Camp Fire 90,000 acres. 9 confirmed fatalities, and there probably will be more. 6700+ buildings destroyed, mostly homes. Estimates are that 80% of Paradise is gone.
These are unbelievable numbers nutrax ... what a total tragedy!
I'm not asking for any analysis or response nutrax, but how can so many homes be vulnerable to a wildfire - is there bush around everyone? I'm really involved, but still really puzzled.
This was a wind-whipped firestorm that roared through a town. Once it got started in houses, it didn’t need brush to keep going. People who live in area subject to fire are urged to create “defensible space” around homes, by clearing brush and trees. But even a good defensible space was not good enough here.
The town of Paradise has been there since the Gold Rush era.
Nov. 10, 0800 PST
Camp Fire 100,000 acres. 20% contained. The fire line has held around the southwest and some evacuation orders have been lifted for the city of Chico.
The fire will continue to burn to the SW toward Big Bend, Berry Creek and threatening the City of Oroville [population ~18,000] The expected strong NE wind event has the potential to drive fire across Lake Oroville threatening the City of Oroville. Extreme fire behavior with dangerous rates of spread are expected. Resources will be prepositioned in preidentified locations in anticipation of the wind event. Crews continued tactical patrols in the communities of Paradise, Concow, and Magalia.
No new confirmed fatalities, but all assume there will be more. About 54,000 under evacuation order. I woke up to gray skies and the smell of a thousand chimnies.
Nov. 10, 0820 PST
Woolsey Fire Southern California. “Approx. 35,000 acres, 0% contained, very significant number of homes in the operational area damaged or destroyed by fire. More than 200,000 residents and 75,000 homes under mandatory evacuation.” Winds have calmed down which has helped.
Pepperdine College [the same one that had students killed by that gunman] is threatened. Last night, students were sheltering in place in the safest buildings (rumors that students weren’t allowed to evacuate if they wanted are untrue), while firefighters did their all. This morning, the situation is safer & students were OKed to return to dorms.
Two deaths have been reported in Malibu, but uncertain if related to the fire.
Roads in the area are still a mess. Highways closed; local roads blocked by downed lines. Cell phone service disrupted. Electricity out. With so many evacuees and emergency personnel, lodging may be tight. Again, stay away; use an alternate route to get between LA and Santa Barbara.
Google Crisis Maps--US wildfires You can zoom in on the Camp and Woolsey fires to see road closures, among other things.(It also shows older fires from last summer)
I am grieving for my state and for fiends & family who have lost it all. Fortunately, for me, "it all" has not included life. So, with your indulgence, I will diverge from reporting travel related stuff & post some feel good stuff.
Red Bluff High School and Paradise High School football teams were scheduled to play a big game.
"Both Paradise High School and Red Bluff High School have been working together to determine the best course of action to take in regard to football playoffs. Because of Paradise High School's higher seed and successful record, Red Bluff High School has offered Paradise a bye to address the needs in their community, and the chance to move on to the second round of the playoffs. Paradise appreciates the support from the other football programs in the area, especially Red Bluff. It was an extremely difficult and emotional decision, but Paradise has decided it is best not to continue with their season.
Red Bluff High School will fill in for Paradise High School in the second round of the football playoffs, and do its best to represent the honor and spirit that is Paradise football. Finally, our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and community that have been impacted by this tragic event.
Actor James Woods has been controversial for several reasons. However, he has stepped up in a remarkable way. The Camp Fire shut down cell phone, landline & other communications. Twitter was full of people, who could not reach loved ones, because the loved ones couldn't reach out."Has anyone seen __?" "My parents/father/uncle are trapped at this address..."
Mr. Woods called in connections set up a Twitter hashtag. Use this hashtag to report missing or endangered people. He then got first responders & relief organizations to monitor the hashtag. That enabled some rescues and connections between the lost and found. It's even been used for lost prtd. It worked so well, he extended it to the Woolsey fire. https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/fires/2018/11/08/amid-camp-fire-chaos-actor-james-woods-uses-twitter-find-survivors/1938756002/
Nov. 10 7:15 PM PST
Camp Fire Confirmed death toll is now 23, found in homes, in cars, and outdoors. The number of missing is reported as 100, but there may be duplicate reports.
Weather forecast is for very strong winds to start up later this evening. The city of Oroville is not now considered in imminent danger, but that can change. Red flag warming—critical fire danger for the next couple of days.
Smoke is still a serious problem. Several communities not near the fire hav3 cancelled it curtailed Veteran’s Day parades due to bad air quality. (All I have to do is walk outside and I immediately start coughing.)
Woolsey Fire Progress was made today, but winds are also going to pick up tonight & tomorrow. 150 structures known to be destroyed. Highways 1 and 101 still closed.
Nov. 11 1030 PST
Camp Fire 115,000 acres/47,000 hectares; 25% contained
Quoting this morning's briefing:
Last night the fire conditions were moderate to extreme due to the wind event. Crews continued to protect structures and fight fire aggressively. Fire lines are strategically being put in ahead of the fire to improve roads and provide barriers to the fire. Today the fire and firefighters will continue to be impacted by the strong winds. With the northeast wind pushing smoke to the southwest air operations will take advantage of the clearer air on the eastern side of the fire as long as weather and smoke conditions permit. Firefighters and cooperating agencies are continuing to mitigate many hazards within Paradise, CA. At 0700 hrs this morning the Camp Fire Incident entered unified command with US [Forest Service].
Weather forecast: Critical north wind event continues across Northern California and over the Camp Fire. Gusty northeast winds will be strongest over the higher elevations in the morning, then dropping off slightly during the afternoon. For the lower elevations near the valley, we will see an increase of winds by the afternoon from the North-Northwest with gusts up to 25 mph. Very dry conditions continue today and for the next few days, along with poor overnight recoveries. No precipitation expected through the week.
Fire behavior forecast: The North wind event will continue throughout the operational period, continuing to align downslope with the Feather River and Butte Creek drainages. ERC values have been at new record highs for the entire month of November. Dead fuel moistures remain critical. Fuel conditions are more similar to late summer.
Highway closures:
HWY 191 full closure
EB [Eastbound]HWY 32 at Yosemite Road
EB/WB HWY 32 from Butte Meadows to SR 36
HWY 70 closed from HWY 149 junction in Butte County to HWY 89 junction in Plumas County
EB HWY 162 at Forbestown Road
Woolsey Fire 83,000 acres/34,000 hectares; 10% contained
Quoting this morning's briefing:
Due to extreme fire behavior, firefighting efforts have been focused, and will remain focused, on the protection of life, and structures. Favorable overnight weather conditions contributed to minimal fire growth, which allowed crews to reinforce containment lines. Crews will continue to battle steep terrain, limited access, and extreme fire behavior. Moderate to strong Santa Ana winds will continue across the area throughout the day, peaking tonight into tomorrow morning.
Road closures:
Hwy 101 both directions at Valley Circle to Reyes Adobe
Hwy 101 offramps at Camarillo Springs
Hwy 1 southbound (Pacific Coast Hwy) closed at Las Posas Rd.
Many local road closures
For both fires, air tankers will try to take advantage of the morning calm before the winds pick up.
Nov. 11, 6:45 PM, PST
Camp Fire Now 29 known fatalities. The Camp Fire is now tied with the 1933 Griffith Park Fire for deadliest fire in California history. 10 search and recovery teams 2 forensic anthropology teams (from a local university) are assisting the Sheriff's office. (In some cases, only bones were found. The first thing the anthropologists have to do is determine if they are human.) The State Dept. of Justice has also sent a mobile DNA lab. "We're very early in our efforts," Sheriff Honea said. "There's still a great deal of work to do."
The Sheriff's office has received 228 missing persons reports; 107 people were located. (There are a lot of reports that all 228 are still missing. That's incorrect.) They are now getting reports of looting.
The largest animal rescue group is caring for about 1400 animals. Not just dogs & cats, but also horses, donkeys, llamas, and even a turtle. They are also caring for horses & other livestock that can be safely left in corrals or pastures. The Univ. of Calif, Davis vet school has a team on site & the most severely injured animals will be transported to their hospital (where it's a good alternative to euthanasia). Still a lot of people on social medi looking for beloved pets.
Fire is spreading south & east, mostly. This afternoon, a combination of dozers and air tankers were establish lines in advance of the fire. No new evacuation warning for the cities of Chico & Oroville, which is encouraging.
Woolsey Fire City of Calabasas now under evacuation. Fire officials requesting more road closures--too many lookie-loos. No changes in highway closure. Utility company may be shutting down power lines in a wide area to keep them from sparking in the wind and starting new fires.
