Southern California Fires -- Live Thread 10/29

[ridesthemiles]

The infected trees should have been allowed to be logged or cut for free for firewood by the people that use wood to heat their homes, like me.

There is about a 1 year window that the infested tree is usable by the log mills. After that, it is too deteriorated for them to salvage.
The enviros have blocked this salvage logging, stating that there were other insects and creatures that would make use of the tree. The tree becomes a massive fuel load for the fires you are seeing now.
Meanwhile, the bark beetle has spread expotentially. I ride alot on various trails in this area, mostly Tahoe Nat'l Forest. You can see one bad tree, then within 9 months or so, there are 3-6 trees gone bad, then, etc,etc,etc. Now there are whole stands of infested trees in the Castle Peak/Grouse Ridge area north of Interstate 80, near Donner Lake. Sen Boxer is trying her damndest to make thousands of acres there "wilderness". That restricts recreation usage, and prevents any mechanized unit from going into the area. Fires would be the next natural step in the destruction of the forest decimated by the bark beetle.
This massive fire loss has to be a catalyst to put an end to the actions of the enviros for the past 30 years. While most city dwellers don't get what the ranchers and rural dwellers have been worried about for years, perhaps this will make everyone take up the cause and we can have a class action lawsuit and cut these groups off once and for all.

[CedarDave]

Saved the trees around my place with an effort from the subdivision developer who hired a sprayer to treat the trees. Lost only one and cut and hauled it immediately. 65 others successfully treated (at $2 per tree - a real bargain!)

[bonesmccoy]

Dittos, I can confirm the report from driving around Southern OC. This was the first day in a week without soot and ash raining. It was the first day in four days without heavy amounts of smoke hanging over the cities here.

With regrets, because I know that means the winds are pushing fire into Arrowhead.

[Kahuna]

LOL and yes he said "erotic"! What a friggin BOZO!

[hoosiermama]

Will pray hard for rain for all of SO CA tonight!

[milagro]

NO! Too funny! Now if Fox would just do some decent reporting on this huge (not hugh) story!!! It is such a heartbreak--and just because it's not the East--we get very little info!

[CedarDave]

OFR = Offramp???

[ridesthemiles]

Davis estimated loss at $2 billion so far......

He wasn't telling the truth about the state deficit, why would I believe him about any estimate he has regarding this problem?

Davis is best when he is lying...and when his lips are moving, HE IS LYING.

[spectr17]

FF being medevaced out of LAke Arrowhead, Hwy 18, 1 mile west of Knob Hill.

[nicmarlo]

perhaps this will make everyone take up the cause and we can have a class action lawsuit and cut these groups off once and for all.

We can only hope!

[bonesmccoy]

good comments.....
Fox News Channel = Fox Channel
Cable News Network = Cable Network
MSNBC = MSNBC

Heh, I guess the last one really doesn't claim to be news.

[spectr17]

FF being medevaced out of LAke Arrowhead, Hwy 18, 1 mile west of Knob Hill.

[amom]

During the day, the fire gets a lot of it's momentum from local weather conditions, which are usually uphill, up canyon winds. At night, the air becomes cool, and usually blows downhill, or down canyon. ( usually..obviously this does not apply with Santa Ana conditions.) That is why the fire USUALLY "lays down" at night.

Ahhhhhh...thanks for explaining that.

[Kahuna]

Julian is still standing, however, the surrounding areas are in bad shape. If the wind shifts tonight, Whoreraldos mini van may melt!

[viaveritasvita]

Media probably won't touch the issue of the "hands off" policies which have allowed the underbrush to grow to catastrophic levels.

I don't mean to sound naive, but how is it possible that a bunch of leftie enviro freaks have had such an impact on our forest management policies???? I pray they will be sued out of existence.

Oh yeah? JUST WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FREEPERS STAND AND DELIVER! We will be LOUD and relentless, dadgummit!!

I go back and forth between extreme anger and the depths of sorrow.

<><

[nicmarlo]

I read somewhere on FR this past week that Davis had CUT BACK funds for firefighting personnel and equipment, astronomically.

[FourPeas]

Prayers on the way for the FF being medivaced.

[Fitzcarraldo]

OFR is probably offramp -

[Letitring]

I sure will, and thanks. It's all so very sad.