Fire Season

It's August and you know what that means. Triple digits in many areas (okay, 90*F in beach areas) and of course, the start of fire season. I hope all of you in the fire areas are safe.

Here in Fresno, the air quality is in the red zone and it's only 10:45 am. Visibility from the smoke is only 1.5 miles. Hey, at least the UV Index is only 3.

Yardslave, how are you doing in Carmel Valley? How is everyone else in the fire areas of CA, OR, WA, AZ and NM doing? Please chime in.

Some smoke and ash here in Bend, OR.  One fire was about 8-10 miles from home and required only local evacuations.  There was no threat to my own neighborhood.

Another one, the Frog Fire, is a bit east.  I noticed a huge column of smoke yesterday.  Fortunately, it's 29 miles or so away.  My neighborhood is rated as a low-risk fire area.

The fire is 1 Mile up the valley from where I live. The smoke is so bad that the air tankers and choppers can't help out, so it's up to grossley undermanned Cal Fire crews to hold it back. The last fire we had you couldn't swing a cat by it's tail without hitting a fire truck, this time we are not so lucky. They did a backfire last night hoping to keep the fire away from Carmel Valley village and it held the flames off, but this morning they lost it and we have been warned of an iminanant evacuation notice. The escape route for the Cachagua area was cut off to the Wast, so they had to go all the way to Soledad to get around to safety. Just an hour ago the winds blew enough smoke away, so the air support is on it- it is like a war zone over my house. The old abandoned airfield in front of my house has a fueler standing by in case one of the choppers runs low on fuel and can't make it back to base for more borate. It would be nice if that massive 727 could make a few passes, but it's been sent North to Felton where 6500 people were evacuated earlier today. I have given my veggie garden one final watering and have things packed and will shelter at my daughter's house. In the morning I plan on going back to see if I still have a home. It's questionable as the firemen at the information center set up in the Village have bugged out- maybe it's a sign of bad things to come. I'm safe and optimistic that the air will clear up and the tankers will join the battle.

Yardslave, please update in the morning. I've been especially worried about you.

Oh, man, I hate to hear this.... (I haven't been watching the news lately.)

Y'all please keep checking in!

Well, it was bound to happen. A new, fast moving fire, the Creek Fire, is right up in the foothills and the High Sierra mountains east of Fresno. It's weird to have both an orange moon and an orange setting sun. Today was the first day without shadows! It's kind of disorientating.

For 5 wonderful years I was assigned the foothills and High Sierra mountains as my district with the health department. I inspected public water systems, new wells, camps, employee housing for the hydroelectric dams, schools, restaurants, resorts. Prather, Auberry, Shaver, Huntington, Big Creek, Wishon, Courtright, Dinkey, Mono Hot Springs, etc. I worked with the Forest Service and owners of cabins and businesses. Every cell phone alert sends me to the map to see another area under attack. This fire is personally heartbreaking.

We are now getting the smoke here in Ohio from the fires out west.

It is heartbreaking for the whole country, sanderson.   Just terrible.  Stay safe over there!

I'm fine but a lot of folks are having a horrible time. I'm sorry about the smoke drift.

I'm most worried about Yardslave as he lives in a foothill valley with only a 2-lane road in and out.

I wish everyone on the west coast the best during this incredible fire season. I see the pictures on the news and can not fathom going threw that.

Any word from Yardslave?

There have been fires peppered around us in the hills. Scary watching them take off when the wind picks up. 

Be safe y'all

I'm alive and well in Carmel Valley- the fires s=ruck from the north, south and east of me and I had top evacuate for a while, but as soon  as the evacuation was up I beat it home to see what state my house and property were in. Everything in the Village survived well- the firecrews and Sheriffs did a fantastic job of saving life and property. The Sheriffs caught a few looters and once the word got out the Meth-heads moved on to better pickings. My garden didn't do too well as the heatwave and dry winds scorched things pretty bad. I have managed to revive a few veggies, and will plant a fall/winter when, and if, the heat waves subside. The skies are still grey with smoke, and everything smells like a campfire, but it's great to be home.

You guys stay safe!