Comments by marksb
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Posted on November 13 at 9:34 p.m.
This fire's only about three and a half hours old. I'd guess we'll have a map when the fire fighters have a handle on the situation. CBS2 helicopter live raw video feed says LA County helicopter is at SB Airport talking with the SB County fire helicopter to figure out if they can fly tonight with enough control to do some water drops in the full moon. Wow. These guys have some guts.
Posted on August 21 at 1:32 p.m.
Brilliant reporting Ray. Your clear description of the fire-fighting process combined with your deep knowledge of the back country has been a gift to us all. Thanks!
Posted on August 17 at 1:18 p.m.
Inciniweb says
"South side of the fire: The fire is in Mono Creek, Diablo, and Agua Caliente Canyons. The fire overran the Hildreth Jeepway and became established in Agua Caliente Canyon. Burning operations are being implemented along the contingency lines."
See, I notice the words "contingency lines" and I think those are the lines the Montecito Chief Wallace was referencing when he said, "However, if the fire crosses the Don Victor Jeepway or the Hildrith Jeepway, then we could be back to the bigger burnout plan near the Santa Ynez River behind Montecito."
Maybe?
Posted on August 15 at 9:40 a.m.
It's also true that while the main tool of wilderness firefighters is cutting and clearing brush, a drop of retardant can "extend" the effectiveness of the cleared fire line by reducing the extreme behavior of the approaching fire, slowing it down and reducing the intensity of the fire and flames. If the wind is strong and the brush burns up-canyon toward a ridge-top fire line, the flames can jump and hot embers can be lofted over the line into the next canyon. Reducing the intensity of the fire before it hits the line can make the difference in holding the line.
Also, I can imagine that back-burning can use retardant and water drops to "corral" the fire into a chosen direction that is most effective in stopping or changing the direction of the main fire.
I see these drops as excellent tools to aid the firefighters on the ground.
And the pilots: what a tough job! Huge courage and skill to get in to a hot area and out safely, while still dropping on target. If you haven't seen the drop videos, go over to YouTube and type in Zaca fire and watch the footage of water and retardant drops. Wow.
Posted on August 13 at 12:14 p.m.
Well now that we all feel like we've dodged the bullet, here's the short term weather forecast from National Weather Service in Oxnard...note the forecast for intense heat and sundowners on Tuesday...
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Short term...
heat is the name of the game for the next 72 hours...although sba County will focus more on a sundowner Tuesday night. Synoptically things have changed somewhat. The big honking 599dm high is no longer forecast to shift westward instead it is forecast to sit over Colorado through Wednesday. Low levels warm impressively...with bl temperatures 20 degrees today and are forecast to rise to 27 today and then up to 30 Tuesday. These numbers would be the highest seen in August since at least 1999 but the WRF does have a tendency to overdo the low level temperatures so while its going to be hot it will not be monstrously so. Tuesday will be the warmest day with near neutral gradients allowing only a weak seabreeze...a few records will likely be broken and possibly quite a few more. Wednesday will not feel too
much cooler with temperatures lowering only a couple of degrees.
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This is from wunderground.com, click on
- Scientific forecaster discussion (NWS) -
at the bottom of the forecast chart.
Posted on August 10 at 2:04 p.m.
Thanks Ray, now can you find out what this means for the Edison lines? Does this plan burn out the supply lines as well, or does it prevent the fire from approaching the lines?
I'll try to get to the meeting tonight to see what the command has to say about this.
Thanks again
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Posted on May 9 at 7:28 a.m.
What's with the heavy police presence around the upper State evac areas? No one is allowed in, though the fire is long past danger to this area. It makes no sense! We were evac'ed to protect us from the firestorm Thursday night. That's done. Yet police are preventing our return, and sometimes with a rather nasty, you-are-a-criminal attitude.
(Thursday afternoon I experienced an Oxnard cop stare me down like I was an Oxnard ganger and order me off the street, because I asked him a simple question about access.)
I love the assistance and respect the long hours to protect us. No get a clue and let us back into our streets and homes!
On Updated Jesusita Fire Stats