Posted on 07/17/2004 4:05:43 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
Hey I'm here for the duration tonight..what's new
Reporter on the ground says she was told it's closer to 5,000 acres currently.. Placerita Canyon and Fair Oaks Ranch areas are under mandatory evacuations. Helos working furiously. FF saying the Foothills fire is behaving just like the Pine did a week ago (laying down at night, flaring up in late afternoon, swirling and chasing them around in circles).
Next official update at 1800.
I'm trying to figure out how "target practice" sparks a brush fire. Seems pretty improbable. Maybe he was a smoker? (Remember when LA sheriffs "sparked" that fire last year out in the desert, trying to smoke out Donald Kueck? (no pun intended) -- turned out they lit road flares and threw them into the building. And here we were at Free Republic trying to ascertain if tear gas canisters get hot enough.)
"I'm trying to figure out how "target practice" sparks a brush fire."
Some clown using military tracer ammo.
"I'm trying to figure out how "target practice" sparks a brush fire.:
Lainie, This is a frequent source of ignition, I'm afraid, and how it happens is that some of the rounds (one is all it takes) ricochet off a rock surface creating a spark that ignites the surrounding brush.
With low humidity (below 15%), hot weather, and already dry brush, just a spark is all it takes, then the fire rushes through the flashy fuel, chews up the dense fuel and anything else in its way, such as structures.
Maureen
Were you saying something about "environazis"?...hypocritic MORON!
the are lighting backfires at the 14 freeway heading toward the fire.....
14 still closed with 5 inch hose across.....
About 1 million acres have already burnt in three fires just outside Fairbanks. Lightning started another on Murphby Dome Friday night. People are preparing to pack it in and move to someplace that isn't on fire.
A plane drops fire retardant on a wildfire as firefighters look on Sunday, July 18, 2004, near Santa Clarita, Calif.
Firefighters battle a wildfire Sunday, July 18, 2004, in Santa Clarita, Calif. The wildfire, which had been 35 percent contained, jumped fire lines in northern Los Angeles County and burned out of control, charring 4,207 acres and forcing evacuations of more than 600 homes Sunday.
That is Murphy Dome as you know.
I remember on my trip to Alaska, we went camping on that dirt road to the Exit Glacier, and a fire broke out in the middle of the night...
I was a bit worried, but the Bear Creek VFD said they would wake us up if the fire came to our site. Those tankers kept me up nearly all night racing by at 40 mph though.
I still have the pic I took of their rig!
I have friends who live right off of Sand Canyon, and also several who live in Santa Clarita. Is there any map of where homes have been evacuated? Thanks.
From Fairbanks you look east and see two thunderheads, pretty good sized. They are not thunderheads but smoke, like a nuclear blast might create. If you look west there is another. The fourth is southeast and farther so is not easy to see. It's been pretty much dry for several months and the snow runoff has been gone for weeks. The ground is so dry the trees are beginning to change into fall colors or the leaves are just drying up and falling. There is plenty of fuel, everything could be gone if this keeps up much longer.
everything east of the 14 was evacuated....from the Sand Cyn exit south to Placerita Cyn. the last to evacuate was Robinson Ranch.
the news showed fire in between houses at 5pm....but I haven't heard of any losses yet.
and for a time west of the 14 was being evacuated.....Sierra Hwy to the 14 after a spot fire broke out behind State Bros and freaked everyone out. 50 Sheriffs and at least that many fire engines rushed, but the wind died down...
http://www.the-signal.com/index.asp
FIRE UPDATE
7/18/2004
AS OF 9:30 PM SUNDAY JULY 18:
STRUCTURES: No structures have been lost. A section of fair oaks ranch is still threatened. If you're in Canyon Country and you see flames immediately east of SR14, firefighters are keeping an eye on them to ensure they don't cross SR14.
EVACUATIONS: Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for Fair Oaks Ranch, Sand Canyon south of SR 14, and Placerita Canyon east of SR 14.
ROADS: Portions of SR14 are closed. Interstate 5 is open. Sierra Highway is open (both directions).
SHELTERS: Red Cross shelter at the College of the Canyons gym; Santa Clarita Baptist Church on Luther Drive (behind McDonald's).
ANIMALS: Call the Castaic Animal Shelter at 257-3191 for information on boarding pets and horses. (Note: The Red Cross shelter only admits humans.)
SUMMER SCHOOL: Fair Oaks School will be closed Monday. The Canyon Country Pinecrest school will be closed Monday. All other schools should be open. Call your school district for confirmation.
Oh dear. Thanks for keeping us updated, Karl. Haven't heard from one friend since noon yesterday, so I'm going to try again via cellphone.
I lived in the Santa Clarita area for several years. It is considered one of the most conservative parts of the state. Sorry, but not everyone in California is crazy. There are very few wackos there. But there are many patriots, some I am sure who belong to this site.
5700+ acres
1000 residents evacuated
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