California on fire...

[Uncle Gump]

I'm sure some have seen the wild fires raging through LA county.

I'm sure we have some membership there...

I'm just sending well wishes and prayers to all that have been affected.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Many of the past wildfires were deliberately set. I wonder how many of those burning now were also arson. We're not hearing anything on how these fires originated.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Many of the past wildfires were deliberately set. I wonder how many of those burning now were also arson. We're not hearing anything on how these fires originated.

I kinda wondered that too.

But it doesnt change the fact that whole area and everyone living there is basically fucked and it really sucks for them.

Stay safe.

 

[sgtsandman]

Many of the past wildfires were deliberately set. I wonder how many of those burning now were also arson. We're not hearing anything on how these fires originated.

I haven't seen anything concrete on the origin of the original fires but there is reports of evidence of arson happening as well in some of the effected areas. What I have seen is some supposed satellite video of the three first starting and it appears that they started at the same time. If the video is true video that hasn't been edited or messed with, it raises some questions.

Regardless, the residents are royally screwed from the devistation and supposedly, insurance companies have dropped people in those areas. It's a real shit show.

 

[racsan]

seems like its on fire at least once every year. Im suprized there is anything left to burn.

 

[sgtsandman]

seems like its on fire at least once every year. Im suprized there is anything left to burn.

I said that last year.

 

[Bill]

California isn't on fire. Just a few areas in Los Angeles County.

seems like its on fire at least once every year. Im suprized there is anything left to burn.

California is about 770 miles long. The difference in latitude is like going from the middle of Alabama to Chicago. People in the rest of the country seem to think of Los Angeles and San Diego as California with some mention of San Francisco and forget that there is 350 miles between them and over 200 miles of it north of Sacramento.

The fires are started from quite a few different causes. Some of the larger fires were the result of power lines that were knocked around in the wind. We have a problem with utility companies paying out dividends to investors and neglecting maintenance. Power poles snapping, worn fasteners allowing live wires to blow around and arc are the end result. Several fires were due to negligent campers, the type of people who like to go out in the forest and shoot at everything they can see, cigarettes tossed out car windows, idiots using chainsaws when the risk for fires is high, sparks from exhaust systems, and sometimes broken glass along the side of the road that acts as a magnifying glass that ignites dry grass. Lightening is also frequent cause of fire in the mountains. When it is hot with low humidity it doesn't take much to start a fire. If it is windy the fire will travel fast and carry burning embers downwind and start additional fires. This year the Los Angeles area has had a few sprinkles amounting to .03" of precipitation. So, everything is dry down there. Up here in Sacramento it's been wet. So, no issue with fires here until it dries out in May or June, usually.

 

[Robert Mangrum]

One of the bus drivers that I'm actually friends with (I normally don't like most of them haha) is from Northern California. He's always talking about how beautiful it is and how opposite it is from Southern California. He's been trying to get me to come out but damn that's a haul from TN. I would love to get out and explore the PNW.
Like @Bill said. A lot of factors go into these fires. My grandfather retired as a forestry firefighter. He would go in with a bull dozer and try and cut a break in to control. He always said wind was the worst enemy. That combined with the lack of rain through the summer months always made for a busy fall.
I hope everyone is safe out that way. It's a horrible situation no matter the cause.

 

[DeeRanger]

I guess I'll throw in my 2¢ since I lived in So-Cal from 98 - 2021. I lived in the Inland Empire, ( northern San Bernardino, Highland area), for 5 yrs then moved to the mountains, near Big Bear. When I bought (financed) the place in the mountains in 2003 the closing was delayed because of the fires raging in the S-B area. I loved living there but the threat of wild fires was all most constant. We were evacuated many times because of nearby fires and eventually the insurance company said that's it no more home owners policy. Could not get coverage elsewhere so went uninsured for about the last 7 yrs living there. The last evacuation was in 2020 for the Eldorado fire. That was for about 2 1/2 weeks and everyone was sure that the town was gone and our homes were lost. Thankfully most of the town was spared, but it was very stressful not knowing if you had a home to come back to or not. By the way, that fire was caused by the smoke device at a gender reveal party. Anyway I'm done rambling and my heart goes out to all those that lost their homes or were effected by these latest fires. Also thank you fire fighters, your efforts are truly heroic...

 

[Bill]

 

[Jim Oaks]

This is some crazy shit. I hear about overgrown brush being a problem, the 117 million gallon reservoir in the middle of the palisades was closed for repairs, the LA fire chief said the city failed her. A lot of finger pointing going on. It's amazing that all of those multi-million dollar homes burned along the ocean front. Why don't we have spinkler systems that can use the oceans salt water?

It just seems crazy that in the world we live in today and with all the technolgy we have, LA isn't better prepared for a wild fire. I sute in the hell hope they learn from this.

We don't allow political rants, but I'm just going to say that between North Carolina and now this, I'd like to see my tax money spent here fixing this, not given to other countries.

For those that didn't know, @4x4junkie lives in the San Fernando Valley. The Hurst fire is probably the closest fire to him. Hopefully him and his family aren't affected.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This is some crazy shit. I hear about overgrown brush being a problem, the 117 million gallon reservoir in the middle of the palisades was closed for repairs, the LA fire chief said the city failed her. A lot of finger pointing going on. It's amazing that all of those multi-million dollar homes burned along the ocean front. Why don't we have spinkler systems that can use the oceans salt water?

It just seems crazy that in the world we live in today and with all the technolgy we have, LA isn't better prepared for a wild fire. I sute in the hell hope they learn from this.

We don't allow political rants, but I'm just going to say that between North Carolina and now this, I'd like to see my tax money spent here fixing this, not given to other countries.

For those that didn't know, @4x4junkie lives in the San Fernando Valley. The Hurst fire is probably the closest fire to him. Hopefully him and his family aren't affected.

Fire chief also got axed...

Saltwater is nasty to deal with, it could be pretty maintenance intensive to keep a system that eats it operational. Gotta have power to make it work too.

 

[Jim Oaks]

And yet, the US Navy uses saltwater pumps and sprinklers to hose down their decks and protect their ships.

The Chief getting fired is a false rumor.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I heard on the news a hobbyist drone took out one of the two scooper tanker planes. It won't be repaired until Monday.

 

[Jim Oaks]

People and their damn drones...