West Coast Fire Thread

[Valerie]

I understand that CA, OR, and WA have had 5 million acres burned so far.
I'm trying to find a site that compares this with other years the last couple decades.

All the sites I have looked at so far talk about US but not these three states. Is there a term for these three states? Any sites to recommend?

It's called the "Left Coast"

Seriously I've heard it called the West Coast only- I grew up in CA (my first 34 years there) we always had 'fire' seasons, when we had the Santa Ana winds- but NOTHING like we've seen the last 20 years.
My more liberal minded family blame it all on global warming or climate change that it's gotten increasingly worse. I've heard the reference to other factors like controlled burns like my son does in FL, to contributing and many other factors-
I am not familiar with Oregon & Washington having consistant fire seasons to this degree.

I too would be interested to see statistics.

By the way, some have been arrested for starting the fires in some places- these are not all 'natural' disasters.

[RZehr]

One of our friends live in Molalla, Oregon. Talked to him that day, wasn’t looking good for his house. He had said that a bunch of locals were fighting the fire, and no professionals anywhere to be seen. Here is a article.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/hillbilly-br ... 58487.html

[Ken]

One of our friends live in Molalla, Oregon. Talked to him that day, wasn’t looking good for his house. He had said that a bunch of locals were fighting the fire, and no professionals anywhere to be seen. Here is a article.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/hillbilly-br ... 58487.html

Cool story. "Hillbilly Brigade" Sounds kind of like the "Cajun Navy" which is all the Louisiana Cajun rednecks with bass boats who show up for hurricane rescues.

We need more stories about Americans coming together and less division I think.

[RZehr]

I had been told of strong first hand accounts of antifa caches of gas cans in the forest being found by fire fighters. About that...

"Each and every tip that comes in, we're following that to the end," Roberts said, but investigators typically find that the tipsters' information came "from a friend of a friend" who has no evidence. In one case, Roberts said a group reported to be stashing gasoline cans in the forest to start fires was actually "Good Samaritans" helping move fuel for emergency workers.
There are legitimate concerns around the fires, Roberts said. Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with looting in evacuation zones -- none with extremist ties, he said.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/17/us/west- ... index.html

The valley and the worse fire areas got much needed rain last night. Here in Central Oregon it remains socked in with smoke. We are forecasted some thunderstorms this afternoon. Since we’ve lived here, we’ve learned them to be a double edged sword. We desperately need the moisture and they should clear some smoke out of here. Yet they pretty much always end with lightning sparking more wildfires. So we will see.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Even the east coast has haze and a high grey sky. We are told it is from the fires out west.

J.M.

[Ernie]

Even the east coast has haze and a high grey sky. We are told it is from the fires out west.
J.M.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/ ... d-virginia
And below average temperatures for this time of the year...

[RZehr]

I thought this was interesting.

“A British insurance marketplace in business since 1871 will pay up to $25 million of wildfire costs in Oregon under the state’s one-of-a-kind wildfire insurance.”
“ Oregon is the only state to have a private wildfire insurance policy and has been with Lloyd’s of London since 1973. The $3.75 million premium is split between the state and private timberland owners. Landowners pay their share through a property tax formula. The current policy is in effect through April 15, 2021.”
https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/20 ... regon.html

[barnhart]

I had been told of strong first hand accounts of antifa caches of gas cans in the forest being found by fire fighters. About that...

"Each and every tip that comes in, we're following that to the end," Roberts said, but investigators typically find that the tipsters' information came "from a friend of a friend" who has no evidence. In one case, Roberts said a group reported to be stashing gasoline cans in the forest to start fires was actually "Good Samaritans" helping move fuel for emergency workers.
There are legitimate concerns around the fires, Roberts said. Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with looting in evacuation zones -- none with extremist ties, he said.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/17/us/west- ... index.html

I have lit a few brush piles from clearing land and anyone using gas doesn't know what they are doing. Diesel or kerosene are far more effective. If gas has any role it would be just a splash to ignite the diesel.

[RZehr]

I assume it was gas (and maybe diesel) cans being used to operate the equipment being used to cut and clear trees and brush etc.
In these conditions I could very easily start a wild fire with matches only, no problem.
Gasoline wouldn’t even be necessary, but could be used to save a few seconds, to make it take off faster.

[Robert]

I heard that BC just north of them is not having any of these issues because they manage their forests. Why is global warming only affecting the US states and not Canada forests?