| Jun 24 @ 10:30 AM |
California - On Fire
|
|
EternalFlame
Posts: 3,174
|
There are literally hundreds of fires in the state right now....air quality has plummeted in my area:
Isn't that LOVELY? Thank goodness Ken went to Mexico and picked up some inhalers for me and Brianna....I wouldn't be able to breathe!
Firefighters Wrestle With Hundreds Of Blazes
Fires Sparked By Lightning Storms
POSTED: 6:10 pm PDT June 21, 2008
UPDATED: 10:29 pm PDT June 21, 2008
Thunderstorms sparked as many as 400 fires around Northern California, as officials farther south got close to containing a blaze that destroyed several homes and forced thousands to evacuate.
Storms overnight Friday were responsible for 75 fires in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, near Redding. Those fires range in size from less than an acre to more than 750 acres.
None immediately threatened homes, said Forest Service spokesman Michael Odle.
Teams moved in Saturday on the two largest fires.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office said Saturday that lightning had sparked nearly 400 fires from Monterey County to the California-Oregon border.
The governor ordered the California National Guard to assist in firefighting efforts.
South of San Francisco, a fire that burned homes and closed a stretch of highway was 90 percent contained, said officials of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Officials had expected full containment on Saturday, but hot weather and stubborn hot spots kept fire crews busy.
Cal Fire now expects the fire to be fully contained on Sunday.
So far, it had charred 630 acres, or less than a square mile.
Evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, a day after roughly 2,000 people fled their homes.
About 650 firefighters were working in hot, dry weather to contain the blaze, which destroyed as many as 15 buildings, including several homes, and closed scenic Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County for hours, fire officials said.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation, Van Gerwen said.
It was the third major blaze to hit Santa Cruz County in the past month. A 520-acre blaze charred destroyed 11 buildings in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and a fire near Corralitos covered more than 4,200 acres and destroyed about 100 buildings.
To the south along the coast, firefighters worked against a nearly 80-square-mile fire in a remote part of the Los Padres National Forest in Monterey County. It was about half contained Saturday.
Link to CURRENT fires
|
|
  |
|
| Jun 24 @ 12:03 PM |
California - On Fire |
|
arieann
Posts: 140
|
We had a wild fire here a few weeks ago. Even though the fire was about 60 miles away, the smoke really got to me, and I am a smoker. The temperature was over 100 degrees that day. That night, I was up all night coughing, so i can imagine what Californians are going through.
|
| |
|
| Jun 24 @ 2:50 PM |
California - On Fire
|
|
Loreli
Posts: 18,175
|
Oh yuck, EF-you all take care! 
|
|
| |
|
| Jun 24 @ 3:02 PM |
California - On Fire |
|
kattsmeow
Posts: 20,181
|
Just think of what it is going to be like when the dry season actually gets here!
|
| |
|
| Jun 24 @ 3:15 PM |
California - On Fire
|
|
SunBabe
Posts: 11,401
|
I'm at least 100-150 miles away, to the east, from a lot of the fires on the other side of "the hill" (the Sierras) and the sky and the air has been smokey all day...it'll probably be even worse by tomorrow. 
And yeh, it's not even officially "fire season" yet. 
|
|
| |
|
| Jun 24 @ 8:26 PM |
California - On Fire |
|
EternalFlame
Posts: 3,174
|
This is going to be a BAD year for fires in this state
|
| |
|
| Jun 24 @ 8:29 PM |
California - On Fire
|
|
BandTMom
Posts: 24,303
|
Sending rainy thoughts your way!
|
|
| |
|
| Jun 24 @ 8:31 PM |
California - On Fire |
|
EternalFlame
Posts: 3,174
|
Thanks, Mom! 
|
| |
|
| Jun 24 @ 9:07 PM |
California - On Fire
|
|
mystery2u888
Posts: 4,022
|
Well I would send you rain but.  ............we don't have any..........be safe gf..  ......love the new picture too........ ........keep us up to date pls...... Sunbabe I will be thinking of you too......and all my friends in California......
|
|
| |
|
| Jun 25 @ 7:16 AM |
California - On Fire |
|
whatagal
Posts: 709
|
This is going to be a BAD year for fires in this state.
It's bad here too in Texas. We are in a drought with less than 8 inches of rain this year. We usually are allowed to shoot off private fireworks in the county but this year, you can only shoot off your fireworks in designated areas.
Texas has a piss poor water conservation plan. They wait until it gets really bad before they start water restrictions. Water conservation is something that should be maintained at all times.
|
| |
|
| Jun 25 @ 9:37 AM |
California - On Fire
|
|
EternalFlame
Posts: 3,174
|
Smoke Damages Valley Air Quality
City Of Washington Could Be In Danger, Officials Say
POSTED: 5:59 am PDT June 23, 2008
UPDATED: 8:56 pm PDT June 23, 2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Smoke from a large wildfire northwest of Fairfield and other blazes around Northern California continued to choke the skies around Sacramento on Monday, leading authorities to remind those with asthma and other respiratory problems to avoid the outdoors if possible.
The smoke was the result of scores of separate wildfires -- more than 800 as of Monday -- that flared over the weekend across the heart of wine country and remote forests. Many of the blazes were sparked by lightning.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency Monday in Monterey and Trinity counties as a result of numerous wildfires, officials said in a news release.
The proclamation utilizes all resources consistent with the state's authority under the California Disaster Assistance Act.
"I've been governor for four years and I've never heard that number (of fires) before, so it was quite surprising," Schwarzenegger said.
A wildfire that burned along the border of Napa and Solano counties near Fairfield burned about 4,000 acres of rugged terrain, but cooler temperatures aided firefighters in getting the blaze 60 percent contained as of Monday afternoon. The fire started Saturday.
One home and one barn were lost, but the flames largely appeared to be laying down. Evacuation orders remain in place for residents of Twin Sisters Road and Joyce Lane. About 250 homes are threatened, down from the 400 homes that were threatened on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, firefighters said they have made good progress against the flames.
"It's much better today," said Chuck Joiner, a spokesman for Cal Fire.
However, firefighting crews are spread thin because of the amount of fires sparked by the lightning strikes.
"This is an unprecedented lightning storm in California, that it lasted as long as it did, 5,000 to 6,000 lightning strikes,"said Del Walters, assistant regional chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. . "We are finding fires all the time."
Air quality in Sacramento and Roseville was unhealthy for all residents as of Monday evening, while air conditions were slightly better in Woodland, Davis, Folsom and Elk Grove, KCRA 3 WeatherPlus chief meteorologist Mark Finan said.
The smoky conditions and poor air quality will continue into Tuesday because the Delta breeze is not strong enough to clear out the region, Finan said.
"Smoke can affect anyone, but it's especially harmful to people who have existing breathing problems, like seniors or anyone suffering from asthma or emphysema," said Dr. Glennah Trochet, Sacramento County's health officer, in a prepared statement. "The fine particles in smoke can obstruct the airways, making it harder to breathe and reducing oxygen intake."
Fire crews fought a series of grass fires near the Yuba River on Monday, with one of the blazes creating concern for the historic town of Washington.
A fire burning near the South Fork of the river had scorched at least 200 acres and was growing as of 4:30 p.m. Fire officials said if the fire crosses Scotchman Creek the town of Washington could be in danger.
Fire investigators said farm workers may have sparked a separate grass fire near Elverta Road and East Levee Road on Monday.
Workers were tilling a recently harvested field when tractors hit a rock sending sparks flying, officials said.
A total of 25 fires are burning in Butte County, charring more than 1,397 acres, fire officials said Monday.
The Butte County Sheriff's department has issued a precautionary evacuation for the Lake Concow Area because of a lightning fire that has burned 100 acres off of Rim Road.
The American Red Cross is setting up an evacuation center at the Spring Valley School.
Residents of Nevada County were back in their homes Monday after a blaze forced voluntary evacuations Sunday night near Bowman Lake.
About 25 fires were sparked over the weekend in the Tahoe National Forest. Crews are now focused on two blazes -- the Fall fire and the Clear fire. Those blazes have burned 450 acres. No homes have been burned.
Two dozen fires were also burning in Butte County. More than 300 acres were charred.
The Butte County Sheriff's Department issued a precautionary evacuation advisory for the Lake Concow area for a blaze burning just off Rim Road.
The Red Cross set up an evacuation center at Spring Valley Elementary School on Pentz Road in Oroville.
In Stanislaus National Forest, a blaze burned up to 500 acres about 19 miles northeast of Groveland and may spread into nearby Yosemite National Park. The flames are far from any populated areas.
Officials prohibited campfires, barbecues and smoking outside developed campgrounds in areas of the forest where fire danger is highest.
In San Mateo County, 200 residents in Brisbane were forced to leave their homes as a fire approached. The blaze started at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday. About 200 firefighters were battling the flames.
|
|
| |
|
| Jun 25 @ 9:40 AM |
California - On Fire |
|
EternalFlame
Posts: 3,174
|
cont. from previous post
In the foothills of Mariposa County, firefighters were battling 3 wildfires on Monday.
The largest of the fires is called the Oliver Fire, which has burned 200 acres and has no containment, officials said.
The fire is threatening homes and residents are on stand-by for evacuations.
Wildfires have destroyed more than 175 homes in Northern California so far this year. Blazes started popping up in the region just as California's unofficial fire season began in mid-May, following the state's driest two-month period on record.
"My hat is off to all the firefighters out there on the ground, dirty, hot, smoky," Walters said. "And it's going to be a long road for us."
Homeowners may see a new fee to cover firefighting costs under a proposal.
Schwarzenegger said he wants a annual surcharge on homeowners insurance statewide. The cost would be about $6 to $12 each year.
"Our idea is to raise the homeowners insurance, and I think everyone would benefit," Schwarzenegger said.
Source: KCRA.com
|
| |
|
| Jun 25 @ 1:41 PM |
California - On Fire
|
|
mystery2u888
Posts: 4,022
|
Thank you gf............for the update and photos.........still thinking of you guys.........
|
|
| |
|
| Jun 25 @ 1:45 PM |
California - On Fire |
|
sweet5red
Posts: 7,574
|
be careful and take care all in the area.. Sweet N Louisiana
|
| |
|
| Jun 27 @ 9:59 AM |
California - On Fire
|
|
EternalFlame
Posts: 3,174
|
Another day of unhealthy air...another day staying inside. Today is actually worse than it's been in a couple of days:
Bits and pieces of today's article at KCRA.com
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A thick haze remained Thursday over the Central Valley, as health officials are again warning about high particulate matter and poor air quality throughout the region.
Winds are expected to be calm Thursday, leaving little chance of relief for people suffering from respiratory problems.
. . . Visibility was as little as 6 miles in Sacramento and Marysville and 7 miles in Stockton.
. . . health officials told KCRA 3 that simple masks cannot filter fine particles and that the best choice to avoid the polluted air is to stay inside.
. . .The National Weather Service predicted more dry lightning toward the end of the week, although forecasters did not expect as severe an electrical storm as last weekend, when nearly 8,000 lightning strikes sparked about 800 fires across Northern California.
|
|
| |
|
| Jun 27 @ 10:10 AM |
California - On Fire |
|
Jalon
Posts: 643
|
You can SOOOOOO have my rain! 
|
| |
|
| Jun 27 @ 10:43 AM |
California - On Fire
|
|
EternalFlame
Posts: 3,174
|
I wish! We need rain so bad here...
|
|
| |
|
| Jun 27 @ 10:57 AM |
California - On Fire |
|
warrior674
Posts: 4,480
|
You can have my rain too...
|
| |
|
| Jun 27 @ 12:19 PM |
California - On Fire
|
|
Jalon
Posts: 643
|
Hmm...if they could only figure out how to divert flood water to the west! Oh wait...it's all full of toxic sludge now. Nevermind. 
|
|
| |
|
| Jun 28 @ 2:43 PM |
California - On Fire |
|
Loreli
Posts: 18,175
|
And just what we need....6 straight days of rain...
Isn't there something like "seeding the clouds" to stimulate rain? 
|
| |
|
|
|
|