California Fires

[triedit]

Ive been watching the news on the recent whopper fires going on in Southern California. They've now evactuated the equivalent of half the population of Scarborough. (350,000). They have 6000 firefighters on the job and we're nowhere near containment.

I have good friends in Oceanside who have evacuated. Moreso from the smoke than actual fire.

Really astounding amount of fire.

 

[tracy]

It's one time I'm glad I live across from the beach...

 

[Twila]

I heard on the radio that Atlanta has just 90 days worth of drinking water left, if they don't get any rain.

Some pretty dramatic weather happening out there.

 

[Kreskin]

It's one time I'm glad I live across from the beach...

How the heck have you been Tracy? Living across from the beach, that's gotta good on non-fire days too.

 

[Tonington]

I heard on the radio that Atlanta has just 90 days worth of drinking water left, if they don't get any rain.

Some pretty dramatic weather happening out there.

Very, very dry. Lake Lanier is pressed to the max right now.

 

[Twila]

Yikes! that's bad bad news. Seems like climate areas are shifting. What was once tropical may become desert.

 

[thomaska]

I think some of the blame for the fires can surely be laid on eviro-whackos who get all apoplectic when controlled burns and cuts are suggested.

Good Game tree huggers.:roll:

 

[Tonington]

Well, I don't think the blame is entirely on the tree huggers, most homeowners would probably resent if all the vegetation was cleared from around their homes. Forest managers in Florida said that the wildfires that burned many homes in 1998 was primarily due to pressure from home owners to stop the controlled burns.

 

[tracy]

How the heck have you been Tracy? Living across from the beach, that's gotta good on non-fire days too.

I've been very busy lately, how've you been? I do wish it was less smoky, but I'm off to Hawaii in 2 days anyways so it doesn't bother me too much.

 

[Liberalman]

I still think it terrorists that are causing this.

I was listening to a radio program years ago after America invaded Iraq and they were discussing different types of terrorism and destroying the infrastructure was one.

I just find it odd that the frequency of forest fires have increased dramatically near major populated areas since the invasion of Iraq.

Thanks to the media and I mean those that have to tell the whole story and make public America’s vulnerabilities the people have to suffer.

I can only quote a famous American that said, “A stupid is as a stupid does”

 

[thomaska]

Well, I don't think the blame is entirely on the tree huggers, most homeowners would probably resent if all the vegetation was cleared from around their homes. Forest managers in Florida said that the wildfires that burned many homes in 1998 was primarily due to pressure from home owners to stop the controlled burns.

Well if its the home owners themselves stopping the burns than they share some of the blame.

And of course there are just some evil people out there starting fires on purpose too. I think they just caught a guy this morning setting fires out east of L.A.

 

[Haggis McBagpipe]

Well, I don't think the blame is entirely on the tree huggers, most homeowners would probably resent if all the vegetation was cleared from around their homes. Forest managers in Florida said that the wildfires that burned many homes in 1998 was primarily due to pressure from home owners to stop the controlled burns.

I think these firers can pretty much be chalked up to the Santa Ana winds, can't they?

 

[Tonington]

Well if its the home owners themselves stopping the burns than they share some of the blame.

And of course there are just some evil people out there starting fires on purpose too. I think they just caught a guy this morning setting fires out east of L.A.

We've had that problem here in Nova Scotia before. The forest fire fighters get better pay when they are on the job. Some bastards were starting the fires for better pay.

I think these firers can pretty much be chalked up to the Santa Ana winds, can't they?

Santa Anna winds, plus drought conditions. Lets not forget you need an ignition before the fire can start too. Could be as simple as a cigarette out the window.

 

[Haggis McBagpipe]

Santa Anna winds, plus drought conditions. Lets not forget you need an ignition before the fire can start too. Could be as simple as a cigarette out the window.

And exhaust from a car too close to dry grass, etc.. The Santa Ana winds usually do arrive about the time that it's dry around there, even in non-drought conditions.

 

[Curiosity]

Last evening the California Highway Patrol from the air - spotted a man on a motorcycle torching off some acreage along the roadside. He had four started before the ground cars could get to him...

What happens in Santa Ana conditions is power lines spark with the gusts and they in turn torch what should be cleared ground cover (no excuse on this omission whatsoever.... if it was money...they have exceeded a hundred fold what they are going to spend now on reconstruction).... the whole area is a tinderbox when there is no summer precipitation and the ground cover is a greasy-like growth which loves to join a flame.

Still the arsonists play their games too I am certain - the fires are so far apart.... sick creepos...

BTW the crowds huddled in various large venues - no homes - no nothing - are handling it pretty well unless they are all in shock. They are well mannered and busily helping each other out - playing with kids to give the parents a time out.... disaster brings out the two opposites in people - their very best - and some their very worst.

Again - thanks Canada for coming on down....it isn't a California fire unless the Canadian planes are taking care of biz...

 

[thomaska]

We've had that problem here in Nova Scotia before. The forest fire fighters get better pay when they are on the job. Some bastards were starting the fires for better pay.



Santa Anna winds, plus drought conditions. Lets not forget you need an ignition before the fire can start too. Could be as simple as a cigarette out the window.

Those people should be shot.

My in-laws have had to evacuate from the Rancho Bernardo area, and my wife's uncle lost his house in Ramona, it is now a pile of blackened rubble.

 

[lone wolf]

Fire is a natural fact of life. Rich can't have it all their way and that's just nature's way of telling them. Build in a flood zone - expect to get flooded. You have to wonder at an insurance industry who'd take the risk of underwriting vulnerable mansions.

Wolf

 

[Tonington]

Those people should be shot.

My in-laws have had to evacuate from the Rancho Bernardo area, and my wife's uncle lost his house in Ramona, it is now a pile of blackened rubble.

Seriously, a huge breach of trust. Those charged with keeping us safe starting the blaze...angers up my blood. When I worked for Natural resources a few summers while in High School, I was trained in basic forest fire suppression. It kinda baffled me that the regular forest fire techs were hoping for fires...they said they liked the KFC that the fire chiefs would bring along.:angry3:

 

[triedit]

Fire is a natural fact of life. Rich can't have it all their way and that's just nature's way of telling them. Build in a flood zone - expect to get flooded. You have to wonder at an insurance industry who'd take the risk of underwriting vulnerable mansions.

Wolf

Most of the "local" insurers won't do fire insurance on this area. Folks go through Lloyds of London and pay a huge premium. Lloyds is going to take a big big hit on this one.

 

[lone wolf]

Most of the "local" insurers won't do fire insurance on this area. Folks go through Lloyds of London and pay a huge premium. Lloyds is going to take a big big hit on this one.

...and that hit will be passed on down to everyone. The hills have the great views and the prestige. Controlled burns would have minimized most of the risk - in California and in Greece.

Wolf