Ms.Ivy Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Please keep in your thoughts and prayers tonight the thousands of evacuees who have been forced to flee their homes in the Gold Country and other parts of Nor Cal. Many people are losing their homes and businesses, as entire towns are overtaken by the flames. Many families in the path of the fire had small ranches and were forced to let their animals loose as they evacuated. The fire is still out of control. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Oh wow. A nasty one. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 :grouphug:Link to fire status pagehttp://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=12264 firefighters hurt so far :("Cal Fire said four firefighters suffered second-degree burn injuries and were transported to the burn center at U.C. Davis Medical Center. All are in stable condition. They were members of a helicopter crew based in Lake County."http://abc7news.com/news/valley-fire-spreads-to-400-acres-in-lake-county;-firefighters-injured/981269/ ETA: 7 fires burning http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current?sort=incident_priority Valley Fire 10,000 acres Butte Fire 65,000 acres - 15% contained Lumpkin Fire 350 acres - 20% contained Walker Fire 109 acres - 70% contained Antelope Fire 45 acres - 70% containment Tenaya Fire ​ 455 acres with 25% containment. on Sept 11 update http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm Oak Fire 106 acres 95% contained 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Ivy Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 Current official count is 86 homes lost in the Butte fire. Both the Butte fire and the Valley fire are moving incredibly fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 this is so sad. The Firefighters and families affected are in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Thinking of everyone affected. (( )) I grew up in Northern California and my parents house is tucked in the hills. It was engrained very early that in case of fire, IF there was time to save anything at all make sure to take only photo albums. Anything else can be replaced. It was a childhood of fire fear, for sure, much moreso than earthquakes. My brother lives in the hills of Lake County--off to see how far away that one is from him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Thinking of everyone affected. (( )) I grew up in Northern California and my parents house is tucked in the hills. It was engrained very early that in case of fire, IF there was time to save anything at all make sure to take only photo albums. Anything else can be replaced. It was a childhood of fire fear, for sure, much moreso than earthquakes. You didn't keep a bag packed ready to go? I keep the important stuff in the car all summer. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 You didn't keep a bag packed ready to go? I keep the important stuff in the car all summer. Thx for reminding me to repack our evac bag. Good thing about digital is I just need the hard drive for photos. Thinking of everyone there, this was our reality last year. We are moving into prep and clean up for summer mode now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 You didn't keep a bag packed ready to go? I keep the important stuff in the car all summer. That's a good idea. I was a kid, of course, but I remember planning an eventual evacuation in my head as I went to sleep every night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 It's so bad this year, and with so many fires over such a large area north to south that evacuation is a bit hard to even picture. Those mountain communities often have only one lane in each direction in and out, and a curvy windy one at that. It was pretty nerve-racking to be up near Pinecrest over Labor Day, seeing all the smoke in every direction, and knowing that the road down the mountain would be an absolute parking lot while the road up the mountain goes so high and is so steep that it's challenging no matter what the conditions. And the fires whose smoke we were seeing then are far bigger and less contained now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemongoose Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 As a person who lived through and vividly remembers the 49er fire just east of that area, I will be praying for the families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Ivy Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 It's so bad this year, and with so many fires over such a large area north to south that evacuation is a bit hard to even picture. Those mountain communities often have only one lane in each direction in and out, and a curvy windy one at that. It was pretty nerve-racking to be up near Pinecrest over Labor Day, seeing all the smoke in every direction, and knowing that the road down the mountain would be an absolute parking lot while the road up the mountain goes so high and is so steep that it's challenging no matter what the conditions. And the fires whose smoke we were seeing then are far bigger and less contained now. I heard yesterday of a friend-of-a-friend whose family nearly was trapped in the Valley fire. Their daughter had to literally drive her car through the fire. They are now evacuating the house that they had evacuated to. There are rumors that their entire community is gone -- houses, church, everything. Another guy who is a friend-of-a-friend was staying in his house in an evacuated area north of the Butte fire. I was worried for him. The fire was approaching the only road out. If it did jump to his neighborhood, he'd have no way to escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn121 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 The Valley fire in Lake county jumped to 40,000 acres overnight. The towns of Cobb, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake are very likely to be almost completly burnt down. I live in the next county and my eyes are burning from the smoke in the air. It is just terrible!! Jenn 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 :grouphug: Holding all those affected in the light. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Some San Mateo county firefighters are going up to help for the Butte Fire, no info on help for Valley Fire yet. I know Santa Clara county also sends fire engines and helicopters up for this kind of situation but no local news yet. "Fifteen fire engines from San Mateo County have been sent to the Butte Fire in Amador and Calaveras counties, Menlo Fire Protection District Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said Saturday." The governor has just declared the valley fire a state of emergency. I guess national guards could be activated and deployed to help out now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Ivy Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 The governor has just declared the valley fire a state of emergency. I guess national guards could be activated and deployed to help out now. I believe so.... the Valley Fire has 1000 fire fighters on it but it's completely out of control. The Butte Fire has over 4000 personnel on it and I believe the CA National Guard was engaged there yesterday. It's an "all hands on deck" situation. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 We could see the glow all night from the Valley fire, and the smoke this morning. Over 40,000 acres affected, several towns burned to the ground. 0% contained. And this is only one of many. I'm heartbroken for the people who have lost everything. And so grateful to the firefighters and first responders who are risking their lives to help others. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 The Valley fire in Lake county jumped to 40,000 acres overnight. The towns of Cobb, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake are very likely to be almost completly burnt down. I live in the next county and my eyes are burning from the smoke in the air. It is just terrible!! Jenn Thinking of you, Jenn, and everyone affected. My brother's house is safe but his access is limited with 29 closed. I can't even imagine how scary it must be. I remember feeling so helpless, smelling the smoke and watching the bombers but not knowing exactly which ridge the flames could come over. I hope the holdouts come to their senses and evacuate when ordered (or before). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 We were down there on vacation. They are all in our thoughts. I am livid at their government for not enforcing a statewide burn ban for air quality. it won't stop many of the wildfires but it makes the air better and can reduce the spread and need for firefighters around the state. My only hope is that the suffering of these families will result in serious policy changes in California. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcatmom Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Praying for all those affected and all the personnel on the ground working tirelessly to fight these fires. It feels like the whole state is on fire. I can't even imagine. We live north of Sac and there has been a layer of smoke here. :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooCow Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Praying for all. I have been there, growing up, and as an adult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 The Rough Fire is also absolutely huge, and its containment has moved BACKWARDS from 31% to 29%. That's one of the ones that has smoked up the Sierra Nevada Mountains and also their Western foothills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermama Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 We were driving from LA to the Bay Area on Friday night and lost count after passing over 100 fire trucks heading north. The size of the fires is just incomprehensible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 The Rough Fire is also absolutely huge, and its containment has moved BACKWARDS from 31% to 29%. That's one of the ones that has smoked up the Sierra Nevada Mountains and also their Western foothills. Yup. Though none of this is really a surprise. I'm in absolute awe of the fire fighters. My husband works in the foothills (not in the path of the fires) and he said it's so bad the smoke from the Rough fire burns his throat and he can see it roll like fog down the road. Even down here in the valley the sky has been solid gray for the past few days. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 My husband works in the foothills (not in the path of the fires) and he said it's so bad the smoke from the Rough fire burns his throat and he can see it roll like fog down the road. Even down here in the valley the sky has been solid gray for the past few days. It was already like that a week ago. From Pinecrest we looked up at smoke in the sky, and down at smoke in the valley. It must be a lot worse by now; we came back on Tuesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Your hemisphere needs to finish up your fire season before ours starts. All this gets scarier and scarier if we're not able to lend each other a hand. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 The Rough Fire is also absolutely huge, and its containment has moved BACKWARDS from 31% to 29%. That's one of the ones that has smoked up the Sierra Nevada Mountains and also their Western foothills.This one is affecting us. Our air quality is horrible and we can see the plume from our house! The terrain is so rugged and overgrown that it can't effectively be fought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 This one is affecting us. Our air quality is horrible and we can see the plume from our house! The terrain is so rugged and overgrown that it can't effectively be fought. Are you thinking about leaving? I would be, I think. Here in Silicon Valley we can smell smoke faintly, and there is a fine layer of ash everywhere, which is startling considering that we are 100 miles from the nearest of these. I would hate to be close by. (((Krissi))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Ivy Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 Current estimates are at least 1000 homes destroyed in the Valley fire. :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Are you thinking about leaving? I would be, I think. Here in Silicon Valley we can smell smoke faintly, and there is a fine layer of ash everywhere, which is startling considering that we are 100 miles from the nearest of these. I would hate to be close by. (((Krissi))) No, we're fine. We live in the valley, about 10 miles from the Sierra foothills. They've been having more and more evacuations closer to us, but it's still in the hills where things are very very dry, lots of dry grass and dead brush. I really don't think we're in any danger. But the air quality is horrible. My eyes are burning constantly and all sports have been canceled indefinitely. Part of the problem has been the 100+ degree temps which exacerbate the air quality. Temps are supposed to drop 15-20 degrees this week and there's supposed to be some breezes coming through, so hopefully that will clear out some of the smoke. We actually saw blue sky today. It's been brown for the past week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Current estimates are at least 1000 homes destroyed in the Valley fire. :-( That is terrible! So sorry for all those involved. Also for those not knowing whether it involves them or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I just heard that there's another fire in Coarsegold which is near Yosemite. This is insane. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I just heard that there's another fire in Coarsegold which is near Yosemite. This is insane. Do you mean the Tenaya Fire or is this (gulp) another one? Crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I have been praying for them all day. This was us in Shasta County last year. My family was six miles away from the Eiler Fire. Hat Creek still has sections that look like we had an alien invasion. The smoke from the Teneya Fire is making visibility here a problem. We have been having small accidents on HWY 44 due to poor visibility all day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Do you mean the Tenaya Fire or is this (gulp) another one? Crap. It's a new one. It's outside the park. Coarsegold is near Oakhurst, which is the Wawona entrance to the park. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Current estimates are at least 1000 homes destroyed in the Valley fire. :-(I saw pictures of that! Devastating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I just heard that there's another fire in Coarsegold which is near Yosemite. This is insane.The fire is a bit south of the entrance to Yosemite. It's between Oakhurst and Coarsegold. I looked it up on the map. My sister-in-law and family live in Coarsegold. Hoping they don't have to evacuate. ** I just looked that one up. It's small, 10 acres burned so far and only the people living on that road have been evacuated. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Are you thinking about leaving? I would be, I think. Here in Silicon Valley we can smell smoke faintly, and there is a fine layer of ash everywhere, which is startling considering that we are 100 miles from the nearest of these. I would hate to be close by. (((Krissi))) It's so strange to me that we are in between the fire and SV but have no ash and no smell of smoke. Some good news: NWS Sacramento is talking about the possibility of rain in the area of the Valley Fire on Wednesday. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 The fire is a bit south of the entrance to Yosemite. It's between Oakhurst and Coarsegold. I looked it up on the map. My sister-in-law and family live in Coarsegold. Hoping they don't have to evacuate. ** I just looked that one up. It's small, 10 acres burned so far and only the people living on that road have been evacuated. Just read that it's contained, so that's a relief. I also read that there was a fire (now contained) in Cathey's Valley, which explains why it smelled like a campfire outside yesterday. That's *way* too close for comfort. I have so much respect for these fire fighters. Words can't express... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Your hemisphere needs to finish up your fire season before ours starts. All this gets scarier and scarier if we're not able to lend each other a hand. We're trying :) Do we really send fire fighters to Australia and vice versa? That's pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 It was reported the valley fire has a fatality yesterday night :( :grouphug: to all with families and/or friends affected. Your hemisphere needs to finish up your fire season before ours starts. All this gets scarier and scarier if we're not able to lend each other a hand. Indonesia's forest fire is out of control too :( Smog is at hyper unhealthy levels back home and help was rejected despite multiple offers and past help rendered.Hopefully no bushfires in your country during your fire season. Worse case, my country would be willing to send helicopters and whatever help over. SAF has a training base there. ETA: nice. "Seventy-one firefighters, including 15 from New Zealand, were flying to the worst-hit state of Idaho and are also being deployed to the affected states of Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho and California, Australian authorities said." Yahoo News, Aug 23rd, 2015 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 We were down there on vacation. They are all in our thoughts. I am livid at their government for not enforcing a statewide burn ban for air quality. it won't stop many of the wildfires but it makes the air better and can reduce the spread and need for firefighters around the state. My only hope is that the suffering of these families will result in serious policy changes in California. I don't understand people who burn things during a burn ban. Also, does California do controlled burns (also called prescribed burns)? We have a fire season in Florida but it rarely gets as bad as in California. The 1998 fire season was an exception. It happened during a drought, but there had also been fewer controlled burns due to complaints by homeowners that they didn't like the smell or the air quality. Since then, the state has gone back to a more aggressive controlled burn plan as well as attempts to educate people (often newcomers who don't get it) to the necessity of such a policy. :grouphug: Thinking of all those who have lost homes. The latest report I saw said at least 400 structures have burned and one person died. If any of you in the area hear of the best way to help, please post. Often people trying to help can make things worse: too many shirts and pairs of shoes donated when something else is needed more, sending money to dodgy groups that don't get the funds to the people who need them, etc.. Those nearest to the situation might have better knowledge of help centers and what's needed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 If any of you in the area hear of the best way to help, please post. Often people trying to help can make things worse: too many shirts and pairs of shoes donated when something else is needed more, sending money to dodgy groups that don't get the funds to the people who need them, etc.. Those nearest to the situation might have better knowledge of help centers and what's needed. I've been hearing that the shelters up near the Lake fire have way more clothes and supplies than they need, and are going to distribute it to less fortunate areas. Right now the request is more for financial donations to the Red Cross, who is helping people get temporary shelter while things are sorted out. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 What a lot of people don't realize is that even in years with healthy amounts of precipitation, CA is largely a Mediterranean climate area. That means that there are several (4-5) months from late spring to early fall when there is virtually no rain at all. That means that the grassy areas are essentially tinder boxes for wildfires, even in a good year. But we are 4 years into the worst drought in recorded history, so it's insanely dry here, and water reserves are very depleted, and even the trees are tinder now. The drought is so bad that the underground aquifers in many areas have collapsed, which means that if it starts raining normally again our overall water storage capacity is greatly reduced. I don't know of a way to fix this--we have benefitted from natural aquifers for decades, and that capacity is going to be difficult or impossible to replace. Basically California is desertifying. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 What a lot of people don't realize is that even in years with healthy amounts of precipitation, CA is largely a Mediterranean climate area. That means that there are several (4-5) months from late spring to early fall when there is virtually no rain at all. That means that the grassy areas are essentially tinder boxes for wildfires, even in a good year. But we are 4 years into the worst drought in recorded history, so it's insanely dry here, and water reserves are very depleted, and even the trees are tinder now. The drought is so bad that the underground aquifers in many areas have collapsed, which means that if it starts raining normally again our overall water storage capacity is greatly reduced. I don't know of a way to fix this--we have benefitted from natural aquifers for decades, and that capacity is going to be difficult or impossible to replace. Basically California is desertifying. that's pretty much it! A homeschool friend if mine ranches in the foothills. They had a small brush fire on their property caused by a horseshoe striking a rock and sparking. The Rough Fire was caused by lightening strikes. Everything is just ready to burst into flame!However, it is sprinkling rain here right now. Not much, hopefully they're getting more in the mountains! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Prayers for a cessation to the fires. :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I don't know of a way to fix this--we have benefitted from natural aquifers for decades, and that capacity is going to be difficult or impossible to replace. Basically California is desertifying. I don't think it's completely fixable. I do think we can mitigate the effects by building desalination plants and building more water storage capacity so we can capture more rainfall and rely less on snowpack. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 that's pretty much it! A homeschool friend if mine ranches in the foothills. They had a small brush fire on their property caused by a horseshoe striking a rock and sparking. The Rough Fire was caused by lightening strikes. Everything is just ready to burst into flame! However, it is sprinkling rain here right now. Not much, hopefully they're getting more in the mountains! OK, we're seriously in the same neck of the woods. it was sprinkling here about 45 minutes ago. People were posting about it in my fb feed. I went outside to check but it had stopped. However there was still that nice, cool, rainy smell, so I'll take it :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murmer Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I am a former resident of Lake County (went the high school there) and I am in tears...This fire just took off so fast and it is so close to the 2 other fires they had this summer. The hardest part is that A) no one know where Lake County is and B) there are so many fires right now that its almost hard to keep track. I am praying for all those affected and sadly I think the news is going to get worse. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 We're trying :) Do we really send fire fighters to Australia and vice versa? That's pretty cool.I know some of our guys left to go to you a few weeks back and I've been wondering if they're still there. It is cool! Hoping you are getting a bit more of that rain in the right places. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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