SoCal wild fires

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by marciero

Yes, Tragic. They tend to be young, often with young families. Hard to imagine what it would be like working on a fire of this size. I imagine would be like going to another planet. Sure looks that way.

There's a firehouse near me, and so I often see the teams at the grocery store or adjacent laundromat. During events like these, they are so clearly bedraggled and completely exhausted, dirty, haggard. Yet even then they are so friendly, keeping things light.

I have immense respect for them, and at least those I have encountered always seem like truly excellent teams. I'm sure that Iverson's house will do everything they can to console and support his wife and children, and for a long time I would bet.
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[false_Aest]

http://sd13.senate.ca.gov/news/2017-...ules-utilities

The rules go as far as allowing utilities to cut power to any land owner that doesn't allow utility workers on the land to trim trees/brush around power lines.

I'm glad this happened. Should've been adopted years ago. But it's not enough and the public + govt (unless they're directly affected) tend to have short attention spans and bad longterm memories. Folks are already getting used to the idea of a year-long fire season.

We're effed.

[Jeff N.]

I'm in the San Carlos area of San Diego. All is good here but there are some really dry areas close by (Cowles Mountain) that I worry about every year at this time. Lots and lots of dry brush that'd go up easily. Fingers crossed. My heart goes out to all those affected.

[windsurfer]

I went back home to SB for a couple of days this week. We live just outside the evacuation area. Seems like there are more fire trucks than cars on the roads and in parking lots. Air quality was so bad that I left again last night. Hopefully the wind direction will go back onshore soon so they can get things under control.

[AngryScientist]

thanks for that link false...

so, my Californiac friends, can someone tell me why the central part of the state is so much lower fire risk than the borders, it is because it is more mountainous in the middle part?

[Steve in SLO]

Angry,
That is the San Joaquin Valley i.e. the Great Valley, which is predominantly ag land, so little brushy undergrowth/ big trees, which makes for less fire danger than much of the state which has either manzanita/oak scrub, grasslands or dry mixed/conifer forests. Also, at this time of year, Tule fog tends to sit in the valley and keeps everything a bit more moist and holds winds down.

[54ny77]

Because Fresno is already hell on earth, fire takes a pass.

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by 54ny77

Because Fresno is already hell on earth, fire takes a pass.

This may be a little harsh. Or maybe not if you are there in August.

[54ny77]

Oh I've been there plenty. And lived to tell about it.

We'll just call that era, "youth."

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

This may be a little harsh. Or maybe not if you are there in August.

[dave thompson]

Originally Posted by 54ny77

Because Fresno is already hell on earth, fire takes a pass.

I went to Fresno once. It was closed.

[54ny77]

There's nothing quite like going through the fine town of Los Banos in August in full motorcycle gear. Face full of s&#! is an apt descriptor.

Oh and coming across from bay area down 99 in winter tule fog while on a moto is a real treat too. And taking side roads doesn't help either.

Like I said, I lived to tell about it.

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

This may be a little harsh. Or maybe not if you are there in August.

That is very harsh, actually.
Discriminatory, even.



Aginst the month of August, that is.




Because Fresno is exactly as 54ny77 described it 24/7/365-66.
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[bironi]

Wow! Must be some great housing prices in Fresno. Make way for the great migration.

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

This may be a little harsh. Or maybe not if you are there in August.

Originally Posted by 54ny77

Because Fresno is already hell on earth, fire takes a pass.

Originally Posted by cadence90

That is very harsh, actually.
Discriminatory, even.



Aginst the month of August, that is.




Because Fresno is exactly as 54ny77 described it 24/7/365-66.
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Fresno sucks. I did a Post Doc at the USDA Station in Parlier. It had to be the saddest year of my life. I felt it was a cross between Boogie Nights, Grapes of Wrath, and Friday the 13th. I might not made it through it if Kings canyon and Sequoia were not in the backyard.

October was the worse when the cotton farmers west and south of Fresno would spray their chemical defoliants prior to cotton harvest. Good air there.

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by 54ny77

There's nothing quite like going through the fine town of Los Banos in August in full motorcycle gear. Face full of s&#! is an apt descriptor.

Oh and coming across from bay area down 99 in winter tule fog while on a moto is a real treat too. And taking side roads doesn't help either.

Like I said, I lived to tell about it.

Man, I had a motorcycle, BMW 650 Dakar, while living in Fresno. You hit the nail on the MF head with your observations.

BTW, there is a bike "race" called the Taint Hammer which starts in Los Banos which I rode one year. Its about 110 miles and probably 110 elevation gain. Nothing like riding on potholed dirt roads covered in cow poop and piss at maximum effort.