Cali wildfire

[brandx]

The fire destroyed Reagan ranch and a few historic Hollywood sites, 90 firefighters fighting the blaze have lost their homes. 200+ still missing

It is a shame really, I hate to see anything valuable destroyed. Hopefully those missing people show up later as they have evacuated.

 

[jimLE]

Investigators lock down Camp Fire's ground zero as PG&E faces probe, defends decision-making

https://www.google.com/search?clien...Cj2r7u7QvNU#scso=_3n70W-_HFo-_jgTdgZKICw9:222

Rain bringing threat of mudslides to area ravaged by California wildfire
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/c...paradise-recovery-search-rescue-live-updates/

 

[Brent S]

Hurry and get the fires out so that none of the Californians move up here.

Lol

 

[TexasFreedom]

I just had a 'duh' moment.

California simply needs to pass a law that bans wildfires. Seriously.

They think that laws against guns will stop gun crimes. They think that laws will make people eat healthier. Why not think that a piece of paper will stop all these fires?

I don't see where these are any different.

 

[Brent S]

I genuinely feel for the suffering that these people are going through. Anyone heard anything from Clyde or if he has been affected by this?

 

[user 7704]

 

[user 7704]

This photo is all over the internet with the caption "what's wrong with this photog the California wildfires?"

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

There's quite a few I've seen like that. You can see where the fire burned through the understory from the left, but it's still strange that the houses are just ash piles, but the trees and even the dry grass is untouched.

I don't know what it means. Probably that I don't understand fire front propogation.

 

[Maverick]

Photos from the air can be misleading, fires will run in the dry grass, if the tree was trimmed up 6-10 feet from the ground the tree don’t burn but the grass and building will, I see this almost every summer during fire season to help prevent the fire going tree top to tree top, we always trimmed the trees up 10 feet. People using photos like thinking something is wrong or pushing some paranoid conspiracy are just plain ignorant.

 

[user 7704]

I saw where Jerry Brown actuallynagreesnwith Trump and is changing the logging regulations to get rid of some of the dead and dry trees and underbrush.

Personally, I have lots of fire hazardous brush and trees. I just can't clean it alone. Plus, my property adjoins the Corps of Engineer land. They came this Summer and said "nope. Can't cut any trees no matter how gross, invasive, etc". They did say I could cut privit because its such a pain and everyone hates it.

 

[Maverick]

I saw where Jerry Brown actuallynagreesnwith Trump and is changing the logging regulations to get rid of some of the dead and dry trees and underbrush.

Personally, I have lots of fire hazardous brush and trees. I just can't clean it alone. Plus, my property adjoins the Corps of Engineer land. They came this Summer and said "nope. Can't cut any trees no matter how gross, invasive, etc". They did say I could cut privit because its such a pain and everyone hates it.

I get tax breaks and lower insurance premiums by trimming up my trees, the forest service appreciates us that trim up the trees and clear the ground on USFS land that borders our property, we are only doing for fire suppression nothing more. The one thing you don’t want is the fire spreading from top to top of the trees, once it gets to the top of the tree the home owner can’t fight the fire, always create a fire break that borders other properties.

 

[user 7704]

I get tax breaks and lower insurance premiums by trimming up my trees, the forest service appreciates us that trim up the trees and clear the ground on USFS land that borders our property, we are only doing for fire suppression nothing more. The one thing you don’t want is the fire spreading from top to top of the trees, once it gets to the top of the tree the home owner can’t fight the fire, always create a fire break that borders other properties.

I am definitely lax in that dept. I don't even have a back yard. It's all trees, right up to the house.

 

[tmttactical]

Fire has always been the one element I could not prevent. I designed my future 'Home / Retreat / BOL" to be a defensive compound but fire is a major concern. Designed a roof top sprinkler system, steel roof, stucco exterior and no trees / crass / underbrush within 100 yards. Still not feeling warm and fuzzy regarding fires. At my current location, I have devised several exit points in case of fire. Arizona is one of the safest states in regard to natural disasters but every state is threatened by fires. There are limits to what a home owner can deal with in regards to fire. The posted pictures do indicate the a ground level (grass) fire moved to the buildings. I like the idea of rock landscaping, no burnable features. Less maintenance for rocks.

 

[user 7704]

Fire has always been the one element I could not prevent. I designed my future 'Home / Retreat / BOL" to be a defensive compound but fire is a major concern. Designed a roof top sprinkler system, steel roof, stucco exterior and no trees / crass / underbrush within 100 yards. Still not feeling warm and fuzzy regarding fires. At my current location, I have devised several exit points in case of fire. Arizona is one of the safest states in regard to natural disasters but every state is threatened by fires. There are limits to what a home owner can deal with in regards to fire. The posted pictures do indicate the a ground level (grass) fire moved to the buildings. I like the idea of rock landscaping, no burnable features. Less maintenance for rocks.

I have pea gravel used in my landscaping. Probably not enough to help much, but it completely surrounds the house. Right now it's all covered with about 3 inches of leaves. That will make a good fire starter.

 

[tmttactical]

I have pea gravel used in my landscaping. Probably not enough to help much, but it completely surrounds the house. Right now it's all covered with about 3 inches of leaves. That will make a good fire starter.

The layer of leaves would be a problem in a fire situation. Cold wet season, not so much.

 

[KateMTx]

I don't have any personal experience with wildfires so it's really hard for me to fathom the terror and destruction the people there are experiencing. It is sad that so many have lost everything. But reading the stories makes me wonder how one would even begin to prepare for a situation like that. . . fire literally destroys anything in its path.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I think you have to be prepared to quickly leave, and that's about it.

 

[Maverick]

I don't have any personal experience with wildfires so it's really hard for me to fathom the terror and destruction the people there are experiencing. It is sad that so many have lost everything. But reading the stories makes me wonder how one would even begin to prepare for a situation like that. . . fire literally destroys anything in its path.

We are set up pretty good for fighting them as long as the wells keep pumping and smoke doesn't over take us, we do have oxygen tanks but that's reserved for fighting our way out as we leave. Creating a fire break around the property, trimming up trees, keeping the ground clear of fuel is the number one defense. All three of what is listed count as one, only doing one of the three severely limits the fire defenses and does very little in slowing the fire down.

 

[tmttactical]

@Maverick You really appear to have a good handle on the fire situation. There are no perfect plans against a raging fire. Suggestion, make sure you have a backup for the well pump. Read an article where a rancher in the Australian outback had a great plan to fight fires at his homestead, until his pump failed during a real fire situation. I think the motor overheated due to continuous operation and the high ambient temperatures. Best laid plans of mice and preppers. I do think many here can learn from your setup.

 

[Maverick]

@Maverick You really appear to have a good handle on the fire situation. There are no perfect plans against a raging fire. Suggestion, make sure you have a backup for the well pump. Read an article where a rancher in the Australian outback had a great plan to fight fires at his homestead, until his pump failed during a real fire situation. I think the motor overheated due to continuous operation and the high ambient temperatures. Best laid plans of mice and preppers. I do think many here can learn from your setup.

We have diesel generators on the pumps and backup propane generators, I have heavies up here, without the equipment it would be almost impossible to do what we done, I get scared every fire season, we've had fires that jumped our 50' fire break, we learn something every season and find our weakness's.

 

[tmttactical]

@Maverick The fact that your place is still standing after several encounters with fire situations, shows you are doing something right. You can never rest easy when it comes to dealing with fire.

 

[DrPrepper1]

I could be mistaken, (happens occasionally ) but I think California just passed a law that protects Utility companies for suites from fires caused by their equipment.

Why in the world would they pass a law like that?

 

[DrHenley]

Why in the world would they pass a law like that?

$$$

 

[tmttactical]

The utilities convinced the state (politicians) they would go bankrupt and the state would go dark, if they were forced to pay off all the damages. Can anybody say, contributions? Now I think the law passed but I am not positive. Please note you are not seeing any stories about the pending collapse of any Utilities because of the fires and damages.

 

[Maverick]

Generators, Coors and canned food. How these ‘mountain boys’ are surviving in Paradise

"who have defied evacuation orders and are surviving on meat stored in their generator-powered freezers, bagged lunches dropped off by PG&E crews and supplies provided by a mysterious band of volunteers that Weldon calls “the redneck underground.”

https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article221980400.html

 

[tmttactical]

Mav, thanks for th line. It is a very good read and helps remind us why we prep ad what prepping can do for us.