Re: Fires in California
 

Slight improvement this afternoon

• PM2.5 (1h): 280.7 µg/m3
• PM2.5 (24h): 267.4 µg/m3.

Alaska Airlines is suspending service to Portland and Spokane due to smoke, they are currently planning to resume service tomorrow at 3pm at those airports.

Re: Fires in California
 

https://www.wvtf.org/sites/wvtf/file...f%20Shiloh.jpg

My first visit to the US included a trip to the site of the Battle of Shiloh, I was expecting to see wooded areas like this. It was hardly penetrable, difficult for one person to move through never mind armies.

Seems that historically there were natural fires and fires that were started by native americans that cleared the undergrowth. That was all stopped and fires put out as quickly as possible. I know around where I am the amount of fuel from dead wood etc means that a major fire is inevitable, just when. Even in more modern times there were trails, wood was cleared for lumber and heat, most of those have been closed and now very difficult to get wood, I go on private property to get mine.

Re: Fires in California
 

I am aware of slash an burn farming technique, but how did this system of only clearing undergrowth work? how did they control fire to burn undergrowth but not the trees themselves? (I don't expect you to be an expert and know this, but if you do I am curious)

Re: Fires in California
 

OK it was a long time ago I was at Shiloh but from I recollect, they wanted to keep the area clear for hunting, which makes sense. Small fires are hot enough to clear the undergrowth but not hot enough to damage larger trees.

Basically the landscape was managed by fire to back up what was naturally happening. Around here dry lightning is likely to be the most natural cause and the focus has been to put it out. Because we are so dry it takes a very long time for dead trees etc to rot. We have mainly Aspen and Pine and softwoods do not live as long, maybe 40 or 50 years.

Re: Fires in California
 

Keeping up with the Mexicans fighting fires in Oregon:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...3cfc703474.png

Re: Fires in California
 

Mexicanos, al grito de guerra! Mexicans, rally to the cry of war (first line of their national anthem). They don't have wars any more, other than internal ones against the cartels, but they are kindly helping Oregon.

Re: Fires in California
 

First day of blue skies for us for weeks. There are peaks surrounding Monterey I had almost forgotten about.

Re: Fires in California
 

Brownish orange skies still but the air quality is getting better little by little.

• PM2.5 (1h): 65.1 µg/m3
• PM2.5 (24h): 104.7 µg/m3.
  Objective: 25 µg/m3

Re: Fires in California
 

Beautiful air here in San Francisco... hiked last night in mist and drizzle. very refreshing!

Re: Fires in California
 

An oasis in the desert! I wonder how long it will last!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...3ec189de52.png

I'm starting to think about returning to the bay area but holding off until the smoke clears ....

Re: Fires in California
 

There is a fire in Palm Springs, and the time line is scary how fast it grew. Started due to a car fire. (hot and dry weather, currently 97F and 10% humidity with winds @ 8mph gusting to 12mph, it was around 113F at the time the fire started with winds of 7-12 mph.)

2:36pm a vehicle catches fire and spreads to vegetation.

3pm fire is 1/2 acre in size

4pm up to 200 acres

5pm 500 acres

7:30p 1,200 acres in size

215 firefighters are at the scene with 33 fire engines, 4 air tankers, 2 helicopters, and 7 fire crews currently fighting it, Palm Spring's Fire Dept is also assisting.

200-300 homes currently at risk and under evacuation orders.

https://kesq.com/news/2020/09/17/eva...-palm-springs/

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...0562e582a8.jpg

Re: Fires in California
 

I wonder where they get all these resources - air tankers, firefighters, etc ... it seems like they are in short supply right now! Looks like the vehicle was 'off road' ...

Re: Fires in California
 

I have always wondered how they respond fairly quickly, I can't really find info on how it all works, the Cal Fire website it looks like there are 3 agencies working on it CAL FIRE, Riverside County Fire, and San Bernardino National Forest are listed and the news mentioned the Palm Springs Fire Dept was also assisting.

But they do seem to be able to respond fairly quickly once a fire breaks out.

The area is an outdoor recreational area I believe, based on the photos at the link below, not too far from part of the Pacific Coast Trail.

https://www.desertsun.com/picture-ga...gs/3488236001/

Re: Fires in California
 

My parents used to rent a trailer in Thousand Palms. At least if the airport is open in Palm Springs they can load fire retardant quickly, but I wonder how far a water-bomber would have to go to find a lake to reload on?

Re: Fires in California
 

The biggest I can think of is Salton Sea about 60 miles away by car.

They seem to be using a few choppers, makes more sense, lots of golf courses around a chopper can fill up with water. Fixed wing probably filling with water and fire retardant on the ground is my guess if they are using fixed wing, all the photos show choppers dropping water.