Into the fire? Two Firefighters killed.

[blue]

California spends MILLIONS of dollars every year to Educate the public,
clear brush, create fire lines, patrol remote areas, build rural Fire Stations
and equip them with crews and apparatus, and owns and leases an
impressive fleet of aerial tankers and attack aircraft.

Yeah ... Califorina is WAY into "wild fire prevention".

Too bad Joe Public doesn't pay a bit more attention.

So if they are doing controlled burns and building fire breaks and berms. Why are populated areas of California burning.

I now live in the area that was somewhat affected by the 1996 Big Lake fire, one of the most destructive in AKs history. I believe even CA smoke jumpers were brought in to help. AK does alot of wild fire prevention, controlled burns, building berms and fire breaks, and we have alot more area to cover.

Before you go crazy, I was living in Anchorage at the time of the Big Lake fire and was in no way put out, but I can still see the damage to the area today.

ETA: There are a number of Pirates couch and floor surfing at other members houses due to the current fires in CA.

I guess my confusion is why does it seem like CA spends more fightibng the fires then preventing them? I know CA is hurting for funds but I would think building berms and fire breaks would be cheaper then fighting actual wild fires.

[RICHARD]

So if they are doing controlled burns and building fire breaks and berms. Why are populated areas of California burning.

If you do Google map(the terrain map gives you the best idea) for lost angeles and check out the surrounding areas there are acres of nothing but hills and vegetation. The fires threaten the houses that butt up against the mountain areas. It's not so much the fire that causes problems (the fire is the main prob) but the embers and wind are what screws everything up. The wind carries embers up under the eaves of homes and that is what causes most houses to burn. The wind also hop- scotches the embers across areas.

[blue]

What speeds do the winds get in lost angeles? Chinooks up here can be 80-90mph sustained with over 120mph gusts.

[RICHARD]

What speeds do the winds get in lost angeles? Chinooks up here can be 80-90mph sustained with over 120mph gusts.

Depends. In about Sept to Oct we get a Santa Ana that blows 30-40 gusts to 70?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Ana_Winds

And when the fires go during a windstorm, it's murder. I have seen them close up, I was driving thru a canyon and passed a fire rig with 4-5 guys in it.

Later on I heard that the truck I passed was caught up in the fire and 4 FFs were burned very badly.

It really is like the end of friggin days.

The sounds are incredible. You hear the crackle of leaves burning and plants and trees explode. The water and sap inside start to boil and the plants blow up.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Stay safe, Richard. You guys sure have alot of fires out there. I'll say some prayers for the firefighters.

[RICHARD]

I don't have much to worry about. It's the FFs and the guys flying the skies that need the prayers.

I woke up again at 3:30 smelling smoke. I woke up to try and see the space station fly over.

It was overcast and smokey and I can still smell smoke almost 3 hours later.

[pomtzu]

Hey Richard - I have an old friend that lives out there - between Glendale and Beverly Hills. Are there any fires in that region? She's never had any in that area before, but it looks like it's burning where it usually doesn't this time around.