Northern California Fires (Los Angeles, Santa Rosa, Truckee: home, inspections, train)

[Beth56]

Anyone know how the conditions are in Madera County, Coarsegold area (Hwy 41)? I have family driving up from Los Angeles that way today and am worried about the fire and road conditions.

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by Beth56

Anyone know how the conditions are in Madera County, Coarsegold area (Hwy 41)? I have family driving up from Los Angeles that way today and am worried about the fire and road conditions.

There's a fairly large fire in the Oakhurst area, but everyone should realize that the CHP isn't going to allow anyone to get in trouble on the roads and will close them as necessary. here is CDF's latest on the Oliver fire.

Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit: 15 fires have been reported for more than 6,000 acres. The Oliver Fire is located in the Ponderosa Basin and is 2,000 acres and 20% contained. Click Oliver Fire for more specific information regarding the fires, closures and evacuations within this incident. The Madera-Mariposa-Merced Fire Information Number is (209) 966-4784.

[MHarrington]

I know what the cause of the fires are - namely, the ridiculously dry seasons that have been plaguing this state - but why have the seasons been so dang dry?!? Is the climate changing?

[Beth56]

Originally Posted by DMenscha

There's a fairly large fire in the Oakhurst area, but everyone should realize that the CHP isn't going to allow anyone to get in trouble on the roads and will close them as necessary. here is CDF's latest on the Oliver fire.

Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit: 15 fires have been reported for more than 6,000 acres. The Oliver Fire is located in the Ponderosa Basin and is 2,000 acres and 20% contained. Click Oliver Fire for more specific information regarding the fires, closures and evacuations within this incident. The Madera-Mariposa-Merced Fire Information Number is (209) 966-4784.

Thank you for the information. Very much appreciated. Beth

[shroom]

Beth,
Here's a link to fire info posted in the community forum Yosemitearea.com/forums, which is based in Oakhurst and has several active & local posters: 2008 Fire Season in the Yosemite Area - Page 15 - Yosemite Area Forums

Per the latest info from CDF/US Forest Service, Hwy 41 & other roads are open (but the Central Valley smog & smoke is bad).

[Beth56]

Originally Posted by shroom

Beth,
Here's a link to fire info posted in the community forum Yosemitearea.com/forums, which is based in Oakhurst and has several active & local posters: 2008 Fire Season in the Yosemite Area - Page 15 - Yosemite Area Forums

Per the latest info from CDF/US Forest Service, Hwy 41 & other roads are open (but the Central Valley smog & smoke is bad).

Thank you! Beth

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by MHarrington

I know what the cause of the fires are - namely, the ridiculously dry seasons that have been plaguing this state - but why have the seasons been so dang dry?!? Is the climate changing?

Global warming.

[MHarrington]

Originally Posted by norcalmom101

Global warming.

So global warming is the cause of all these dry seasons here?

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by MHarrington

I know what the cause of the fires are - namely, the ridiculously dry seasons that have been plaguing this state - but why have the seasons been so dang dry?!? Is the climate changing?

First, one has to realize that fire is a natural part of the ecosystems involved. Humans tend to look upon wildfire as a disaster, but it was here before we arrived, it will be here after we're gone, and it doesn't care about our presence while we're here.

Secondly, we're just coming out of a wet cycle of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. A lot of homes have been built in the hinterlands that weren't there 30 or 40 years ago during the last episode of successive drought years. So it isn't just that there are more fires, but more fires that endanger human dwellings.

Thirdly, a lot of this land was developed by clearing it in a way that allowed a tremendous amount of brush-tinder to accumulate beneath the overhead tree canopy. Where there's fuel, there'll be fire. Where there isn't, fire will have a more difficult time achieving a sustained burn.

[happ]

Weather forecasters are keeping watch on more possible thunderstorms in Northern California this weekend as heat & humidity move into California & the PacificNW. This could mean more dry lightning storms which is exactly what we do not want

The smoke has been bad in SoCal even though the nearest fire is nearly 300 miles away in Monterey County near Big Sur. The wind should shift out of the south this weekend & blow the smoke back up into NorCal [sorry about that