Fires

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I just finished sleeping for about 20 hours, after working the majority of the last 72. The Sylmar fires were in the new Division that I work at...I have never been so close to flames, whipping embers and choking smoke. I'm still digging ash out of my ears 3 showers later.



What I saw were amazingly brave police officers, driving into the fire to frantically knock on doors advising residents of the fire, while the FD started their initial assault. It started around 10:25 pm and many were all ready asleep. 6 of my guys cleared out that entire Oak Ridge Trailer Park in one hour flat. They even remained with one bedridden 350 lb woman who couldn't get out on her own power. They had to wait for an ambulance to arrive and they all managed to lug her out while the back windows to her home began shattering from the heat and proximity to the flames.



HEROES !



<img src="http://media.washingtontimes.com/media/img/photos/2008/11/18/20081118-004342-pic-969966552_r350x200.jpg?0babd24c675f3097b9d1ff106ec8653055db7939" alt="" />
 
[quote author="Hormiguero" date=1226882400][quote author="SoCal78" date=1226881720]

What are you talking about? </blockquote>




<a href="http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/11/the_anti-govern.html">Grover, Katrina and Richard Milhous</a>



I sincerely apologize for the nasty tone, and really do hope that no one else is hurt beyond the heroic firefighters already injured.



But when "natural disasters" become an annual regional event, someone is obviously dropping the ball.</blockquote>




Chaparral fires is a natural part of its ecology. We chose to move into it, and suppressed fires from occurring on a more frequent basis. The chaparral vegetation will deposit anywhere from 10 to 50 tons of burnable fuel per acre every year. Combined with combustible non-native plants, we've created a very unnatural condition for wild fires.



As for Katrina, observe the ground elevations of New Orleans:



<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/New_Orleans_Levee_System.svg/538px-New_Orleans_Levee_System.svg.png" alt="" />
 
[quote author="Trooper" date=1227059510] They even remained with one bedridden 350 lb woman who couldn't get out on her own power. They had to wait for an ambulance to arrive and they all managed to lug her out while the back windows to her home began shattering from the heat and proximity to the flames.

</blockquote>


I actually gasped when I read that, and I'm still tearing up. Heroism gets me every time.
 
[quote author="Astute Observer" date=1227067652][quote author="momopi" date=1227063904] The chaparral vegetation will deposit anywhere from 10 to 50 tons of burnable fuel per acre every year. </blockquote>


The number sounds kind of high to me for semi-arid climate... do you have a link or reference for the value?</blockquote>


My apologies, that should've been the figure for burnable bio-mass per acre and not annual deposits. But the dead vegetation does accumulate year-on-year.



Here's a article from LA County Fire Dept Chief, which I believe they mistaken 40 tons to 400 tons:



https://www.riskinstitute.org/peri/...avstart,0/task,detail/mode,0/id,819/search,*/



<em>Wildland fires fueled by plentiful and volatile vegetation in Southern California have always been as much a part of the landscape as the mountains, hills, and beautiful vistas. Over time, left unchecked, Southern California chaparral can grow to accumulate up to 400 tons to the acre. In fact, the periodic burning of the native fuels is an important part of the local ecosystem, according to scientific experts. With nothing of value in its way, such a fire cleanses the area and rejuvenates subsequent, new growth.

</em>
 
A cubic yard of dirt is exactly one ton.



An acre is 208' x 208'.



We're only talking about 400 cubic yards of material. Considering that there are 4,806.88 square yards per acre of soil, it seems totally possible to get 400 tons of material in these "green belts" we love in SoCal so much.



Pave 'em all up I say.
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1227089771]A cubic yard of dirt is exactly one ton.



An acre is 208' x 208'.



We're only talking about 400 cubic yards of material. Considering that there are 4,806.88 square yards per acre of soil, it seems totally possible to get 400 tons of material in these "green belts" we love in SoCal so much.



Pave 'em all up I say.</blockquote>


Chinese people love you.



<img src="http://www.treehugger.com/driveway-cars-us-001.jpg" alt="" />
 
Trooper



I second your feelings. Our BIL/SIL just returned to their home in Olinda Village in Yorba Linda after several days not knowing if they had a home or not. They had 15 min to evacuate when police folks came knocking on their door.



Great news is that they do. The firefighters actually took a stand on their roof and saved all the homes near them. They lost both side fences, front yard landscaping up to 8 feet from their front door, all rear yard landscaping, fruit trees, and vegetation on their rear slope. They have some smoke damage but are staying there since they have 2 dogs, a cat, and a rabbit to deal with.



They replaced the roof 1.5 years ago with a fire retardant roof and FFs said that saved their home and probably several nearby.



The firefighters apologized for not saving the yard area. BIL/SIL already have plans for taking a Christmas basket to the station for the holidays.



Great people-those firefighters and police.



Enjoy!
 
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