Posted on 09/06/2020 1:33:29 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The California Office of Emergency Services said Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters were used for the rescues that began late Saturday and continued overnight. At least two people were severely injured and 10 more suffered moderate injuries. Two campers refused rescue and stayed behind, the Madera County Sheriffs Office said.
A photo tweeted by the National Guard showed at least 20 evacuees crammed inside one helicopter, crouched on the floor clutching their belongings. In another photo taken on the ground from the cockpit, the densely wooded hills surrounding the aircraft were in flames.
The wildfire, named the Creek Fire, started Friday and by Saturday afternoon exploded to 56 square miles (145 square kilometers), jumped the San Joaquin River and cut off the only road into the Mammoth Pool Campground, national forest spokesman Dan Tune said. At least 2,000 structures were threatened in the area about 290 miles (467 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.
Tune said the campers were told to shelter in place until fire crews, aided by water-dropping aircraft, could gain access to the site.
The lake 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Fresno is surrounded by thick pine forests and is a popular destination for boating and fishing. Bone-dry conditions and the hot weather fueled the flames.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
IIRC, about 400’ underground.
Bad enough in the day light with smoke. At night it is a freaking nightmare.
103 people on one CH 47 lift, freaking incredible!
Wow!
Thanks for sharing. Too close and too hot for me.
The environmentalists lawsuits basically stopped any logging or thinning in National forests. After Wallow fire in AZ 2011, which burned over 500,000 acres and destroyed much of property, the environmentalists apologized and decided to allow some fire prevention measures. However by that time all the lumber firms were driven out of business and there was nobody to actually carry the thinning! It is coming back now, but there is still lack of lumbering capacity and too much accumulated lumber to be thinned!
This winter was cold and rainy, all kind of grasses and flowers grew up and added tons of available fuel. Now all that stuff is on fire!
Indians cleared brush mostly with burns. Yellowstone fires were a blessing but too late. We must be stewards.
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