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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 15, 2023 16:08:57 GMT
During yesterday's ride, I noticed smoke rising about a mile away; within minutes, a full air assault was underway. I quickly rode home (away from the fire) in the smoke (yuck) pushed by a smokey 25 MPH tailwind. Fortunately, my house was not threatened. Some homes nearer to the fire (and as close as a mile to my home) were evacuated. Within a couple of hours the progress of the fire (only three miles from my house) was stopped; no structures were lost. Fantastic response by our fire crews who saw that it was nipped in the bud!
I did not take the pictures
Cheers Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Aug 15, 2023 22:38:51 GMT
Wow. Glad you were [just] outside the fire area.
Brian
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,390 
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Post by Jem on Aug 16, 2023 7:05:32 GMT
I couldn't get the link to work to read about it (for legal reasons, because I'm in Europe?!) , but I get the general idea that it must be awful - great response from the the fire crews.
What kind of plane is that? Looks to be bigger than I would expect - although I guess, they can hold way more water? Must be a challenging job; a plane in Greece doing that job , crashed recently.
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Post by brianbutler on Aug 16, 2023 10:24:55 GMT
I couldn't get the link to work to read about it (for legal reasons, because I'm in Europe?!) , but I get the general idea that it must be awful - great response from the the fire crews. What kind of plane is that? Looks to be bigger than I would expect - although I guess, they can hold way more water? Must be a challenging job; a plane in Greece doing that job , crashed recently. It looks like a DC-10. If so, the max payload is over 140,000kg.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 16, 2023 14:15:26 GMT
As for jets, we had a DC10, BAe-146 and a MD80 working the fire. Also, three Bell helicopters dumped water they sucked from our local lake. A Beech King Air flew as "Air Boss" and was constantly circling the fire. During the fire season, these crews and planes are on standby; much like the RAF during the battle of Britain. They remind me of military air support except fire is the enemy. We who live in rural areas are assessed (by California) an annual fee (I pay $160, some pay much more) that helps pay for it all.
All the Best Jim
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Post by triitout on Aug 18, 2023 3:55:51 GMT
Jim, glad you and your family are safe but that looked to be too close for comfort. When you experience wildfires first hand, it must leave you a bit shaken and re-evaluating the safety we all take for granted. here's hoping it was a one and done event.
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Aug 18, 2023 5:27:10 GMT
Jim, glad you and your family are safe but that looked to be too close for comfort. When you experience wildfires first hand, it must leave you a bit shaken and re-evaluating the safety we all take for granted. here's hoping it was a one and done event. Our little fire was a good reminder that the world is filled with hazards. Despite living in an environment that has wildfires, earthquakes, tornado's, hurricanes, floods, war, crime, serial killers, disease, accidents and so on; most of us harbor a false sense of complete safety. Actually, none of us are. I think most of us pretend that nothing can happen to us; such things happen to someone else. I suppose this is a coping mechanism. Unfortunately this can lead to being paralyzed with disbelief when bad things come our way. We see examples each day. It is thought by some that many in Lahaina did nothing when warned of the wildfire; they simply could not believe it was happening. A criminal orders a woman into a car, and they comply, when they should have run. I am an old pilot. Pilots know this and practice emergency procedures until they can do them without thinking. Fighters practice their moves until they are automatic; no time to think it out. I think true safety comes with planning and preparedness. At least a plan for earthquake, flood, fire or being attacked; when something happens, do the plan. This weekend a hurricane will reach landfall in California. This is a rare event for us (1858, 1939 and now 2023). We may have high winds and up to 5 inches of rain in one day; nothing by Florida's standards but a happening for us. It is no big deal to stock up on groceries, batteries, water, fill the cars up, and buy gas for my generator.
I will climb off my soap box now; I feel much better thank you. Jim
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Post by triitout on Aug 18, 2023 19:14:29 GMT
Jim, glad you and your family are safe but that looked to be too close for comfort. When you experience wildfires first hand, it must leave you a bit shaken and re-evaluating the safety we all take for granted. here's hoping it was a one and done event. Our little fire was a good reminder that the world is filled with hazards. Despite living in an environment that has wildfires, earthquakes, tornado's, hurricanes, floods, war, crime, serial killers, disease, accidents and so on; most of us harbor a false sense of complete safety. Actually, none of us are. I think most of us pretend that nothing can happen to us; such things happen to someone else. I suppose this is a coping mechanism. Unfortunately this can lead to being paralyzed with disbelief when bad things come our way. We see examples each day. It is thought by some that many in Lahaina did nothing when warned of the wildfire; they simply could not believe it was happening. A criminal orders a woman into a car, and they comply, when they should have run. I am an old pilot. Pilots know this and practice emergency procedures until they can do them without thinking. Fighters practice their moves until they are automatic; no time to think it out. I think true safety comes with planning and preparedness. At least a plan for earthquake, flood, fire or being attacked; when something happens, do the plan. This weekend a hurricane will reach landfall in California. This is a rare event for us (1858, 1939 and now 2023). We may have high winds and up to 5 inches of rain in one day; nothing by Florida's standards but a happening for us. It is no big deal to stock up on groceries, batteries, water, fill the cars up, and buy gas for my generator.
I will climb off my soap box now; I feel much better thank you. Jim
Amen to being prepared! |
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Post by whippet on Aug 29, 2023 7:31:15 GMT
Wow, I hope the weather changes and the risk goes away soon.
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