Wildfires 2021

[Vagabond]

There's a red moon in the south tonight. Stay safe everyone. ?

 

[AxelAnnie]

Vagabond - stay safe.

I am in Northern California in Sonoma County (about 40 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge)
Sonoma is famous for two things: Wine and Wild Fires. The wine is helpful during the fires.

All kidding aside. I am in my home with all my windows closed and scented candles burning.
Eyes watering. Air is horrible. I suspect riding lessons will be canceled tomorrow (not that that is important in the scheme of things). The poor horses......there is nothing they can do but breathe smoke.

PG&E seems to be responsible for this fire (and many, many others). In a cost-cutting move several years ago, PG&E stopped clearing the brush near the power lines and checking the lines to make sure they were in good shape.

The devastation is unbelievable. I suspect that PG&E has not saved any money due to the lawsuits and payouts to victims who lost everything.

I have seen many of the discovery docs and pictures. It is horrid.

Hope everyone stays safe and out of the smoke.

 

[MacMadame]

It's not a wildfire, but the Bay Bridge has a propane truck on fire on it. Those fires burn hot so I hope the bridge doesn't collapse.

 

[skatfan]

Vagabond - stay safe.

I am in Northern California in Sonoma County (about 40 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge)
Sonoma is famous for two things: Wine and Wild Fires. The wine is helpful during the fires.

All kidding aside. I am in my home with all my windows closed and scented candles burning.
Eyes watering. Air is horrible. I suspect riding lessons will be canceled tomorrow (not that that is important in the scheme of things). The poor horses......there is nothing they can do but breathe smoke.

PG&E seems to be responsible for this fire (and many, many others). In a cost-cutting move several years ago, PG&E stopped clearing the brush near the power lines and checking the lines to make sure they were in good shape.

The devastation is unbelievable. I suspect that PG&E has not saved any money due to the lawsuits and payouts to victims who lost everything.

I have seen many of the discovery docs and pictures. It is horrid.

Hope everyone stays safe and out of the smoke.

Hope you stay safe. My cousins are in Santa Rosa and the last few years have been very trying.

 

[myhoneyhoney]

I have friends on evacuation standby because of the Dixie fire right now. ?

 

[MacMadame]

I have friends on evacuation standby because of the Dixie fire right now. ?

I can't believe that fire is still raging! This is much worse than last year when there were tons of fires in my area but every day they became a bit more contained. I don't understand why these fires aren't on the news every night like the fires last year.

 

[aka_gerbil]

I can't believe that fire is still raging! This is much worse than last year when there were tons of fires in my area but every day they became a bit more contained. I don't understand why these fires aren't on the news every night like the fires last year.

I hope it’s not because we’ve normalized the state catching fire every year.

We’re getting smoke and ash from the Caldor Fire today.

PG&E just infuriates me. We have some of the highest electric rates in the country, but they can’t even maintain things....

 

[MacMadame]

I hope it’s not because we’ve normalized the state catching fire every year.

We’re getting smoke and ash from the Caldor Fire today.

PG&E just infuriates me. We have some of the highest electric rates in the country, but they can’t even maintain things....

I think it's because so few homes have been burned or threatened. That's all I can think of. Probably Afghanistan is pushing other things out of the news too. And the recall. But mostly because the nightly news can't interview endless folks who either lost their homes, lost loved ones, or are about to. They thrive on that stuff.

Also, don't get me started on PG&E.

 

[Vagabond]

I can't believe that fire is still raging! This is much worse than last year when there were tons of fires in my area but every day they became a bit more contained. I don't understand why these fires aren't on the news every night like the fires last year.

Last year, we in San Francisco had three days of orange-colored sky (not the kind that Natalie Cole and Michael Bublé sing about), followed by several days of beige and weeks of unhealthy air-quality levels. So far, we haven't had anything remotely like that. ?

The sun was red long after it rose this morning.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Hope you stay safe. My cousins are in Santa Rosa and the last few years have been very trying.

Oh. They must feel horrid. The smoke is worse up there.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I hope it’s not because we’ve normalized the state catching fire every year.

We’re getting smoke and ash from the Caldor Fire today.

PG&E just infuriates me. We have some of the highest electric rates in the country, but they can’t even maintain things....

Yep. PGE tried to declare bankruptcy.
And the higher fees. No mystery there....they have to charge us more so they can pay the judgments in hundreds of actions.

And if you want to get really angry check out the corporate boards salaries and bonuses. Millions of dollars.

 

[MacMadame]

So far, we haven't had anything remotely like that. ?

Shh. We now have a Spare the Air day today and tomorrow!

 

[Japanfan]

There are many wildfires raging in British Columbia as well. One town has been pretty much obliterated, many many people on evacuation notice.

No wildfires in Vancouver, but experts have said there could be.

Air isn't too smoky, but the sky has been gloomy for days and days.

It feels a bit apocalyptic to me.

 

[SkateSand]

I think it's because so few homes have been burned or threatened. That's all I can think of. Probably Afghanistan is pushing other things out of the news too. And the recall. But mostly because the nightly news can't interview endless folks who either lost their homes, lost loved ones, or are about to. They thrive on that stuff.

Also, don't get me started on PG&E.

There were about 660 homes destroyed in the Dixie Fire. Maybe they haven't been able to locate the evacuees to interview them because they keep getting re-evacuated. I'm also getting irritated by the Pollyanna types on Facebook who are all chirping, "Oh, the forest will come back better than ever!" on the fire having burned at least a third of my beloved Lassen Volcanic National Park (so far). Yeah, but not in our lifetimes. The smoke is back here so no outside walks for us. We had a short two day period of blue skies while PG&E knocked the power out, and now it's back to feeling like we live in L.A. level smog from the sixties.

 

[MacMadame]

There were about 660 homes destroyed in the Dixie Fire.

Yes, it destroyed a small town. But nothing like the Camp Fire which killed 85 people while no one (as of the last updating of the CA Wildfires wiki page) has died in the Dixie Fire. It also is only the 5th worse in terms of structures that have been burned.

It seems to be really rural and so reporters in the Bay Area aren't reporting on it extensively. But I would like to know more about it because it's still only something like 35% contained and it's been going on forever. I think they should report on it as much as they did the Camp Fire, at least.

 

[SkateSand]

It seems to be really rural and so reporters in the Bay Area aren't reporting on it extensively. But I would like to know more about it because it's still only something like 35% contained and it's been going on forever. I think they should report on it as much as they did the Camp Fire, at least.

I think they stopped updating the information because no more small towns have burned after the initial one, and, as you said, no one has died so far. All they can continue saying is "x number of people have to evacuate and x towns are threatened." Right now, it's just burning up forest (massive amounts, but still "just trees" ) and isolated buildings and homes. If it gets more dramatic, I'm sure they'll pipe up.

 

[MacMadame]

If it gets more dramatic, I'm sure they'll pipe up.

Yeah but I'm really interested in it so I'm frustrated. ?‍ Guess it's time to hit The Google.

 

[MacMadame]

Here's an article about the Calder Fire:

Caldor Fire now nation’s ‘number-one priority’ as blaze nears Tahoe

Crews have fully contained the Cache Fire in Lake County, one of five major wildfires to burn in Northern California this month.

www.mercurynews.com

I'm pretty sure it's behind a paywall so I will pull out some excerpts:

Uncomfortably close to Lake Tahoe, the Caldor Fire is now the nation’s top-priority wildfire — underscoring the potential damage it could yet unleash even as weather conditions improve and resources continue to flow to the area.

Officials had reason to be optimistic the fire wouldn’t make it that far. Winds that had been propelling the blaze forward have died down and are expected to remain low for the next few days, said Cal Fire Captain Keith Wade. Firefighters hit a milestone Sunday night when they managed to contain 5% of the fire — the first time in more than a week they’ve had any part of the fire controlled — and Wade expects that percentage to increase in coming days.

Firefighters are now taking advantage of low winds to ignite controlled burns that will dispose of dry fuel before the Caldor Fire can reach it, Wade said. And the smoky air that had grounded Cal Fire aircraft has cleared enough to allow airdrops of water and fire retardant to resume. Officials even have deployed new night-flying helicopters from Southern California.

The Caldor Fire ignited Aug. 14 and it is one of four major wildfires in Northern California. Overall, according to Cal Fire, 13 major wildfires are still active in California and have burned through 1.54 million acres — more than twice the size of Yosemite.

“Fires are burning in ways that nobody has seen before,” Porter said.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

The first evacuation warning for inside the Tahoe basin is up. I'm horrified by the thought of wildfire sweeping through there. One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

 

[TOADS]

There are also wildfires in Minnesota. They have been suffering heat and drought as well.

 

[Vagabond]

It's been sunny in my neighborhood for the first time in two months. Yesterday, it wasn't so bad, but today it's been smoky. ?

 

[AxelAnnie]

From AQ Air/

AKE TAHOE, Calif. - Plumes of wildfire smoke from the massive wildfires burning in California created air quality in Lake Tahoe that is far worse than what officials consider hazardous . The Bay Area was also shrouded in smoke on Friday as officials announced a Spare the Air Alert through Saturday.

Smoke blowing from the Dixie and Caldor fires has blanketed parts of northern California and areas beyond for weeks.

Air quality technology company, IQAir, recorded some of the region's hazardous conditions on Friday. Just before noon, the air quality index for Pollock Pines, which is located in El Dorado County, reached 1038. Neighboring Camino peaked at 1117.

A score of up to 50 is considered good air quality by the U.S. Air Quality Index. Hazardous conditions start an an index of 301, which leads to a "health warning of emergency conditions." The levels recorded in Tahoe were three times greater than that.

 

[Lizziebeth]

There are also wildfires in Minnesota. They have been suffering heat and drought as well.

It is been extremely dry all summer. They had to close the BWCA because of the danger of smoke and fire. I am from Lake County, a gorgeous place.

 

[Vash01]

From AQ Air/

AKE TAHOE, Calif. - Plumes of wildfire smoke from the massive wildfires burning in California created air quality in Lake Tahoe that is far worse than what officials consider hazardous . The Bay Area was also shrouded in smoke on Friday as officials announced a Spare the Air Alert through Saturday.

Smoke blowing from the Dixie and Caldor fires has blanketed parts of northern California and areas beyond for weeks.

Air quality technology company, IQAir, recorded some of the region's hazardous conditions on Friday. Just before noon, the air quality index for Pollock Pines, which is located in El Dorado County, reached 1038. Neighboring Camino peaked at 1117.

A score of up to 50 is considered good air quality by the U.S. Air Quality Index. Hazardous conditions start an an index of 301, which leads to a "health warning of emergency conditions." The levels recorded in Tahoe were three times greater than that.

Those are insane numbers. I worked as an air quality engineer for 15 years. At the worst times in the Phoenix area I never saw even red. Last year I was shocked to hear the AQI in Oregon and California. It was purple, then maroon, and occasionally off the chart. I have never seen red, purple, maroon around me. I heard people locked their windows and doors and stayed inside.

This year sounds even worse.

My niece and I have reservations to go to South Lake Tahoe in about two weeks. Unless a miracle clears the air to moderate (yellow) or better (green) by then, we will have to cancel. We may make the decision in a week from now. Even after the fires are contained, I can't imagine the air quality returning to normal in a short time. I remember that last year my friend in CA was wearing K95 masks for weeks.

A quick way to find the Air Quality in your area is to check www.AirNow.gov.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Thanks for the info.

Those are insane numbers. I worked as an air quality engineer for 15 years. At the worst times in the Phoenix area I never saw even red. Last year I was shocked to hear the AQI in Oregon and California. It was purple, then maroon, and occasionally off the chart. I have never seen red, purple, maroon around me. I heard people locked their windows and doors and stayed inside.

This year sounds even worse.

My niece and I have reservations to go to South Lake Tahoe in about two weeks. Unless a miracle clears the air to moderate (yellow) or better (green) by then, we will have to cancel. We may make the decision in a week from now. Even after the fires are contained, I can't imagine the air quality returning to normal in a short time. I remember that last year my friend in CA was wearing K95 masks for weeks.

A quick way to find the Air Quality in your area is to check www.AirNow.gov.

Not that it is my business.....but I wouldn't go up there. I am 3 hours away, and the smoke here is awful. And, it is not necessarily particles you can see. So it is not like you can look out there and say "Oh my it is smokey out there". Good luck.

 

[Vash01]

Thanks for the info.


Not that it is my business.....but I wouldn't go up there. I am 3 hours away, and the smoke here is awful. And, it is not necessarily particles you can see. So it is not like you can look out there and say "Oh my it is smokey out there". Good luck.

I have pretty much decided to cancel this trip. Could go there later when the air is clean. The particulates you don't see are more hazardous than the ones you see. The large ones are filtered out by the respiratory system. The PM2.5 go deep in the Lungs and cause damage. I am reading that the area has fires frequently? Until last year we used to hear fires from S. Cal more because they affected our air quality. The orange color sun looked beautiful though.

 

[MacMadame]

I have pretty much decided to cancel this trip

I think that's good. Nothing personal to you but the people in Tahoe have said "Don't come here!" as they are really straining to have the resources to fight these fires (and treat people with CV but that's a different issue). There also might not be much to do as a lot is closed due to the fires and the smoke. They've closed most (if not all) of the parks, for example.

I was supposed to be in Tahoe this weekend doing a triathlon but they closed the state park it was to be in so it was canceled. The air quality where it was to happen is in the Red.

Last year was really bad in the Bay Area but this year hasn't been as bad. It's just luck because it depends on where the fire is and what direction the find blows.

 

[Kasey]

Yeah, the Reno-Tahoe area has been in the red zone for it seems like weeks now. The valley gets thick with smoke and I tried going up to Tahoe last week to get above it, and it's just as bad up there. There is very little break from it right now.

 

[Vash01]

Yeah, the Reno-Tahoe area has been in the red zone for it seems like weeks now. The valley gets thick with smoke and I tried going up to Tahoe last week to get above it, and it's just as bad up there. There is very little break from it right now.

I was wondering how Reno was doing, since it is so close to Tahoe.

 

[Kasey]

I was wondering how Reno was doing, since it is so close to Tahoe.

It is close to Tahoe, but in the valley, so we are getting it pretty thick. It's sad and miserable (although according to my computer the AQI right now is only 61, the best it's been in weeks; I'd better take the dog out for a walk quick!)