It's that time of year again

[EE_]

Normal fire season


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh8LBEkeau8

[EE_]

Calif. Wildfire Nearly Doubles in Size
NBC News
Phil Helsel and Gadi Schwartz and The Associated Press
1 hr ago

A wildfire north of Los Angeles burning more than 20,000 acres had destroyed at least 18 homes, officials said Sunday.

Evacuation orders remained in place for around 1,500 homes after the blaze ballooned to nearly 22,000 acres by Sunday afternoon from 11,000 acres the day before.

The mandatory evacuation orders were prompted by the so-called Sand Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest and areas near Santa Clarita, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. Earlier, evacuation orders affected around 300 homes.

Authorities discovered a burned body Saturday evening outside a home on Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, just north of Los Angeles.

Detectives were trying to determine whether the person was killed by the blaze or another cause, said Lt. Rob Hahnlein with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The home also may have burned, he said.

The fire broke out at around 2:00 p.m. local time Friday (5:00 p.m. ET) and swelled to 11,000 acres by noon Saturday. The fire was 10 percent contained Sunday, and nearly 1,700 firefighters were battling it.

"One wind shift and this whole place could be gone in half an hour," a resident who fled his home, Chris Freeman, told NBC News.

The smoke and flames were seen for miles around. Ash fell on cars in Pasadena and on beaches in Malibu. The smoke created unhealthy air conditions in large parts of the Los Angeles area, and prompted warnings from health officials. Santa Clarita is about 35 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

"The fire weather and the typical temperatures this year this summer are projected to be higher than normal so it's important that all of our citizens recognize that," Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Daryl Osby said.

The fire began by the 14 Freeway, Osby said, and a cause is under investigation. Ninety percent of wildfires are caused by humans, he said.

California is in its fifth year of a historic drought, creating dry vegetation especially susceptible to catching fire. High temperatures in Southern California and windy conditions were not helping. Some fields have not burned for decades, he said.

The area is under a "red flag warning," meaning critical wildfire conditions exist, until Sunday night, the National Weather Service said.

"Probably five years ago, based on our fire behavior, if we had a similar fire we would have probably caught this fire at the ridge," Osby said.

Nine wildfires were burning in the state as of Sunday, according to CalFire. A fire in Monterey County, near Big Sur, had burned more than 10,000 acres, according to fire officials. At least 1,650 buildings were threatened by the fire, which began Friday and was only 5 percent contained Sunday

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/southern-california-wildfire-nearly-doubles-in-size/ar-BBuJq47

[EE_]

Q. Why do so many live in such a disaster prone areas?

A. Because it's worth it!

Just a little speed bump in the road of God's country.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=691DnQq8MhE

Firefighters Battle 'Almost Unprecedented' 51-Square-Mile Wildfire

The Sand fire north of Los Angeles has burned 18 homes and threatens about 1,500 more
By Staff and Wire Reports

An air tanker drops fire retardant on homes threatened by the Sand Fire as firefighters continue to battle the Sand Fire on Monday, July 25, 2016. (Published 58 minutes ago)

Thousands of residents remained out of their homes Monday morning as the 51-square-mile Sand Fire continued to burn in Southern California's Santa Clarita Valley.

"This fire, what we've seen in 72 hours, is almost unprecedented," said Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief Dennis Cross. "We'd have to go back a long way to compare a fire to this. And, we're not through with this thing yet."

Eighteen homes were lost to the fire by Sunday night as thousands were forced to flee their homes, worrying if they would still be standing by
Monday morning. The smoke from the blaze blanketed Southern California, causing air quality concerns as ash rained down.

The fire was only at 10 percent containment Monday morning and more than 1,500 homes were threatened.
Brush Fire Burns Homes in Santa Clarita[NATL] Brush Fire Burns Homes in Santa Clarita

"We're really relying on aircraft and bulldozers out ahead of this thing to try and pinch it off, but as you're seeing with 100-foot flame lengths, it's crossing bulldozer lines, aircraft isn't able to keep it in check and we're playing this game of hopscotch," Cross said.

Residents were ordered to leave their homes on Agua Dulce Canyon Road north to the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, Crown Valley north to the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway and all of Soledad Canyon between those two areas. By Sunday evening, residences from Golden Valley Road to Sand Canyon, excluding the Sand Canyon Mobile Home Park, were evacuated.

Evacuation centers were in place at Highland High School at 39055 25th Street West in Palmdale; at Hart High School at 24825 Newhall Ave. in Santa Clarita; and at Lakeview Terrace Recreation Center at 11075 Foothill Boulevard.

The Sand Canyon exit on the northbound 14 Freeway was to remain closed. There is no entry into Sand Canyon from Sand Canyon and Soledad Canyon roads; no access to Sand Canyon, Soledad Canyon Road and Placerita Canyon, Agua Dulce Canyon Road or Crown Valley Road from the 14 Freeway; Sand Canyon Road was shut down east of Placerita Canyon to 12300 Little Tujunga Canyon Road.

As the Sand Fire exploded to 33,000 acres after three days, firefighters said the blaze was unprecedented. Kate Larsen reports for the NBC4 News at 11 on Sunday, July 24, 2016. (Published Monday, July 25, 2016)

The fire is burning in hillsides left dry after five years of drought in California. A strong El Nino weather pattern failed to deliver rain in Southern California, raising concerns about what could be one of the worst fire seasons on record.

A wildfire burning 300 miles up the coast near Big Sur claimed six homes, burning 17 square miles. It was 5 percent contained by Sunday evening.

Source: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Santa-clarita-sand-fire-containment-raging-updates-evacuations-388098982.html#ixzz4FQw6Tcv6

[milehi]

"Q. Why do so many live in such a disaster prone areas?

A. Because it's worth it!"

I've always lived or vacationed in volatile landscapes. On top of infamous fault lines, mismanaged forests, active volcanos, tsunami zones. I don't need a safety net for life.

[EE_]

"Q. Why do so many live in such a disaster prone areas?

A. Because it's worth it!"

I've always lived or vacationed in volatile landscapes. On top of infamous fault lines, mismanaged forests, active volcanos, tsunami zones. I don't need a safety net for life.

You are prepared and are able fend for yourself. Many are not.

[milehi]

You are prepared and are able fend for yourself. Many are not.

My new (to me) pickup. I figured, when in Rome (Arizona)...