Posted on 10/30/2019 2:48:24 PM PDT by Olog-hai
A wind-whipped outbreak of wildfires outside Los Angeles on Wednesday threatened thousands of homes and horse ranches, forced the smoky evacuation of elderly patients in wheelchairs and narrowly bypassed the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, protected in part by a buffer zone chewed by goats.
With California tinder dry and fires burning in both the north and south, the state was at the mercy of gusty winds, on high alert for any new flames that could run wild, and weary from intentional blackouts aimed at preventing power lines from sparking more destruction.
The blaze near the Reagan library in Simi Valley was driven by strong Santa Ana winds that are the bane of Southern California in the fall and have historically fanned the most destructive fires in the region.
The library, which holds the presidential archives and whose grounds include the graves of Reagan and his wife, Nancy, was well-equipped when flames surrounded it. It relies on a combination of high-tech defenses such as fireproof vaults and a low-tech measure taken every year, when hundreds of goats are brought in to feed on the brush and create a firebreak.
An army of firefighters helped protect the hilltop museum, and helicopters hit the flames, leaving some neighbors resentful as they frantically hosed down fires in the surrounding subdivisions and open ranchland. …
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
I watched the whole thing live....The Library wasn’t really in any danger....around it was only dirt and light grass fuel with large breaks ...there was even a hint that they burned out the hillside well before hand for fire protection
Reagan’s fault! </s>
“....protected in part by a buffer zone chewed by goats.”
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Riigghht. And if property owners had created a buffer zone - they would have been fined tens of thousands of dollars.
My son lives in Moorpark and has evacuated. First time in 5 years. Always thought the Library helped with its fire protection plans and emphasis, but this time I guess not.
If they had hired illegal goatherds they would have been exempted under sanctuary city laws. :)
I wonder where the Trump Library will be. Trump Tower?
Do it. You won’t be disappointed.
You need to see it. A magnificent location. I often drove past it in the evening or night, where it was truly a shining city on a hill
The Reagan Library is marvelous and inspiring. I take my kids there a couple of times a year.
How they ever landed the plane there I never know. Must have been a navy carrier pilot... : )
Landed it then built the library around it. True story.
https://www.tripsavvy.com/thmb/sJIaEKYaEftl_MHFqvGvqcU-03g=/2048x1363/filters:fill(auto,1)/18968208734_d24aef0ef1_k-5666270e3df78ce161ca7e95.jpg
It sounds like PG&E needs to create a goat-herding subsidiary. ;-)
AP …
Big Media lying.
As usual.
I’m in LA right now … this stuff is all over local news. Firefighting seems to be an all-hands-on-deck thing, and nobody is being ignored.
RIGHT... I imagine that others have said the same thing..the environmentalists have ruined CA. and are the blame for these fires getting out of control. Home ,ranch and farm owners are not allowed to burn or clear brush surrounding property. They are also not able to take care of forests. (not able to clear dead trees and brush)
Get rid of the Dems CA!!
I was a special inspector on the Reagan library construction of the building that houses Reagan’s Airforce One 707. A LOT of steel and concrete. It was an honor to work on that project. I got to see the Marine corps helicopter land for them to put it on display. That building would have to be hit with a nuke to damage it completely. Believe me.
All the high tech stuff and goats work as well as any of it.
Hubby fought these fires for 34 years. He was always on the first mutual aid strike team out. If they pulled into a neighborhood with houses on fire they would save the homes with defensable space. In other words, if the property owner had cleared brush away from their homes, etc. to keep fire away they’d save that home first. I’m sure other departments do the same thing.
I’ve been numerous times. Every time a grandkid gets old enough to appreciate it I take them. I’ll be going this next summer with my 12 year old grandson. It’s a very nicely done, awesome space.
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