CA - Wind-Driven Thomas Fire Explodes to 31,000 Acres; 150 Structures Destroyed, 2017

[margarita25]

They're saying the fire is the size of Denver:

"The humidity won't help. It will still be low Thursday, meaning the trees and brush fueling the fires will continue to be tinder. Firefighters are exhausted and airborne embers are irritating their eyes.

"Honestly, the firefighters are taking a beating, but we have to acknowledge the residents because they're taking beating, too, but they're cooperating with our orders," said Thomas Kruschke, spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department.

The battle to douse the blaze is especially arduous on the Santa Barbara-Ventura County line, where the terrain is steep and rugged, he said. Fire officials hope to get as many as a dozen helicopters in the air Thursday, but the winds have been playing havoc on the choppers and fixed-wing aircraft, Kruschke said.

The Thomas Fire was 5% contained as of early Thursday. At 96,000 acres, the fire is roughly the size of Denver."

www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/us/ventura-fire-california/index.html

 

[coastal]

California fires: 'Firefighters taking a beating' as Santa Ana winds stoke blazes
www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/us/ventura-fire-california/index.html

"Dry weather and merciless winds, with gusts predicted to reach the strength of a Category 1 hurricane in mountainous areas, threaten to intensify the already devastating Southern California wildfires that have driven 110,000 people from their homes."

Snip

"Despite a brief respite in the winds Wednesday, they began picking up again in the evening. A gust of 85 mph was detected in Ventura County. Forecasters say Thursday will bring gusts of 80 mph in the higher altitudes, while winds of 50 to 70 mph will make firefighters' mission extremely difficult in Ventura and Los Angeles counties."

God Bless Firefighters!

 

[margarita25]

Woooooooooow:

"Officials say they will see a "recipe for explosive fire growth" and an unprecedented fire danger score.*According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, experts grade fire danger by measuring the moisture in dead vegetation, the temperature, wind speed and direction, and then assessing historical weather information.

A value of 48 is considered high danger, while 162 is extreme. Thursday's score: 296, a record.

It's not the only first that firefighters have experienced with the Southern California blazes. The scale used to measure the potency of the Santa Ana winds typically runs from gray, for little or no danger, to red, for high danger.

"The forecast for (Thursday) is purple," said Ken Pimlott, director at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire,*according to CNN affiliate KCBS. "We've never used purple before.""

www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/us/ventura-fire-california/index.html

 

[margarita25]

God Bless Firefighters!

Are you near any of the fires, coastal?

 

[margarita25]

Stretching 140 square miles

"The Thomas Fire in Ventura County, which sits just north and west of Los Angeles, grew significantly Wednesday to about 150 square miles. The Rye Fire in Santa Clarita is holding at 7,000, with 15% containment, while the Skirball Fire has burned about 475 acres and is 5% contained."

www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/us/ventura-fire-california/index.html

 

[margarita25]

LOS ANGELES FIRES UPDATE: HORSES BURN TO DEATH AS RAPID CALIFORNIA BLAZE SPREADS
http://www.newsweek.com/horses-burn-death-rapid-california-wildfire-spreads-741353

********

Raging wildfires tear through Southern California as officials warn of ‘extreme fire danger’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-of-increasing-danger/?utm_term=.8551dca85add

*******

Southern California’s fire situation is worsening as ‘epic’ winds rage
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ning-winds-rise-again/?utm_term=.9f44c11509e1

*******

Armageddon’: Apocalyptic images show the devastation caused by raging Southern California fires
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...hern-california-fires/?utm_term=.be2e721bd323

 

[margarita25]

Katy:

"Truly a miracle' Ojai survived a night of intense fire, city official says"
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ojai-fire-status-20171207-story.html

 

[margarita25]

Body found in burn area as Thomas fire spreads along California coast
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-fires-20171207-story.html

*******

Body Found In Thomas Fire Burn Area
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/12/07/thomas-fire-new-evacuations-closure-of-highway-101/

*******

Thomas Fire: All lanes reopen on 101 Fwy as devastating wildfire grows to 96,000 acres
http://abc7.com/thomas-fire-grows-to-96000-acres;-sb-101-fwy-reopens/2751474/

*******

How to Help the Victims of the California Wildfires
http://time.com/5054074/california-thomas-fire-donations/

*******

Erratic winds bedevil firefighters in California's Ventura County
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...ura-county-thomas-fire-santa-paula/929897001/

******

THE FIRESTORM THIS TIME: WHY LOS ANGELES IS BURNING
https://www.wired.com/story/losangeles-wildfire-science/

******

These maps show the three major fires tearing across Southern California
Fire crews have made progress on the fires in the Ventura, Santa Clarita, and Sylmar areas
https://la.curbed.com/2017/12/6/16741874/ventura-county-fire-map-creek-rye

********

Southern California wildfires burn with little containment as conditions worsen
http://abcnews.go.com/US/southern-c...ntainment-conditions-worsen/story?id=51638141

*******

A look at the California wildfires' jaw-dropping numbers
www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/us/california-wildfire-numbers-trnd/index.html

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Los Angeles threatened as wildfires spread, forcing thousands to evacuate
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/w...-thousands-under-mandatory-evacuation-n826946

******

Essential California: Fires rage across the Southland
http://www.latimes.com/newsletters/la-me-ln-essential-california-20171207-story.html

 

[DakotaMayi]

I know Seajay lives in Cali...I wonder where...

Many WS members possibly affected here it seems.

Can we get a list please of members?

Mistivon
katydid23 (and family, daughterinlaw)
whitelilac
Charminglane
labordayrn
IQuestion (lost her home)

Is this this correct? Sorry if I've missed anyone

The only sleuther I can think of in Cali is gitana. WHY is my mind drawing a blank right now. I'm all over the place.

My friend is leaving Santa Barbara as we speak.

 

[margarita25]

Important links:

http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents

California Statewide Fire Map
http://www.calfire.ca.gov/general/firemaps

 

[margarita25]

New brush fire erupts in Huntington Beach
http://abc7.com/new-brush-fire-erupts-in-huntington-beach/2752493/

Small Brush Fire Contained in Malibu as Days of SoCal Wildfires Persist
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Malibu-Horizon-Fire-SoCal-Wind-Weather-Burn-462561433.html

 

[margarita25]

I highly recommend doing this:

Los Angeles County
@CountyofLA
1h

L.A. County residents: Sign up with #AlertLACounty to receive emergency alerts via phone, text or e-mail. (link: http://alert.lacounty.gov) alert.lacounty.gov City of L.A. residents: Sign up with @NotifyLA. (link: http://emergency.lacity.org/notifyla) emergency.lacity.org/notifyla #LAfires #CreekFire #RyeFIre #SkirballFire #HorizonFire

 

[margarita25]

LACounty Fire PIO

Twitter › LACoFDPIO

UPDATE: #BrushFire in #Malibu forward progress of has been stopped. 1/4 acre burned. @LACoFireAirOps made water drops to quickly knock down fire. @LACo_FD firefighters working on mopping up hot spots. No structures damaged & no injuries at this time

1 hour ago

**********

SCV Sheriff

Twitter › SCVSHERIFF

#RyeFire as of 7 a.m. - 7,000 acres, 15% containment. Thank you @VCFD @CALFIRE_PIO @LACoFDPIO for everything!twitter.com/lacofdpi…

45 minutes ago

 

[margarita25]

"VCAPCD Smoke Advisory for Thursday December 7th 2017*

The Thomas Fire started on the evening of Monday, December 4th, 2017 near Highway 150 north of Santa Paula. As of 7 a.m., it has now burned 96,000 acres and is burning structures in the city of Ventura and near Highway 33. This fire is wind driven from a strong Santa Ana wind event and is causing heavy smoke in the plume downwind of the fire in and around the cities of Ventura, Santa Paula, and Ojai. The offshore winds will continue for the next couple of days and may shift to onshore for brief periods allowing for smoke to move into inland areas.

*

Additionally, many other fires are burning in Southern California. The smoke from these fires can impact the eastern parts of Ventura County.

*

Smoke impacts from the devastating fires will be widespread. Visibility may be limited in some areas due to smoke and dust. Air quality should be considered unhealthy in areas directly impacted by smoke.*In the Ojai Valley and surrounding areas, the air quality is very unhealthful, even reaching hazardous levels at times.*Hazardous is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected". Also, all of the coastal plains are experiencing unhealthy air at times. If you are in an area directly impacted by the smoke, please exercise extreme caution and avoid vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors. Run your air conditioner if you have one. Keep the filter clean and fresh air intake closed. Close all windows and doors that lead outside to prevent bringing additional smoke inside. If this is not an option or it becomes extremely hot inside, please seek alternate shelter.

*

For information regarding the fire, evacuation notices, road closures…etc…please check readyventuracounty.org or the Twitter feed for the Ventura County Fire Department Public Information Officer, @vcfd_pio. Please check our website, vcapcd.org, or our Twitter feed for the latest updates (@vcapcd). For more information or concerns, please call VCAPCD at (805) 662-6960. Thank you."

http://www.vcapcd.org/

 

[DakotaMayi]

The only sleuther I can think of in Cali is gitana. WHY is my mind drawing a blank right now. I'm all over the place.

My friend is leaving Santa Barbara as we speak.

Quoted myself but I just saw gitana is ok.

Thinking of the rest of you on margarita's list! :heartbeat:

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The only sleuther I can think of in Cali is gitana. WHY is my mind drawing a blank right now. I'm all over the place.

My friend is leaving Santa Barbara as we speak.

Isn't CarlK in CA as well?

 

[DakotaMayi]

Isn't CarlK in CA as well?

Yes! Checking on him.... I'll be back...

 

[DakotaMayi]

Yes! Checking on him.... I'll be back...

I was sure I saw Carl posts on my FB newsfeed today but I was incorrect, it was yesterday. He is close by I believe.

CarlK - Let us know you're good!

 

[FindHG]

Hi Byo. Good to see you and thank you for being here for IQ. It's how I learned of her.

http://www.cnn.com/specials/live-video-1. live PC
notes: (missed a bunch, paraphrased and incomplete)

2 fixed wings available
creek fire 10% 12805 acres
15 destroyed 15 damaged
1680 involved with fighting fire
very threatening environment
Rec centers available
lausd.net for info re?
296 highest rating possible for 34 yrs brush fire index THIS EVENT IS NOT OVER
clear roads no parking on street in areas of potential fire
lafd.org
FD drones will be up doing damage assessment
~
dir G: since oct 8 all stretched all cali, with fire wind events
need vigilance from public
70 strike teams, anticipate problems with winds, have reached out to Montana, Utah, Nevada...
prepositioned
~
We are a long way, worse may be yet to come
Need Absolute Vigilance re conditions and evacuation requests
~
Dist. Council. few homes damaged and destroyed, nobody hurt, don't sneak back in. Developers leave, please, more diplomatically and clear, get the hell out until evacuation order is lifted.***
~
By noon Sunday, crews rest and pre-positioned.
Being extremely cautious on letting ppl back in, based on experience in the North
Northeastern flank being addressed
Drones up when planes down, to look for hot spots
~
Developers operating bringing equipment as if nothing is going on and encouraging them to cease...
in surrounding areas
20 in the city and 10 in the county destroyed
skrbl destroyed missed it
campus open, classes canceled

 

[margarita25]

Quoted myself but I just saw gitana is ok.

Thinking of the rest of you on margarita's list! :heartbeat:

I think I might have missed someone...need to go back.