2023 fire season

[bcp]

Two small forest/brush fires several miles east of me this week. Quickly put out.

One day of Canadian smoke, and one day of Southwestern Oregon smoke.

Major building fires in Longview and Portland this week, too.

Klickitat County has a fire started Friday afternoon about 3 and by Saturday pm it was over 30,000 acres.

Newell Road Fire now more than 50K acres in Klickitat Co.

A fire that started Friday in Klickitat County, Wash. has grown to more than 50,000 acres as of Sunday morning, officials said.

www.kptv.com

Had to evacuate last August. Not looking forward to the next month or two.

Bruce

 

[ponytug]

The Newell Road fire started a week ago. NASA FIRMS has some informative images;

NASA-FIRMS

Fire Information for Resource Management System US / Canada

firms2.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov

The Flat fire in southwestern Oregon has been smoking us pretty badly this week. Because of the wind direction, the smoke goes out to sea and heads straight south and comes back inland here.

We are thankful that we don't have to evacuate, and that there aren't fires here at the moment.

We had a bit of a scare Thursday when the utility pole inspector came by and let us know that while pole was ok, the electrical service drop from the transformer to the house had cracks in the insulation, and was shorting to the neutral. Supposedly, it is a "repair within twenty four hours item" for the utility, but when I called Friday, they couldn't find a record of it. I had visions of shorts dropping molten bits of metal into the pasture. With a few prods, they sent someone out, who confirmed it was a problem and replaced most of the service drop with new wire.

My line is that you are either ready for fire or you aren't, and I can't possibly fight a wildfire with our terrain.

Stay safe out there.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ultrarunner]

Just had 6 of 8 parcels inspected and passed with two to go.

Very late this year as typically first week of June.

Spend a lot of time each Spring with dozer, brush killer and illegal Echo handlebar brush cutter…

Parklands use goats but the cost is not cheap so I slog on.

 

[oosik]

Here in NE WA state - a few small fires. Nothing major - yet. We certainly dried out early this year and are really prime for something BIG.

 

[Tinhack]

It's been hot and dry here all year. I was worried about 4th of July but apparently the economy is in such turmoil that no one could afford to blow cash on fireworks. It was a pretty quiet night in this area. They can only be sold in Texas twice a year and only for 10-days before January 1st and July 4th. Very poor sales this year. That's a sure sign the economy is not what they are telling people.

 

[ultrarunner]

Fireworks banned just about everywhere in and around the SF Bay Area with signs stating such.

Made no difference as about 10 days of non stop that unless you experience is beyond belief and no enforcement in my city…

Property owners have to really put in a lot of effort to abate brush and grass but illegal fireworks get a pass…

Report Illegal Fireworks

The official website of the City of Oakland. Find out about meetings, request City services through OAK 311, or contact the Mayor and City Council.

www.oaklandca.gov

Oakland police issue zero illegal fireworks citations for 2nd year in a row | abc7news.com

According%20to%20Oakland%20PD%2C%20they%20issued%20zero%20citations%20for%20illegal%20fireworks%20city-wide%20on%20the%204th%20of%20July%2C%20but%20did%20make%20other%20arrests%20for%20serious%20crimes.

abc7news.com

 

[5030]

Fireworks banned just about everywhere in and around the SF Bay Area with signs stating such.

To me, any fireworks are just big boy toys that are a total waste of money.

 

[scootr]

Fire season in full swing with no rain for months and triple digit temperatures. And heavy brush growth from a wet winter.
Lots of smaller fires but one 8500 acre fire 10 miles from us was a real eye opener last week.
CDF throwing everything they have on every brush fire that pops up. Keep up the good work and Thank you for what you do!
Too hot and dry to mow now. We need rain.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Two small forest/brush fires several miles east of me this week. Quickly put out.

One day of Canadian smoke, and one day of Southwestern Oregon smoke.

Major building fires in Longview and Portland this week, too.

Klickitat County has a fire started Friday afternoon about 3 and by Saturday pm it was over 30,000 acres.

Newell Road Fire now more than 50K acres in Klickitat Co.

A fire that started Friday in Klickitat County, Wash. has grown to more than 50,000 acres as of Sunday morning, officials said.

www.kptv.com

Had to evacuate last August. Not looking forward to the next month or two.

Bruce

This fire has hit home with our family, my wifes cousin lost most of thier crops yesterday. More than 2,000 acres of thier property has burnt because of 30 to 40 mph winds blowing embers up to a 1/4 of a mile.
Thier home was spared by fire lines placed with thier tractor and airdrops of water. They lost outbuildings and a few cattle, but most of thier herd is ok. A financially devastating event for all the farmers in the area.

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz reports:
The Newell Road fire is one of the toughest fires to date this year. High speed winds and dry fields are making it challenging.
We have the best of the best on this fire — over 17 air resources, 7 strike teams, 35 engines and so many brave hard working committed local, state and federal fire fighters and leaders.
Please hold all our firefighters and the community in your thoughts and prayers.

 

[5030]

Between the Russians blowing up the grain ships in Ukraine and the fires here, it's gonna be a tough winter for food I suspect. No issues here, so far. Just enough precip to keep things ok.

I see raw lumber prices are climbing again. Between the high interest rates and the building materials issues, that will put a crimp on any construction.

 

[bcp]

Oregon wildfire smoke this afternoon.



Bruce

 

[bcp]

Oregon smoke Tuesday, some going up into the Portland area.



Bruce

 

[oosik]

Been extremely fortunate this year. We dried out early and still - no rain. Afternoon temps > 95F are the norm.

 

[oosik]

In the last week - one large fire and several small ones. Two days ago it rained - 0.34". This certainly helped control those still burning. Many people lost it all in the Gray Rd fire. Burned right thru a small town about 15 miles NW of me. One small fire - <2 acres - just three miles north of me. Another five miles east of me. Both were identified and extinguished quickly.

Fire fighters are stretched thin as Suran Wrap here.

 

[ultrarunner]

As the grid is taxed some of the largest fires and biggest settlements are tied to Utilities.

California Utility had a record settlement and now Oregon and word has it the huge Texas fire utility caused...

 

[5030]

As the grid is taxed some of the largest fires and biggest settlements are tied to Utilities.

California Utility had a record settlement and now Oregon and word has it the huge Texas fire utility caused...

I read that as well. Interestingly, the left leaning media tried to put the blame on a political activist. I buy a utility issue more. All it takes is one spark and dry tinder to create a blaze that can get out of control in a sparsely populated area.

Never read what PG&E settled for. You know?

Years ago I was in Youngstown, Ohio and personally witnessed a high voltage transmission line short. It's quite a fire show, really scary. Kind of similar to a lightening bolt close to the ground that isn't over quick but continues for a minute or so until the wires melt and the noise it makes is scary too.

 

[ultrarunner]

13.5 Billion settled and then PGE sued its former executives and settled for 117 million breach of fiduciary duty.

Former PG&E executives agree to $117-million settlement over California wildfires

Former Pacific Gas & Electric executives have reached a settlement agreement in connection with the 2017 North Bay fires and the 2018 Camp fire.

www.latimes.com

 

[scootr]

Hawaii fire 2023 claimed 100 lives
Lahaina Town on August 8, 2023. (1) Immediate and proximate cause: live-wire electric power lines placed on wooden poles which were blown down by strong winds, and ignited fields of parched, dry grasses near Lahaina Town.

 

[5030]

Hawaii fire 2023 claimed 100 lives
Lahaina Town on August 8, 2023. (1) Immediate and proximate cause: live-wire electric power lines placed on wooden poles which were blown down by strong winds, and ignited fields of parched, dry grasses near Lahaina Town.

Amy and I went to Hawaii about 15 years ago and spent a couple days in Lahina and it was a beautiful town before the fire. We ate lunch at a Denny's in town with no windows on the second floor of a building that was roasted. When I we saw the pictures of the devastation, one of the pictures was where the Denny's was at it was nothing but ashes. Very sad. Through my wife's membership in the Percheron Horse association, we got introduced to a couple that lived right above the town and they did carriage rides during special events and we got to ride their horses up in the volcano's, was a real hoot. They got burned out as well and lost most of their horses too. Bad deal and it will take decades to rebuild. Amy has been talking to them via email and we sent them a donation to help them out as well. People in Hawaii in general are very hospitable and friendly. Still have my Hilo-Hatties Hawaiian shirts.