"Welcome to last year."
August 14, 2016 6:21 PM Subscribe
Last summer, the Rocky Fire, followed by the Valley Fire, followed by the Jerusalem Fire, tore through Lake County, California.
Yesterday, the Clayton Fire began. Now, just over 24 hours later, the fire is at 2000 acres with 5% containment, and has destroyed most of Lower Lake. Thousands are evacuating in a small community that is primarily low-income families, and there are reports that the elementary and high school are burning.
Once again, the traditional news organisations are less useful than Twitter in distributing updates, videos, and devastating pictures. Many people following the fire on Twitter have had to teach the traditional media how to use Twitter.
The region is about 90 minutes north of Napa Valley, and is constantly hot and dry, with unpredictable wind. Interestingly, it's filling in the gaps left by last summer's three major fires, though there is the danger that the fire will re-burn areas recovering from the Rocky Fire.
Because wildfires love irony, the local Habitat for Humanity office will need to be rebuilt.
Previously. Previouslyer.
The region is about 90 minutes north of Napa Valley, and is constantly hot and dry, with unpredictable wind. Interestingly, it's filling in the gaps left by last summer's three major fires, though there is the danger that the fire will re-burn areas recovering from the Rocky Fire.
Because wildfires love irony, the local Habitat for Humanity office will need to be rebuilt.
Previously. Previouslyer.
Be safe everyone.
posted by Fizz at 6:27 PM on August 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Fizz at 6:27 PM on August 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
We just had the Sand Fire near us in SoCal and it's really really scary how fast these things get out of control. It prompted us to recheck emergency plans and supplies (especially for pets), which is a thing we've had to do more and more frequently. California is not doing so well lately.
posted by erratic meatsack at 6:34 PM on August 14, 2016
posted by erratic meatsack at 6:34 PM on August 14, 2016
My sister and I just left my parents at HVL so I can make a flight to the east coast. Passed a bunch of firetrucks and there are helicopters with big buckets flying overhead constantly. The power went out last night but it's back although the internet is still out. We could see big smoke plumes yesterday, gone this morning but back this afternoon. Can't really smell it yet. Wind is pretty quiet in HVL/Middletown at least. Roads are quiet through Napa. It's insanely hot and dry. Thanks for the links guster4lovers..hope your family is safe. Details are hard to come by. Feel so bad for Lower Lake.
posted by DarthDuckie at 6:48 PM on August 14, 2016
posted by DarthDuckie at 6:48 PM on August 14, 2016
Yeah, Adridne, my parents have had their power cut several times in the last 24 hours. Right now, they have power but have been without internet, TV or phone since early this morning. PG&E learned last year to preemptively cut power to places affected by the fire.
There was also a tweet that said all 16 patients in the hospital had been safely moved. But it's very likely the hospital will be destroyed.
posted by guster4lovers at 6:51 PM on August 14, 2016
There was also a tweet that said all 16 patients in the hospital had been safely moved. But it's very likely the hospital will be destroyed.
posted by guster4lovers at 6:51 PM on August 14, 2016
Looks like the high school is still standing, but is just about surrounded. There were reports that the gym was burning.
posted by guster4lovers at 6:53 PM on August 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by guster4lovers at 6:53 PM on August 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I live in Calistoga, so I'm about 30 miles south. It could easily, and eerily be seen from the coast yesterday. Oh, Lake County, my heart breaks for you. This year is already so scary. Just look at that incident map.
After years of drought, then tons of rain in spring, the grass is tall (and brown and extremely flammable now, of course) and the landscape is littered with dead trees...it's terrifying how much worse this could get in this heat and wind.
As mentioned above, the Hospital is closed and has been evacuated. Looks like they might lose it.
Crud. The light here is fire colored and I can smell it. I'm so sad for all these people.
posted by metasav at 6:59 PM on August 14, 2016 [4 favorites]
After years of drought, then tons of rain in spring, the grass is tall (and brown and extremely flammable now, of course) and the landscape is littered with dead trees...it's terrifying how much worse this could get in this heat and wind.
As mentioned above, the Hospital is closed and has been evacuated. Looks like they might lose it.
Crud. The light here is fire colored and I can smell it. I'm so sad for all these people.
posted by metasav at 6:59 PM on August 14, 2016 [4 favorites]
As a public school teacher, I'm so sad for people who live in Lower Lake and stand to lose both their home and their classroom to this fire.
Twitter is reporting the fire is starting to move into the Rocky burn scar.
posted by guster4lovers at 7:06 PM on August 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Twitter is reporting the fire is starting to move into the Rocky burn scar.
posted by guster4lovers at 7:06 PM on August 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Valley fire was caused by someone who didn't know what they were doing hooking up electrical service to a hot tub without supervision or pulling a permit (IE: illegally).
posted by Mitheral at 7:09 PM on August 14, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 7:09 PM on August 14, 2016 [7 favorites]
It honestly doesn't matter what starts these fires. At this point, under these conditions, they're inevitable.
posted by fshgrl at 8:15 PM on August 14, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by fshgrl at 8:15 PM on August 14, 2016 [7 favorites]
The last couple weeks I could see smoke from the Soberanes fire down in Big Sur creeping up the East Bay hills from the south (I work on the Peninsula). Today I was catching up on the Cal Fire site and saw the news about the Clayton fire and for a minute I thought I'd clicked the wrong tab and was reading about the Valley Fire from last year and just, fuck, they cannot catch a break.
Louisiana's under water and we're burning. Hello, climate hell.
posted by rtha at 8:21 PM on August 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
Louisiana's under water and we're burning. Hello, climate hell.
posted by rtha at 8:21 PM on August 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is what it looks like just outside of Fresno.
posted by The Power Nap at 8:41 PM on August 14, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by The Power Nap at 8:41 PM on August 14, 2016 [8 favorites]
Ugh. Is there any part of California that has not been on fire the past ten years or so?
posted by freakazoid at 9:18 PM on August 14, 2016
posted by freakazoid at 9:18 PM on August 14, 2016
My heart is going out to every firefighter and emergency responder battling these fires right now.
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:45 PM on August 14, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:45 PM on August 14, 2016 [4 favorites]
There is a Facebook group for reporting pets lost or found in the Lake County fires.
posted by trip and a half at 4:20 AM on August 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by trip and a half at 4:20 AM on August 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Saturday night I ran into some old friends I hadn't seen in years. They had big news, they are moving away, because she has been offered a dream teaching job. They are leaving this week. Where to? California. Oh, what part? Lake County, CA.
I was unfamiliar with this place so they started telling me all about it. They didn't say anything about the fires. Dear god I hope they do know.
posted by elizilla at 6:38 AM on August 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
I was unfamiliar with this place so they started telling me all about it. They didn't say anything about the fires. Dear god I hope they do know.
posted by elizilla at 6:38 AM on August 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seems so unfair. Can't Lake County catch a break? The entire North Bay has been breathing the smoke trapped under this layer of fog we've had for about a week from the fires, along with the 2nd year in a row of devastation for these people. Praying for a safe and quick outcome for all.
Idle thought: if we could just trade or share weather with Louisiana, we could put out the fires and drain off their floods in the flick of a magic weather wand. Anybody got one?
posted by Lynsey at 10:45 AM on August 15, 2016
Idle thought: if we could just trade or share weather with Louisiana, we could put out the fires and drain off their floods in the flick of a magic weather wand. Anybody got one?
posted by Lynsey at 10:45 AM on August 15, 2016
It was due to burn, it hadn't burned in decades. They'll ge a long break now. Long enough for everyone to forget and relax building codes and complain about clearing brush probably.
posted by fshgrl at 12:09 PM on August 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by fshgrl at 12:09 PM on August 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seems so unfair. Can't Lake County catch a break?
Lake County has been catching bad breaks for many, many years now. It's so unfortunate, because it's a really beautiful place. It used to have a strong-ish tourist economy and used to be more of a destination, but that just isn't the case anymore. The increasing poverty/decline in tourism seems chicken and egg.
In any case, the most interesting thing to me about the county's Economic Development plan is that a whopping 37% of Lake County residents are "self-employed," as opposed to the national average of 10%. I know social workers who have worked with Lake county services, and one thing they're struggling with is an already bad, and growing, problem with addiction. I mean, it seems highly unlikely that people involved in the drug trade would self-report as "self-employed," but that's immediately where my mind went. Then again, in a relatively sparsely populated county with relatively little infrastructure (and, dammit, what exists keeps literally burning to the ground), I guess over a third of the population has to find a way to employ themselves in order to make ends meet?
So sad. My heart breaks for the people who live there, many of whom were struggling to begin with.
posted by mudpuppie at 12:49 PM on August 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
Lake County has been catching bad breaks for many, many years now. It's so unfortunate, because it's a really beautiful place. It used to have a strong-ish tourist economy and used to be more of a destination, but that just isn't the case anymore. The increasing poverty/decline in tourism seems chicken and egg.
In any case, the most interesting thing to me about the county's Economic Development plan is that a whopping 37% of Lake County residents are "self-employed," as opposed to the national average of 10%. I know social workers who have worked with Lake county services, and one thing they're struggling with is an already bad, and growing, problem with addiction. I mean, it seems highly unlikely that people involved in the drug trade would self-report as "self-employed," but that's immediately where my mind went. Then again, in a relatively sparsely populated county with relatively little infrastructure (and, dammit, what exists keeps literally burning to the ground), I guess over a third of the population has to find a way to employ themselves in order to make ends meet?
So sad. My heart breaks for the people who live there, many of whom were struggling to begin with.
posted by mudpuppie at 12:49 PM on August 15, 2016 [3 favorites]
Officials just announced that they have a suspect in custody. They've charged him with 17 counts of arson, and suspect that he started the Clayton Fire too.
posted by guster4lovers at 8:39 PM on August 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by guster4lovers at 8:39 PM on August 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
80,000 Evacuated As Wildfire Burns Through Southern California
A state of emergency has been declared for San Bernardino County in Southern California where a fast-moving fire that started Tuesday put more than 80,000 people under mandatory evacuation as it scorched some 30,000 acres.posted by homunculus at 6:11 PM on August 17, 2016
Yeah, that Blue Cut fire. Fuck. In about 24 hours it went from "reported" to 25K acres. Four percent contained. Firefighters running out of words to describe how difficult the terrain is ( and wildland/backcountry Western US firefighters have a lot of words for the terrain). Another "drive down the freeway of Hell no we mean that pretty literally yeah" experience for a lot of people.
On fire or under water, stay as safe as you can. All the good feelings to the survivors, refugees, rescuers.
posted by rtha at 8:24 PM on August 17, 2016
On fire or under water, stay as safe as you can. All the good feelings to the survivors, refugees, rescuers.
posted by rtha at 8:24 PM on August 17, 2016
Cal Fire Firefighters Fight For Higher Pay
posted by kliuless at 10:10 PM on August 29, 2016
The union is using the Blue Cut Fire as just one example, where firefighters from across the state were working side by side – doing the same exhausting work, but with unequal compensation.California firefighters stretched thin as blazes sweep state
“All the local fire departments in the state of California work a 56-hour work week. Our members work a 72-hour work week. That’s three days on straight, four days off. Right now, we have members that have been stuck on duty for 24-33 days because of the fires. What they’re getting paid is one third less than their counterparts in local government,” said Tim Edwards of Cal Fire Local 2881 Rank and File Director.
posted by kliuless at 10:10 PM on August 29, 2016
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posted by guster4lovers at 6:22 PM on August 14, 2016 [4 favorites]