lucky Canyon, Remington Canyon, Walker Ridge, Walker Ridge Road, No Guns Road, Meriann Drive, Bear Valley Road from Highway 20 to Wilbur Springs Road, Wilbur Springs Road and Morgan Valley Road X Butte Creek Road.

Advisory: All areas including east of Hwy 29 @ Raita Road east of Hwy 53 north to Hwy 20 including Ogulin Canyon Road, City of Clear Lake, Spruce Grove Road, Noble Ranch Road, Black Bass Pass, Jerusalem Valley area west of Soda Creek, Double Eagle Ranch, Homes along Hwy 20 corridor between New Long Valley Road and east of the county line, Spruce Grove Road to intersection of Jerusalem Grade, Lake Ridge.

Evacuation Centers: Middletown High School, Kelseyville High School

Road Closures: Highway 20 is closed from Highway 16 to Highway 53 for all through traffic in both directions due to increased fire activity. Highway 16 is closed from Highway 20 to the Yolo County Line in both directions due to increased fire activity. Jerusalem Valley Road is closed to all traffic at Spruce Grove Road.

An animal evacuation center is opened at the Lower Lake Social Services parking lot, 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake.
Cause: Under Investigation
Team
Total Fire Personnel: 2,737
Total Fire Engines: 254
Total Fire crews: 59
Total Airtankers: 4
Total Helicopters: 19
Total Dozers: 58
Total Water Tenders: 38
Long/Lat: -122.4762475/38.8863538
Conditions: The fire activity has grown dramatically and firefighters are aggressively working to stop the progression. The terrain is steep and rugged with limited access, fuels are at critical levels and there is little to no fire history in the area. In total, all evacuations impact over 12,190 citizens living in over 5,201 residences. Damage assessment teams have begun initial assessments based on access through fire affected areas. Resources continue to respond from around the state.

Related Links

• California Burning: Massive Wildfires Threaten Thousands of Structures August 2, 2015
• State of Emergency Declared in California due to Raging Wildfires August 1, 2015

State of Emergency Declared in Canadian County due to Toxic Fumes

LANDFILLS ARE CRIMES AGAINST NATURE

Toxic fumes from landfill fire force evacuations in Canada

The landfill caught fire late Monday, and by Wednesday deteriorating conditions forced emergency officials to issue a mandatory evacuation order for nearby homes, said a report.

Emergency crews have so far been unable to control the fire at Westar Landfill, east of Medicine Hat.

“The county says there is still no viable way to extinguish it and the cause of the fire is still unknown,” said the report.

Tuxic fumes spewing from an uncontained fire at Westar Landfill, east of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Screenshot from Global News video report.

The site is reportedly used for “old construction materials like asphalt shingles, plastic insulation and siding.”

Meantime, Alberta Health Services have issues an air quality warning, as the smoke is toxic and poses a serious life safety hazard.

“Biggest thing is there’s a plume of smoke coming from the fire with very particulate matter which can get into your lungs,” said Cypress County Assistant Manager. “If you breathe enough of it, it could cause long term health impacts.”

“We were actually put on alert two days ago, and were called to respond last night to some of the people who were evacuated from the smoke,” said the Disaster Management Coordinator for the Red Cross.

The authorities anticipate the state of emergency to continue for a long time.

Read full report HERE.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – October 5, 2013

Saudi black ops team carried out Damascus chemical weapons attack – Russian diplomatic source

The chemical attack in the suburbs of Damascus, Syria, on August 21 was carried out by a Saudi Arabian black ops team, according a Russian diplomatic source.

“Based on data from a number of sources a picture can be pieced together. The criminal provocation in Eastern Ghouta was done by a black op team that the Saudi’s sent through Jordan and which acted with support of the Liwa Al-Islam group,” a Russian diplomat reportedly told Interfax news agency.

The attack was meant to complicate an already delicate situation in Syria, another source said.

“Syrians of various political views, including some opposition fighters, are seeking to inform diplomats and members of international organizations working in Syria what they know about the crime and the forces which inspired it,” he told the agency.

“Earlier reports pointed to Saudi Arabia as the mastermind behind the chemical attack, which almost led to US military action against Syrian government. Supporters of this scenario say intelligence services in Riyadh were looking for a false flag operation to provoke an American intervention in Syria, which would tip the balance of power in favor of the armed opposition supported by Saudi Arabia,” said a report.

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Lampedusa Migrants Boat Disaster: Death toll could reach 300

Choppy seas prevented divers on Friday from recovering more bodies of migrants who drowned  off Sicily on Thursday.

The Italian coastguard has so far recovered 111 bodies and expect to find at least 200 others. The boat sank  about 800 meters from the shore of the southern island of Lampedusa.

Some 155 people have been recused, but more than 200 others are not accounted for, authorities said.

The 20-m vessel is sitting upright on the seabed about 47m below the surface, video footage shows.

Since the 1990s, about 20,000 people have lost their lives trying to reach Italy from North Africa, according to data of known incidents; however, thousands more are likely to have perished without a trace.

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Mandatory evacuation orders issued for low-lying areas south of New Orleans

State officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders for low-lying areas south of New Orleans as a Tropical Storm KAREN continued to move toward the Louisiana coast.

KAREN has forced oil and gas companies to shut platforms and evacuate most of their workforces, cutting output by more than a half in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which accounts for about a fifth of U.S. oil production and more than 6 percent of natural gas.

Since Thursday, the governors of Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency to mobilize their resources.

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Typhoon FITOW Buffeting SW Japan

Typhoon FITOW is dumping significant amounts of rain over the Okinawa region. Forecaster say  the region could receive downpours of 60 mm per hour through Sunday.

Expected rainfall totals through Sunday evening could top 200 mm on the Saki-shima Islands, and 150 mm on Okinawa’s main island, said NHK.

“The local observatory advises caution against strong winds, high waves, a storm surge, landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, swollen rivers, tornadoes, and gusting winds.”

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Bodies Unearthed in Bosnian Mass Grave

About 100 bodies have so far been unearthed at a newly discovered mass grave in northern Bosnia-Herzegovina, reports say.

The victims are believed to be Bosnian Muslims and Croats who were ethnically cleansed by Serbian forces occupying the region during the three-year Bosnian War (1992 and 1995).

Serbian forces reportedly killed more than 30,000 civilians during their war of aggression.

In July 1995, Serbians massacred more than 8,000 Bosnians in Srebrenica, in what was the worst act of genocide in Europe since the Second World War.

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Self-immolation at the National Mall

A man was in critical condition Friday night after he poured gasoline on his body and set himself on fire on the National Mall, reports said.

Photo credit: Terry Hays. More images…

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