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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Aug 14, 2017 - 10:24am PT
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We had a micro version of our August singularity yesterday afternoon and the air is nice and clean today. It has been a couple weeks for some of us in W.MT. Sinus infection season will be alive and well this year...durnit!! I will be eaving work early today for a lung cleansing wellness gig on the MTB.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Aug 14, 2017 - 10:50am PT
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DMT, you contribute a lot of excellent photography!
it seems that we should have a policy of burning those chaparral lands on a regular basis----but it should happen in the winter. These areas rarely, if ever, get snow, so they are burnable.
We have to get fire back into our natural cycles. We have to.
Right now, we only seem to be approaching this by building larger and larger fire departments, which is clearly the wrong strategy. The fires incidents grow right along with the departments.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Aug 14, 2017 - 10:59am PT
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Wildland firefighters are much busier this year than in a typical year. To date, fires have burned 46 percent more acres than the 10-year average — 5,820,802 acres vs. the 3,962,906 average. In some years fire activity in Alaska, where many very large fires are not suppressed, can inflate these numbers, but so far that state can only account for 626,786 acres, not a huge number for Alaska.
400 hand crews, usually comprised of 20 people each, are deployed nationwide, along with 949 fire engines, and 120 helicopters for a total of 16,673 personnel.
And this in the year in which we have record precipitation.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
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Aug 14, 2017 - 12:06pm PT
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Ken M... Larger fire departments equals more jobs...America needs more jobs not more fires... cheers...rj
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looks easy from here
climber
Ben Lomond, CA
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Aug 14, 2017 - 12:21pm PT
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And this in the year in which we have record precipitation.
More precip=more growth=more fuel load=more fire potential.
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Aug 14, 2017 - 12:25pm PT
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And this in the year in which we have record precipitation.
Our flashy fuels are twice their height, they grew like the dickens and then we had above normal temps for a couple weeks that created what they call a flash drought in most of the state. 1,000hr fuels may as well be 10 this year.
Yeah, thanks DMT for all the pics.
Oh, IMHO your last sentence, 2 posts up is spot on but nobody will talk about it? I'll also add that if you have Trump/Hate Gov't signs in your yard then no suppression efforts for you and your property Bucko! I see them all the time in areas that will burn, not if but when..
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Aug 15, 2017 - 06:40pm PT
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noted on plant species.
The big problem is a century of accumulation.
If we could get the vegetation down to size, it could be cut using Masticators every 10 years or so. Lot's of jobs. No smoke.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Aug 15, 2017 - 08:59pm PT
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Part of the problem is that virtually none of us was alive when the forests were allowed to be natural, with respect to fire, so we tend to have a very false impression about what a healthy forest looks like. It's been over 100 years of fire suppression, and now the abuse comes home to roost.
Here is a pair of pictures that really shows this. This is a picture of the Bear Creek Guard Station in Stanislaus, taken 100 years apart.
Bear Creek Guard Station, Plumas National Forest, taken in 1915
(showing surrounding forest prior to fire suppression)
Bear Creek Guard Station, Plumas National Forest, bottom photograph taken 2002
(showing surrounding forest after years of fire suppression).
Most people would choose the latter picture as the healthy forest, BUT NO! That is actually the VERY overcrowded forest, and very unhealthy.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Aug 16, 2017 - 11:16am PT
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Thanks DMT. I always thought those pictures said it better than any words.
You can see in the older photo, what a fire would be----confined to low understory, and you can even see in the dominant trees that they have no low branches, in contrast to the newer photo.
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John M
climber
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Aug 16, 2017 - 02:10pm PT
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logging began in the plumas national forest in the late 1800s. So its hard to tell by that photo if thats what a virgin unlogged forest looked like. Or if that area had been logged. It would be nice to know the history of that area.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Aug 17, 2017 - 03:54am PT
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http://www.sierrastar.com/news/local/article167514512.html
The Badger Pass to Glacier Point shuttle will not run until further notice as the main base for firefighting operations (South Fork fire) has been established at Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area.
Glacier Point Road will remain open to the public; however, there will be periodic closures between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day as the parking lot fills to capacity. Delays can be expected.
The park can still be entered from all entrances, including along Highway 41 and Highway 140. Its cause (the park's cause?) is under investigation.
This is a two-fer situation, as well, smoke-wise.
Smoky conditions can be expected from both the South Fork Fire and the Empire Fire in the park, which is burning further to the north. That fire, started by a lightning strike, is located about a mile south of Bridalveil Campground east of Alder Creek drainage, officials said. It was reported Wednesday at 1,400 acres, and is being allowed to burn naturally with no threats to structures or community areas.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Aug 19, 2017 - 05:28pm PT
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https://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/south-fork-fire-update-august-19-2017-evacuation-notice.htm
South Fork Fire Update - August 19, 2017 - Evacuation Notice
August 19, 2017 Posted by: Yosemite Fire Information
A Mandatory Evacuation Order has been issued for Wawona.
Last night, as a result of increased winds due to thunderstorms, several spot fires started west of the fire lines close to the community of Wawona. One spot fire is at 50 acres. Firefighters are strengthening contingency lines, however thunderstorm activity, which may again bring winds, are forecast for the next several days.
An evacuation order has been placed for the community of Wawona. Evacuation order is for all areas east of Highway 41 along Chilnualna Falls Road and Forest Drive. Residents and visitors must vacate by 4:00 pm today. The Wawona Campground remains open. The Big Trees Lodge is closed due to the fact that Yosemite Hospitality Employees that work there are being evacuated.
A Red Cross shelter is available at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp. A community meeting scheduled for tonight has been moved to the Tenaya Lodge at 6 pm.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 19, 2017 - 06:22pm PT
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hey there, say... kunlun_shan, and all that do updates, here...
i can't, myself, get to read a lot of stuff, right now... am in the middle of
some new projects, but i SINCERELY appreciate all the updates...
love and miss calif, and love the greatoutdoor lands, all around us, and
really want to hear the updates...
prayers for the firemen, and all the folks that live in any danger zones...
thanks again...
happy good eve, to all!
wow!
i love my supertopo home, here! :)
edit:
wow, ken m... thanks for a picture share, there, and info...
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Aug 22, 2017 - 08:19am PT
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http://www.theprovince.com/news/local+news/wildfires+combine+create+largest+blaze/14303305/story.html
Over 400 firefighters are working to contain the largest wildfire in British Columbia’s history.
Kevin Skrepnek of the B.C. Wildfire Service said 19 fires merged in an area west of Quesnel in the Interior, creating a single fire estimated to be 4,674 square kilometres in size.
Co-ordinating a response has been a challenge because the fire measures more than 130 kilometres from one end to the other, he said, adding 25 helicopters and 73 pieces of heavy equipment are being used.
“There’s good progress being made out there, but just given the sheer scale of this fire, it is going to be active for some time to come,” Skrepnek said.
It’s been decades since British Columbia has seen a fire anywhere near this big, Skrepnek said. The previous record was 2,250 square kilometres, set in 1958 by a fire burning in the northeastern part of the province.
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chappy
Social climber
ventura
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Aug 29, 2017 - 04:24pm PT
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Been watching this one for the last couple of hours. Noticed it driving back from Merced this afternoon. At first thought it was just a thunder cloud. Then realized it was a fire. Seems pretty massive. Was worried at first that it was in Oakhurst. Hwy 41 closed. It's primed to burn up there. Nothing but fuel. Let's hope they can contain it.
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doughnutnational
Gym climber
its nice here in the spring
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Aug 29, 2017 - 07:46pm PT
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Here is the railroad fire from Powerhouse Rd near Auberry about 5 pm. Prayers to all in the area it looks fierce. Mandatory evacuations for Sugar Pine, Fish Camp and other areas.
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