scrubbedexpat091

I never really thought much of it, but then saw this video. You so don't want to be under an aerial drop, not even in a vehicle.

It's just a safety video by Cal-Fire, there isn't anything gross, just kind of interesting seeing the damage it does to the vehicle.

Steerpike

A good friend of mine used to run a helicopter company. She told me there were times when they would deploy helicopters to the fire fighting teams and then have to wait several days for paperwork to get completed before they could actually participate!

She also mentioned, in passing, that during the 9/11 effort to rescue people from the twin towers, dozens of helicopter companies were offering to pick up people from the roof, but it was not allowed. She made it sound like this was one of those things that 'doesn't get talked about much' ... like it was some big snafu that got swept under the carpet ...

Steerpike

So the bay area looks 'better' (though not perfect), and Portland looks really good - as does most of Oregon. Are we just seeing a lull in the winds, or are things getting under control?

scrubbedexpat091

Quite an improvement for many areas compared to a week ago air quality wise. We are doing good today, the 24 hour average should be under 25 by tomorrow, up this way the high pressure that was keeping all the smoke in finally weakened and low pressure moved in, had some rain even last night.

The fire near Palm Springs is up to 6,000 acres, but 8% contained as of Sat morning, looks like the mandatory evacuation orders were lifted this evening, the fire has spread into San Bernardino National Forest and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.

PM2.5 Data:

• PM2.5 (1h): 5.4 µg/m3
• PM2.5 (24h): 28.9 µg/m3.
  Objective: 25 µg/m3

lansbury

The first helicopter to arrive was an NYPD one. The roof was already 90% covered by smoke and the pilot Tim Hayes couldn't clearly see enough of the roof to evaluate a landing. The roof was covered in obstacles.

scrubbedexpat091

Steerpike

Thanks for that! I shall be having a chat with my friend

Steerpike

What's going on now in CA? After several days of clear air in the bay area, looks like today we are creeping back to badness ... Are there new fires, or is this just 'the way the wind blows'?

caretaker

Giantaxe

There's still a huge smoke plume off in the Pacific. Weirdly, the air seems worse inland than on the coast. Yesterday, it felt ok in San Francisco, but looking eastwards from Hunters Point there was zero visibility of the Oakland Hills.

KJen

I went through all pictures, I hope everything is fine now.

md95065

Well, in my area (Santa Cruz) the fire was 100% contained a week ago, which is good news, but over 1000 structures were destroyed or damaged and the infrastructure (roads, gas, electricity, water etc) in the North part of the county is still in very bad shape. The worst is over but, no, it isn't exactly "fine: ...

scrubbedexpat091

Looks like a new fire started overnight in Napa County, a local hospital had to evacuate for the 2nd time this fire season. 1,000 acres as of last update, winds are expected to increase, currently 0% contained.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/27/us/gl...nia/index.html

Steerpike

Oh shit - air quality again terrible in the Bay Area!

This is becoming a crazy situation.

I was supposed to be driving up there Friday; not sure if I should go or not.

Giantaxe

Becoming? This is the sixth year of fires in the west that have far exceeded anything in recorded history. And with a president that literally is throwing fuel on the fire, it's only going to get woese.