Southern California on fire

[Shinova]

I don't know if the rest of your guys get this news, but right now a good amount of SoCal is on fire. Malibu, San Diego County, Orange County, Canyon Country, San Bernandino County, Lake Arrowhead, and so on. I had to evacuate my house and thankfully nothing happened to it and the rest of my neighborhood, but just about a half to one mile north of my place the land is totally charred from one direction to the next. A lot of empty housing lots with just dirt and nothing else helped keep the fire from moving into my neighborhood. For now we're safe though.

Anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands of acres burned to the ground, and it's going to get a lot worse for Lake Arrowhead since there's a lot of vegetation there.

We've been having constant Santa Ana winds with gusts up to 90 mph at times blowing the fire everywhere and all across the state, so it's pretty crazy over here.

[Mlenk]

Seriously, what is up with SoCal and wildfires? It seems that the vast majority of the nations wildfires occur in that one area.

[Darth Wong]

So the California wildfires came late this year. There's a reason no one's commenting on it; it seems to happen all the time.

[Shinova]

Seriously, what is up with SoCal and wildfires? It seems that the vast majority of the nations wildfires occur in that one area.

Super-super-dry humidity would be the biggest reason.

[Galvatron]

I haven't had to evacuate yet since I live in Riverside, but where I work in Irvine the fires are pretty close. The stench of the smoky air outside is unnerving.

[Darth Wong]

Seriously, what is up with SoCal and wildfires? It seems that the vast majority of the nations wildfires occur in that one area.

Super-super-dry humidity would be the biggest reason.

Why don't they clear foliage for a large radius around any residential areas in order to keep these regularly occurring wildfires from burning down houses and such? Is it because the foliage looks pretty?

[Darth Servo]

Seriously, what is up with SoCal and wildfires? It seems that the vast majority of the nations wildfires occur in that one area.

It gets just enough rain to get a bit of plant growth each year but much of it is stuff like sagebrush. Plus it dries out a lot in the summer so you have all this REEEEEAAAAAAALLLLLLLYYYYYY good kindling material all over the place.

[Guardsman Bass]

Oddly enough, this actually touched me here in Utah. I work for the Online Order department for a university bookstore, and when I sent an e-mail to the person who manages the website for one of our various on-line stores, I got the automatic e-mail message back that because of the fires and mass evacuations in San Diego county, she was out of office. But, if it was an emergency, I could contact the Vice President of the company she worked for.

[Erik von Nein]

Why don't they clear foliage for a large radius around any residential areas in order to keep these regularly occurring wildfires from burning down houses and such? Is it because the foliage looks pretty?

Not unless you love the color of dead grass. I'm not exaclty sure why they don't do just that, or, at least, controlled burns. I guess people either don't want to put up with the hassle or they don't want to pay for it.

I live all of 250 miles north of L.A. and we're getting quite a bit of smoke from there. It's hazing the skies pretty well, plus now it stinks of smoke. Trippy.

[Shinova]

Why don't they clear foliage for a large radius around any residential areas in order to keep these regularly occurring wildfires from burning down houses and such? Is it because the foliage looks pretty?

They don't bother touching the natural foliage until they decide to develop that land. Which is why we were lucky because there was a mile or half-mile of clear-cut empty lots with only dirt and pavement.

I actually saw a tiny piece of ember land in my backyard when we had to evacuate, and it's amazing how nothing on the hill directly behind us caught fire. Probably the fact that it's regularly watered helped a bit.

[Medic]

Why don't they clear foliage for a large radius around any residential areas in order to keep these regularly occurring wildfires from burning down houses and such? Is it because the foliage looks pretty?

Not unless you love the color of dead grass. I'm not exaclty sure why they don't do just that, or, at least, controlled burns. I guess people either don't want to put up with the hassle or they don't want to pay for it.

I live all of 250 miles north of L.A. and we're getting quite a bit of smoke from there. It's hazing the skies pretty well, plus now it stinks of smoke. Trippy.

Back in my senior year of high school in Sep / Oct of 2003, I signed up in the Delayed Entry Program en route to the Army. One one of the nights in a whole WEEK of school that was cancelled the recruiter came to my house and we discussed all the paperwork; it was a surreal night, there was literally... fallout from all sorts of junk in the air. Having grown up in La Mesa all my life that is the closest thing to snowfall that I ever saw with my eyes. (I've since seen snowfall in Kansas and Korea )

Also on the day that those fire's started I woke up to a red sunrise. Very creepy in a cool way and it was not uncommon for foliage from way up north at the epicenter to fall among the fallout, partially burned even.

As for why they don't do controlled burns, I don't honestly know why they're so inept but maybe some of it has to do with environmentalist loons. (then again, maybe not in SoCal, it's not exactly San Francisco down south)

[Erik von Nein]

Back in my senior year of high school in Sep / Oct of 2003, I signed up in the Delayed Entry Program en route to the Army. One one of the nights in a whole WEEK of school that was cancelled the recruiter came to my house and we discussed all the paperwork; it was a surreal night, there was literally... fallout from all sorts of junk in the air. Having grown up in La Mesa all my life that is the closest thing to snowfall that I ever saw with my eyes. (I've since seen snowfall in Kansas and Korea )

Also on the day that those fire's started I woke up to a red sunrise. Very creepy in a cool way and it was not uncommon for foliage from way up north at the epicenter to fall among the fallout, partially burned even.

Nice. I remember something similar happening here once. See, there's this mountain grade that the main highway (101) goes through. One year it caught fire and burned most of the mountains. Caused lots of ash, smoke and all that. That was wild.

As for why they don't do controlled burns, I don't honestly know why they're so inept but maybe some of it has to do with environmentalist loons. (then again, maybe not in SoCal, it's not exactly San Francisco down south)

I don't think it's the enviromentalists (which would be fucking retarded, since wildfires and especially necessary in these environments) so much as it is people concerned about costs or people freaking out over a controlled burn getting out of control.

[Comando293]

I have family all over San Deigo County. At least 1 evacuation, and I 15 is closed....

[FSTargetDrone]

Don't like dead or bare areas? Use more fire-rsistant foliage around these homes.

Fire-resistant vegetation: When landscaping around a home, most homeowners are interested in creating a landscape that is aesthetically pleasing and complements their home, with variations in color, texture, flowers, and foliage. If your home is sited in or adjacent to forests or rangeland, you should also consider the flammability of plants within your home landscape. Flammable plant material in your landscape can increase the fire risk around your home. The 1991 Oakland Hills Fire in California is a prime example of how flammable plant material (e.g. Eucalyptus trees) can act as fuel and contribute to the intensity of a wildfire. More than 3,000 homes were destroyed in that devastating wildfire.

Taking action: Homeowners should take active steps to minimize or reduce the fuel and fire hazard around their homes, including planting fire-resistant plants. Good placement and on-going maintenance of fire-resistant trees, for example, can help protect your home by blocking intense heat.

a surviving home Making choices: There is a wide array of trees and other plants to choose for your landscape that are both attractive and fire-resistant. This publication provides a diverse list of plant material divided into sections for groundcovers, perennials, evergreen shrubs, deciduous shrubs, and conifer & deciduous trees.

Annuals: Annuals can be part of a fire-resistant landscape if well watered and well maintained. We have not listed all of these because of the large number of annuals available in the region.

Turf: A well maintained lawn can be included in a fire-resistant landscape and serves as an effective fuel break. For more information on lawn care and maintenance, check out available publications from your local OSU Extension Service.

A Caution About Bark Mulch: Bark mulch is often used in home landscapes. However, fire brands from a wildfire, along with cigarettes or dumped charcoal or fireplace ashes, can ignite dry bark mulch, conveying the fire to your home. If you landscape with bark mulch up against your home, make sure it remains moist to prevent ignition.

Fire-resistant plants
Fire-resistant plants are plants that don't readily ignite from flames or other ignition sources. Though fire-resistant plants can be damaged or killed by fire, their foliage and stems don't contribute significantly to the fuel -- and therefore the fire's intensity. "Fire-resistant" does not mean fire-proof. Plants that are fire-resistant have the following characteristics:

* Leaves are moist and supple.
* Plants have little dead wood and tend not to accumulate dry, dead material within the plant.
* Sap is water-like and does not have a strong odor.

Most deciduous trees and shrubs are fire-resistant. However, it's important to remember that even fire-resistant plants can burn, particularly if they are not maintained in a healthy condition.

In contrast, plants that are highly flammable have these general characteristics:

* Contain fine, dry or dead material (twigs, needles, and leaves) within the plant.
* Leaves, twigs, and stems contain volatile waxes, terpenes, or oils.
* Leaves are aromatic (strong smell when crushed).
* Sap is gummy and resinous and has a strong odor.
* May have loose or papery bark.

Both ornamental and native plants can be highly flammable. One highly flammable ornamental shrub often planted in home landscapes is ornamental juniper. Highly flammable native shrubs include bitterbrush, manzanita, sagebrush, and ceanothus. Avoid planting these plants around your home.

[fnord]

As for why they don't do controlled burns, I don't honestly know why they're so inept but maybe some of it has to do with environmentalist loons. (then again, maybe not in SoCal, it's not exactly San Francisco down south)

Well, Australia seems to import a large number of firies for our bushfire season. It also seems like rural fire services backburn year-round (I think the 1994 Sydney fires convinced people of the sheer dumbassness of NOT doing so - pretty much cut the place off by land). Can't see a reason why firies experienced in backburning and fighting bushfires/wildfires couldn't go the other way and help out on other side of Pacific.

[Broomstick]

Seriously, what is up with SoCal and wildfires? It seems that the vast majority of the nations wildfires occur in that one area.

It's a combination of climate and vegetation.

California goes through intense dry periods, often with high winds (such as we're seeing now). The native vegetation is adapted to the conditions, and indeed some seeds will not germinate without being singed first. Sequoias, for example require fire as part of their reproduction both to release the seeds from their cones and also to clear sufficient brush to allow for growth of giant trees.

Prior to the arrival of humans, natural fires probably burned through yearly and kept the level of brush down. After the arrival of humans, but before the arrival of Europeans, the natives deliberately set fires which definitely kept down the amount of tinder-like brush and grass. Certain highly flammable plants, such as eucalyptus (which is Australian and not North American) are also post-colonial. Between the suppression of controlled/deliberate burns and the addition of non-native but flammable flora the place is a firetrap.

There is also the matter of insane building practices, such as wooden roof shingles which, I hear, are now outlawed in some areas.

However, controlled burns do get out of control sometimes, it's not a trivial risk. Last year we had a controlled prairie burn in my area (North American prairie is another ecosystem adapted to regular burning) get out of control and cause some damage and our area isn't as dry and fire-prone as Southern California.

What needs to be done is firebreaks around homes, restriction or banning of the most hazardous vegetation around valuable property, and reduction of dry brush and other tinder. The area will always have tendencies to fire, but there are ways to reduce the scope and risk of those fires. The problems are education, cost, and the will to put these risk mitigators in place.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Seeing this information on the local news here up in yosemite.

no threat here, but damn that looks scary.

[Medic]

Yeah, I didn't really think environmentalists had much hand in this, that neck of the woods is conservative on Californian standards probably. Still, I've been out of the area for 3 years sans vacations so bah, wild-ass speculation.

Seriously, what is up with SoCal and wildfires? It seems that the vast majority of the nations wildfires occur in that one area.

It's a combination of climate and vegetation.

When you get past the brushfires, oil prices, housing prices, potential-for-earthquakes, general left-coast-left-wingism (if that ain't yo thang ) and valley girl (or guy) speak, it really is a great place to live, weather and people wise.

Oh, I forgot mudslides. You have to pay some price though for 72*F avg-a-year temperatures, a moderate climate with lots of sun, pleasant nights, picturesque landscapes and nothing resembling what most people consider a winter. (snowfall? banish the thought!) Oh and there's even cities! (Kansas is I think literally none of the above)

[The Yosemite Bear]

Seriously, what is up with SoCal and wildfires? It seems that the vast majority of the nations wildfires occur in that one area.

Super-super-dry humidity would be the biggest reason.

Why don't they clear foliage for a large radius around any residential areas in order to keep these regularly occurring wildfires from burning down houses and such? Is it because the foliage looks pretty?

I recall the statement when I used to be a wildland firefighter.
1. we're not living in the desert, look at all these trees and grasses
2. Govenor Duke: all these wildland firefighters doing preventative measures is too expensive, let the convicts clean up the messes when it happens, it's cheaper.

[LadyTevar]

I pray for those in SoCal.

In 1987, wildfires hit nearly 1/2 of West Virginia. The county I grew up in was one of the hardest hit, and several of the smaller towns/communities were totally surrounded by brushfires crawling up and down the ridges. Many of the fires were arson.

I still remember driving though town at noon with my headlights on because the smoke covered the sun, and ash fell like dirty snow, coating anything that stood still long enough. My dad was head Fire Warden for the county, and ran himself to the ground trying to be everywhere at once, coordinating the volunteer squads sent out to rake fire breaks with the Natl. Guard C-130s dropping water and flame retardant.
My mother and I were also busy, baking and delivering food to the fire station command center. Some of the men came in just long enough for a sandwich and drink before heading out again, or simply fell asleep in their chair, food in hand. It was the scariest month of my life, watching the fire encircle the town. I think we managed not to lose a house, but even the house where my mother now lives was spared by a mere 50yds, thanks to the hard work of the volunteers out fighting. One of my schoolmates later became a Fire Warden, and at my dad's funeral credited his actions during this time for his choice.

Twenty years later, and we're in one of the worst droughts on record. Because of the fire risk, any and all burning is Banned, in a state where many people still burn their leaf piles after raking their yard. Twice last week, I walked out of my downtown office building and caught the whiff of BrushFire -- it's a scent you can't forget, a musty scent of dry burning leaves. It's a distinct clean scent, in a way, not like a house or car fire, and the smoke is as white and pure as morning fog creeping over the ground.

I'm expecting to be out one night and see the fires burning over the mountainsides ringing Charleston; a ragged, jagged line drawn on the dark mountain in glowing crimson. The image is imprinted on my mind, even now, and I tear up thinking of those same angry red lines inching their way towards my home twenty years ago.

I pray for those in SoCal. I've been there.

[Haruko]

I live in San Bernardino city (right next to Highland to my east). In the afternoon today the stench from the smoke and whatever was strong. It's 11 PM right now and almost half the sky is covered with the smoke. It's Monday right now, and the winds haven't been strong, but Sunday it was very strong. I had to close the door at the back of the restaurant because the winds affected the very front of the restaurant.

Anyways, here's an article on the matter from Yahoo! News published today:

Over 250,000 urged to flee Calif. fires

SAN DIEGO - Wildfires blown by fierce desert winds Monday reduced scores of Southern California homes to ashes, forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee and laid a hellish, spidery pattern of luminous orange over the drought-stricken region.

At least one person was killed in the fires, and dozens were injured. Nearly 130 homes had burned in one mountain town alone, and thousands more buildings were threatened by more than a dozen blazes covering at least 310 square miles.

"The sky was just red. Everywhere I looked was red, glowing. Law enforcement came barreling in with police cars with loudspeakers telling everyone to get out now," said Ronnie Leigh, 55, who fled her home at a mobile home park as flames darkened the sky over the nearby ridge line.

Firefighters — who lost valuable time trying to persuade stubborn homeowners to leave — were almost completely overwhelmed as gale-force winds gusting to 70 mph scattered embers on the dry brush. California officials pleaded for help from fire departments in other states.

A pair of wildfires consumed 128 homes in the mountain resort community of Lake Arrowhead, in the San Bernardino National Forest east of Los Angeles, authorities said.

"We're stretched very thin and we can't get any planes up," said forest spokesman John Miller.

At least 14 fires were burning in Southern California, said Patti Roberts, a spokeswoman for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

More than 265,000 people from Malibu to San Diego were warned to leave their homes. More than 250,000 were told to flee in San Diego County alone, where hundreds of patients were moved by school bus and ambulance from a hospital and nursing homes, some in hospital gowns and wheelchairs. Some carried their medical records in large zip-lock plastic bags.

A 1,049-inmate jail in Orange County was evacuated because of heavy smoke. The prisoners were taken by bus to other lockups.

At San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, home to the NFL's Chargers, thousands of people huddled in eerie silence on the bleachers, staring at muted TV news reports of the wildfires. A lone concession stand served coffee and doughnuts.

Many evacuees gathered in the parking lot with their pets, which were banned from the stadium.

The sprawling Del Mar Fairgrounds on the coast was also turned into an evacuation center, along with high schools and senior centers.

At least one of the fires, in Orange County, was believed to have been set. And a blaze threatening the homes of the rich and famous in Malibu might have been caused by downed power lines, authorities said. Another blaze was started by a car fire. Flying embers started new fires at every turn.

San Diego County fires were burning so fast that authorities did not have an accurate count of how many homes had been destroyed.

"It was nuclear winter. It was like Armageddon. It looked like the end of the world," Mitch Mendler, a San Diego firefighter, said as he and his crew stopped at a shopping center parking lot to refill their water truck from a hydrant near a restaurant. Asked how many homes had burned, he said, "I lost count."

Tom Sollie, 49, ignored evacuation orders in Rancho Bernardo to help his neighbors spray roofs on his street with water. His home was untouched, but he watched a neighbor's house reduced to nothing but the remnants of a brick chimney. "The house went up like a Roman candle," Sollie said.

He added: "If we weren't here, the whole neighborhood would go up. There just aren't enough fire trucks around."

The blazes in San Diego County and elsewhere erupted one after another over the weekend. Things got worse Monday, when several new fires erupted and other fires merged. Parts of seven Southern California counties were ablaze.

All San Diego police officers and detectives were ordered to return to work to help move people to safety and handle other fire-related emergencies.

Firefighters complained that their efforts to stop the flames were delayed when they were confronted by people who refused to leave their homes.

"They didn't evacuate at all, or delayed until it was too late," said Bill Metcalf, a fire boss. "And those folks who are making those decisions are actually stripping fire resources."

As flames, thick smoke and choking ash filled the air around San Diego County's Lake Hodges, Stan Smith ignored orders to evacuate and stayed behind to help rescue his neighbor Ken Morris' horses.

"It's hard to leave all your belongings and take off, and the bad thing is you can't get back in once you leave," Smith said.

"I heard the cops come by and I just ducked," Morris said.

Besides, said Smith, "Lots of time the fire doesn't ever come. It's come really close before. I've seen it so bad you couldn't even hear yourself talk over the flames and ash blowing everywhere."

Black smoke blanketed much of northern San Diego and nearby suburbs as flames hopscotched around homes in Rancho Bernardo, a community with a large number of elderly people, destroying one of every 10 homes on one busy street.

Highways, canals and other features normally act as firebreaks. But the towering flames and flying embers rendered them useless this time.

Dozens of motorists gathered on an Interstate 15 overpass in San Diego to watch flames race up a hillside and engulf at least a half-dozen homes. Witnesses said they watched flames jump west over the 10-lane freeway.

"The flames were like 100 feet high and it moved up the hill in seconds. It was at the bottom, it was in the middle, and then it was at the top," said Steve Jarrett, who helped a friend evacuate his home in nearby Escondido.

Fire near the San Diego Wild Animal Park led authorities to move condors, a cheetah, snakes and other animals to the fire-resistant veterinary hospital on the grounds of the park. The large animals, such as elephants, rhinos and antelope, were left in irrigated enclosures.

The world-famous San Diego Zoo was not immediately threatened.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in the seven affected counties, opening the way for government aid.

"Its a tragic time for California," he said in Malibu, where a church, homes and a mansion resembling a medieval castle were destroyed over the weekend.

White House deputy press secretary Scott Stanzel said in an e-mail that President Bush called Schwarzenegger to make sure the state is getting the help it needs.

One person died in one of the fires near San Diego. More than a dozen people were hospitalized with burns and smoke inhalation, including four firefighters, three of whom were listed in critical condition, officials said. Some of the injured were hikers, while others may be illegal immigrants.

San Diego County spokeswoman Lesley Kirk said fire crews were stretched thin and were anxiously awaiting reinforcements from other parts of the state.

"The winds are up, it's very, very dangerous conditions," Kirk said. "Fires are popping up all over the place."

Flames forced the evacuation of the San Diego community of Ramona, which has a population of about 36,000.

Christine Baird, 42, was ordered to evacuate her apartment in the Rancho Bernardo area at 5:30 a.m. She moved to California from Canada earlier this year.

"Instead of snow we had ash all over the car," she said. "This is all new for me. We've got no family in the area, so there's really nowhere else to go."

In late October and early November of 2003, 15 fires in many of the same areas killed 22 people and destroyed 3,640 homes. Ten years earlier, in October and November of 1993, 26 fires in those areas killed four people and damaged or destroyed 1,200 structures.

[Drewcifer]

NASA satellite imagery. The red dots have been superimposed to indicate fires.

[Drewcifer]

OSEI Image of the Day:


(click thumbnail for larger image)

[Haruko]

Wow. I woke up this morning to find the entire sky filled with smoke. School has been cancelled for my siblings. I live near San Bernardino International Airport, to help get an idea where this is.

[CaptainChewbacca]

The evacuation numbers are up to half a million now, and there won't be any help from the weather for at least 3 or 4 days.

Its getting worse than '02.