My phone just pinged a National Weather Service "Fire Weather Watch" for Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening for high winds and low relative humidity.
It took me by surprise, it's the first time I've had that happen since I moved to the PNW.
As kids we were taught to constantly be scanning for smoke, it was just part of growing up in the back of beyond of N Calif. At Dad's house in Red Bluff we often saw the spotter going over or the tankers, or the helos. If you weren't outside to see them, you got so you could tell who it was by the sound of their engines.
If you have never been in a position to see what wild fire can do in dry grass, grease wood, digger pine, oak, and manzanita, I hope you never are. And I hope I never have to experience it up here.
There was a huge fire out here in 2012, a year before we first visited this area.
ReplyDeleteOver 87,000 acres were burned, and 260 homes destroyed. Our in-laws lost 5 out of the six houses and building they own(ed), along with 75% of their heavy equipment. The main home was spared, but got singed a bit. The first time we drove up to their place was astounding. Nothing but the burned trunks of huge pine trees left, and the ground was blackened. Our DIL's Subaru was parked at her Dad's shop, and besides blowing out all FIVE tires and melting the four wheels on the car, the fire was so hot it melted the aluminum engine block and heads, and left a big puddle of solidified aluminum under the car.
Yep. I've seen what wildfires can do, and it's staggering. Only about 20% of the people who were burned out moved back and rebuilt. It's so sad to drive up there and see burned-out foundations, and partial chimneys standing.
There were many big fires in N Calif in recent years with devastating results.
DeleteWe used to do control burns at & around the home ranch. It improved conditions for the wildlife, flora and fauna, and helped protect from devastating fires. Of course that is no longer allowed...
I once rode in the right seat of a PBY4, the Navy version of a B-24, as the pilot, Red Avery, dropped retardant on a fire on Mt. Evans, SW of Denver. Once was enough!
ReplyDeleteIf you care to read about it.
ReplyDeletehttps://wellseasonedfool.blogspot.com/search?q=fire+bomber
Good read. Thanks for the link. I've never flown in one of those, but I did fly with my Dad and that's about the same thing as you described, lol.
DeleteBe safe and God bless.
ReplyDeleteYou as well, Linda.
DeleteI was on a Helitac crew in SoCal in 1973. We got dropped onto a fire near Ojai. We were making line right on top of it when an old B-17 came over so low we could see the pilots. Tried to wave them off but they dropped that load of borate right on all 8 of us. Spent a miserable night in top of the ridge in soaked paper sleeping bags!
ReplyDeleteDang, that does sound miserable. Thanks for your story!
DeleteEvery area has their own threats, I have never experienced this kind.
ReplyDeleteIt does indeed. What is your biggest threat?
DeleteI hope all is well!
ReplyDeleteAll is well. We did have a bit of wind for the afternoon, but nothing as bad as they were predicting.
DeleteI grew up where wildfire threatened our rural home. The men, including my dad, set a backfire, which irked the professional firefighters and turned the fire. I never ever don't look at horizons for fire including here in Tucson.
ReplyDeleteThere are times when you have to do what needs doing.
DeleteAmen! Lost a few friends flying fire bombers...
ReplyDeleteThat is sad.
DeleteEvery summer we cross our fingers in these parts.
ReplyDeleteThere were so many times when I would go up to Paradise, and think "this is a disaster waiting to happen". As beautiful as it was: Not enough defensible space, not enough escape routes, etc etc...
DeleteTalk about a disaster water no to happen: Shingletown.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Camp and Carr fires property values in Shingletown dropped about 25%.
I have a couple of friends who live in that area. We live near Cottonwood and are their designated bug out destination.
A loooong term friend of mine ran the fire evacuations for years for the Shasta County SO.
His wife has lobbied for years to move to Shingletown, but every time he looks into that conifer filled canyon below with only one way out of the residential areas he has, repeatedly, put a stop to that idea. I am sure fire insurance for Shingletown residents is astronomical.
PG&E shut off our power last year during some of the Red Flag Warning days as a safety precaution, so they do not cause any more wildfires.
I put in a whole house propane fired generator last year for the well pump, AC, and freezers.
We keep good fire protection zones around the structures, but we do have our own bug out stuff ready just in case...
I've never understood those that thought it couldn't happen to them when they buy or build in those locations.
DeleteSounds like you and your friend are wise enough to know better and be prepared!