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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: oldbike54 on September 10, 2020, 05:44:30 AM

Title: west coast fires
Post by: oldbike54 on September 10, 2020, 05:44:30 AM
 You folks out there stay safe , we are thinking of you .

Dusty
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: wirespokes on September 10, 2020, 08:10:00 AM
The guzzi camp-out next weekend is cancelled because of fires there. There's one in the hills ten miles away. Scary seeing big flaming red spots on the hill. I'm in town so not much danger here, but at times I haven't been able to see landmarks a mile away. Spooky how it's dark mid day and the sun is fiery red.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Ryan on September 10, 2020, 09:07:10 AM
I read about towns destroyed by wildfire in other places. I feel bad for those people, but there is distance to soften the impact. I have been to, through, stopped in, fished around, and been a patron of local businesses in the towns destroyed by Oregon's fires. It is much more personal, and much more devastating.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: ampm7 on September 10, 2020, 11:10:20 AM
We've been sort of lucky here in San Diego county except for the Japatul fire. We used to go riding through there quite often through Lyons Valley to Pine Valley to old 80. I don't go down that way much anymore and I just hope the few houses that are in those valleys came out OK. Expect another weekend of 100 deg temps. Not much fun riding in those conditions.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Tusayan on September 10, 2020, 11:24:08 AM
Expect another weekend of 100 deg temps. Not much fun riding in those conditions.

Over the last few days I rode 2200 miles (1100 out and back) along the US west coast, dodging smoke from numerous fires, and believe it or not was cold more than I was hot.  Yesterday for a while in central California I was wearing four layers on the bike including a jacket.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 10, 2020, 12:21:08 PM
as most of you have likely heard yesterday it was damned eery out here. it has a sort of pompei, end of days vibe. the sky was so dark outside when i woke up that i thought that my clock had somehow missed time. it stayed that way all day. the street lights stayed on. very spooky. the weather forecasters on the local news explained that the particulate matter from the fires north of us ascended into the upper atmosphere and then (in our area - the bay) the fog rolled in. this combination caused the sun to be entirely blotted out and the sky to have a dull orange tone.

today we seem to back to our new regular - dull grey (a bit orange) skies and high level particulate alerts for the air.

https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/m/i/mAQI/a10/cC0#10.83/37.764/-122.2617

of course there are still a few people riding bicycles (oh, the foolishness of the young) and walking around without any sort of mask. i have friends north of the bay and so far they seem safe from the fires but not the contaminated air. one of the things that they are talking about is the possibility/likelihood that the air around them also has particles of poison oak in it. so, the idea of not wearing any sort of mask is idiocy even if you are are one those deeply dimwitted - 19 deniers.

i have asthma and for some reason my breathing attacks were worse last week but yesterday and today (so far) not so much. i am trying to stay indoors as much as possible.

all of this is complicated and multi-layered.  you don't want to congregate evacuees too close together cuz -.  they are not using prison labor ($1.00 an hour and a CA tradition) to fight the fires cuz -. this means it will tqke longer to put out the fires. the fires stresses the state budget at a time when it is already being pushed to it limits - cuz -. the heat waves we have been having here already make it difficult for some folks (seniors) but this spate of fires amps up everything.

this period right now is only the beginning of our 'normal' fire season which usually runs from mid-sept. through oct. this means that we should expect more of this. for folks with kids it is especially difficult. the kids are already ping-ponging off the walls with the corona lockdown stuff and keeping them indoors (or outdoors and masked for limited periods of time) is absurdly difficult.

we muddle on.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 10, 2020, 12:35:01 PM
as most of you have likely heard yesterday it was damned eery out here. it has a sort of pompei, end of days vibe. the sky was so dark outside when i woke up that i thought that my clock had somehow missed time.

read this:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/10/us-west-fire-season-california-oregon-climate-action
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: kirkemon on September 10, 2020, 01:06:27 PM
Although, I'm not in danger, I smell smoke here in the Hollywood Hills. My sister lives up in Vacaville and they had a much worse situation. Stay safe! Pray for rain!

Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 10, 2020, 01:22:23 PM
... Stay safe! Pray for rain!

thanks kirk
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: pehayes on September 10, 2020, 02:18:06 PM
SF Bay Area.  This  morning, this is what my bedroom Venetian blinds look like.   Probably similar to the inside of my lungs.   :sad:

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA


(https://i.ibb.co/vhXXgZd/IMG-4638.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vhXXgZd)

(https://i.ibb.co/wwxXgkK/IMG-4639.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wwxXgkK)
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Tom on September 10, 2020, 02:20:36 PM
I got word from the Jenkins, Gary & Gerry (former OR MGNOC state reps) that they're okay.  They with the OR club sponsored the last 2 MGNOC National Rallies in OR.  They downsized from their property in Canby to a home in Silverton.  They had to evacuate.   :tongue:  Hope all is well with the Moto Guzzi family.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 10, 2020, 02:27:02 PM
SF Bay Area.  This  morning, this is what my bedroom Venetian blinds look like.   Probably similar to the inside of my lungs.   :sad:

Patrick Hayes
...

yeah, i think about this when i go to my car. the car is black but the ash covering makes it appear to be a bit of a dark grey.  all of that crap on my car is the stuff i am inhaling if i go out unmasked.  even with an n95 mask there are some micro-particles that filter through. mmmm delish - edible air.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Guido Valvole on September 10, 2020, 03:39:20 PM
A fair amount of gritty ash here in Martinez CA. Gray and dreary from smoke, but 65F out beats 95-105 of a few days ago. Yesterday was the worst - when I went to get groceries around 8:20am it looked like maybe 5:30am. Dark and red, like just before sunrise. Except the sun was up. This is from when I got back around 9. 11 stops down from "bright sunny day" when usually at that hour it's maybe a stop (50% less light than bsd). Not likely to have rain for a while, alas.


(https://i.ibb.co/4WwzYc6/05601-mars.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4WwzYc6)
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: cloudbase on September 10, 2020, 04:54:40 PM
The Yakima River railroad bridge.

(https://komonews.com/resources/media/e80a4e62-152c-4cdb-9536-8c8ba31f5db4-large16x9_119087482_348945536461139_7219048391733226263_n.jpg?1599587296081)
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Tom on September 10, 2020, 04:57:38 PM
Hokey Smokes!  Batman!
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: 80CX100 on September 10, 2020, 06:05:28 PM
     It looks and sounds horrific  :cry:

     I've never thought of the toxins in an exterior fire smoke before, but the poison oak, wood preservatives etc, etc, sounds nasty.

     If you don't have access to decent protective masks, wet towels or T shirts tied up like a kerchief might be worth considering for the next while, if you''re in a real bad area.

     Stay safe and take care good luck

     Kelly
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 10, 2020, 06:12:40 PM
The Yakima River railroad bridge.

(https://komonews.com/resources/media/e80a4e62-152c-4cdb-9536-8c8ba31f5db4-large16x9_119087482_348945536461139_7219048391733226263_n.jpg?1599587296081)

YIPES!
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 10, 2020, 08:23:34 PM
I got word from the Jenkins, Gary & Gerry (former OR MGNOC state reps) that they're okay.  They with the OR club sponsored the last 2 MGNOC National Rallies in OR.  They downsized from their property in Canby to a home in Silverton.  They had to evacuate.   :tongue:  Hope all is well with the Moto Guzzi family.

just saw video from stayton, oregon (below salem, just off 22) on today's democracy now. HOLY CRAP!  the sky is blood red in downtown. very creepy.  i would run like hell.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Yeahoo Whoyah on September 11, 2020, 01:54:42 PM
Stuck at home. Motorcycles garaged.  Hazardous air quality.  At least I have a home and a garage, many have lost both.     
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 11, 2020, 06:16:35 PM
Stuck at home. Motorcycles garaged.  Hazardous air quality.  At least I have a home and a garage, many have lost both.   

i live in an urban environment and that comes with its own problems but i don't have to worry about raging forest fires sweeping in and endangering my family and destroying everything i own. it is heartbreaking to hear the stories of people who have lost everything. last week there was a story about a woman who left home in her car just before the fire hit her neighborhood. her husband and son were due to follow in another car. she waited at the checkpoint for  them and when they didn't show she turned around to get them. they found all 3 of them dead, huddled together in a homemade brick bunker, under the house.  i was bothered recently when i saw a shot of someone's burnt out garage. inside were two long forties era sedans and a corvette stingray. all just shells. i reminded myself that it sucks to lose your old 'vette but the trauma associated with the loss of a loved can never be completely undone.

one of these fires was started when a couple invited their friends to a "gender reveal party" (i had no idea what that was) in a park.  they lit off 2 smoke grenades in the field next to where they were celebrating. apparently the smoke burns either pink or blue...yay... the grenades started the grass on fire and they couldn't put it out.

humans!? we are so frail and foolish.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Tom on September 11, 2020, 06:23:15 PM
For that one, it looks like they'll be held accountable for that fire.  Big time problems.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: davedel44 on September 11, 2020, 06:41:36 PM
Good Luck and God Bless.  Hope ya'll fare well.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Murray on September 11, 2020, 08:17:37 PM
For that one, it looks like they'll be held accountable for that fire.  Big time problems.

Not by any means suggesting its OK but that is a very very small percentage i.e. under 1% of the overall fires the vast majority of them started by dry lighting.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Tusayan on September 11, 2020, 08:42:44 PM
Not by any means suggesting its OK but that is a very very small percentage i.e. under 1% of the overall fires the vast majority of them started by dry lighting.

The Dolan Fire in Monterey was the result of intentional arson.  Much worse than a dumb error. That one’s currently at 113,000 acres.  I was watching its progression while riding my recent ride along the coast as Highway 1 is currently closed in the area and nowhere else.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Moparnut72 on September 11, 2020, 11:40:46 PM
The guzzi camp-out next weekend is cancelled because of fires there. There's one in the hills ten miles away. Scary seeing big flaming red spots on the hill. I'm in town so not much danger here, but at times I haven't been able to see landmarks a mile away. Spooky how it's dark mid day and the sun is fiery red.

What campout are you referring to?
kk
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Wild1_OR on September 12, 2020, 02:17:48 AM
The Yakima River railroad bridge.

It breaks my heart. The trusses on the bridge dated back to 1899.  :cry:

I'm less than 10 miles from the nearest evacuation zone, but I feel certain it won't reach here. With recent temperatures climbing to 90 degrees, I had to choose between running the A/C and inhaling the smoke or leaving it off with the windows closed and dealing with extreme heat. I chose the A/C and drinking plenty of water to reduce the coughing.

There's a large police presence in Estacada. Apparently, law enforcement found fuel canisters, so there's an investigation now.

Update: Well that changed quickly. Level 1 evacuation is now 4 miles from me. Portland is bracing for it to potentially hit the outer regions of the city.

(https://i.ibb.co/LYfwH1d/Screenshot-20200912-015514-Chrome.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LYfwH1d)
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Wild1_OR on September 12, 2020, 02:25:08 AM
The guzzi camp-out next weekend is cancelled because of fires there. There's one in the hills ten miles away. Scary seeing big flaming red spots on the hill. I'm in town so not much danger here, but at times I haven't been able to see landmarks a mile away. Spooky how it's dark mid day and the sun is fiery red.

On a side note, I recently purchased my Moto Guzzi and I'm waiting for it to arrive. I have the club's website bookmarked and plan to join. Is there a thread for the club on the forum?
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: wirespokes on September 12, 2020, 09:26:24 AM
What campout are you referring to?
kk
It would have been this weekend at Humbug campground ten or fifteen miles north of Detroit near Breitenbush.

Wild1 - Is this is your first Guzzi?  What did you get?
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Wild1_OR on September 12, 2020, 09:47:16 AM
It would have been this weekend at Humbug campground ten or fifteen miles north of Detroit near Breitenbush.

Wild1 - Is this is your first Guzzi?  What did you get?

Yes, it's my first Moto Guzzi and my first motorcycle. I don't want to hijack this important thread, so here's my story and the bike that I purchased:

https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=107204.0
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 12, 2020, 11:00:49 AM
while we are here talking about this i think it is important to reinforce the concepts about the danger of micro-particulates that we inhale and also the dangers of ultra-fine particulates. i don't want to get too pedantic with this but its important. the dangers from micro-particulates are widely known and extend to a variety of lung diseases including cancer. the problems with the untra-fine particles are less well known pubicly but they are equally as dangerous.

"There is an even finer threshold of PM, known as ultrafine particulates, that is about 100 nanometers, or PM0.1. Regulations do not even exist for PM0.1, which are far smaller than the regulated PM10 and PM2.5 particle classes.4
 

The tiny size of PM allows them to penetrate vulnerable tissues: in fact, by moving from lung tissue into circulation, they can affect the ability of the blood to flow freely, the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, and even the health of cells themselves.8 They can cause oxidative stress and inflammation.9 Ultrafine PM0.1 particles can even penetrate and damage the mitochondria, the energy powerhouses within every cell, and also cause damage via oxidative stress to our DNA.10 ..."

https://www.quicksilverscientific.com/blog/small-but-dangerous-air/

please, if you are in a zone where there is a possibility of inhalable particulates from fires do not go outside unmasked and limit your time outdoors as much as possible. remember too if your pets have lungs they too are also being affected.  it is stupefying for me to see the numbers of people outside around me who are going unmasked. cloth masks do very little to help and n95 masks do little to restrict the ultrafine particulates. try to stay out of it. i know it is difficult but the damage that you do to your body now can affect you for the rest of your life.

ok, pedantic mode off.
thanks
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Moparnut72 on September 12, 2020, 11:57:19 AM
I live in Quincy Ca just a mile or so from where the Claremont Fire started from a lightning strike. It merged with the Bear Fire just a few miles away and has made it to Oroville several miles away, about 35. We are experiencing extremely bad smoky conditions. We have the worst air in the nation with an Air Quality Index at 671. Visibility is probably about 500 yds. It is even a bit smoky in the house. A breeze is predicted for this afternoon, ti will probably a little better but will be blowing smoke in from the fire. Stay safe all.
kk
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: roadventure on September 12, 2020, 11:57:50 AM
SF Bay Area.  This  morning, this is what my bedroom Venetian blinds look like.   Probably similar to the inside of my lungs.   :sad:

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

You can clean your window blinds.  You can not clean your lungs.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Zoom Zoom on September 12, 2020, 01:12:02 PM
Considering we are experiencing haze here in Ohio as a result of these fires, I can only imagine what you folks are going through closer to this. Take care out there.

ZZ
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Tom on September 12, 2020, 05:57:19 PM
"Black Lung Disease".
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: oldbike54 on September 12, 2020, 06:38:25 PM
 The upper level winds are bringing the smoke across the country a couple hundred miles South of Muskogee to just West of us then the wind turns North and comes right over us . Can't imagine how bad this is where the fires are burning .

Dusty
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: DesertPilot on September 13, 2020, 12:12:08 PM
My part of the Bay Area has been spared the fires, but I have friends who got evacuated for the CZU Lightning Complex, which burned through some of my favorite riding roads, and this second round of fires is like the end of the world.  875,000 acres for the August Complex -- almost twice the size of the Mendocino Complex of 2018, which used to be the largest fire in the state's history -- with the SCU and LNU Lightning Complexes poised to charge into 2nd and 3rd place.  This quite boggles the mind.  Even here, dozens of miles from the nearest source, smoke has darkened the sky so much people have keeping their headlights on.  My wife and I are holding off doing anything outdoors... and sending all our wishes and prayers to the firefighters and friends whose homes are threatened.

The worst thing is, with rainfall patterns changing as global temperatures rise, this might turn out to be the new normal :(
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Ryan on September 13, 2020, 01:20:07 PM
In Oregon, the White River fire was the result of lightning. The others started from power lines being knocked down by falling tree limbs, transformers blowing up, cars catching fire on the roadway, people parking cars with hot catalytic converters over high, dry grass, and arson. Only 25 percent or so of fires here are caused by nature. So if we would convert to underground utilities, keep our cars in decent repair, not park like idiots, and not act like idiots in general, we could eliminate 75 percent of Oregon's wild land fires.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: wirespokes on September 13, 2020, 03:18:09 PM
You've got a point there Ryan.

Another thing to consider is forest management. I seem to recall the north american natives (Indians) actually set fires to clear underbrush. But that was with native old growth, not what we've got today. We've mowed it all down and are left with forests that can't withstand fires.

I believe forest management practices need to change. It's more difficult and costs more to thin a forest, rather than clear-cut, but I think that's the way to go.

Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Ryan on September 13, 2020, 03:27:53 PM
Yes, the forest are no longer managed or maintained. It is interesting that fires on private timber lands that have had debris removed and some thinning tend to stay out of the crowns, move more slowly, and can often be contained. Public lands where debris builds up, nothing is thinned, and very little is done to "manage" the forest have more to burn, the flames get into the crowns, and when they go up, all hell is unleashed. When your livelihood depends on healthy trees, you keep your trees healthy.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Wild1_OR on September 13, 2020, 03:39:46 PM
The following is a detailed study which provides excellent information:

https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/science-update-15.pdf
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: DesertPilot on September 13, 2020, 09:44:10 PM
I used to blame these things on poor forest management too, but that poor forest management has been going on with little variation for many decades, and the fires of recent years, this year in particular, are so far out of scope that I no longer believe this explanation holds water.  Forest management hasn't changed.  The fires most certainly have, growing more frequent, closer together, and much much larger.  I suspect that as climate and rainfall patterns continue to change -- you do not want to know what some of the numbers are for the Sierras -- much land that is currently forested here in the West will no longer be able to support forests and will go to grassland or brush.

People will adapt.  We're tough that way.  But ride those forests while you can, and take pictures for your grandchildren.

If all goes as planned, I'll be picking up my new V85 this week to replace the one that was done in by that lad with the SUV and a lax attitude toward stop signs.  I may ride out for a look at some of the older burn areas as a way of racking up miles for the 900 mile break-in period.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Demar on September 13, 2020, 10:22:15 PM
I'm no climate expert but there has been a lot of fuel in the Sierras just waiting to burn. The attached picture is from 2016 when they estimate 29 million pine trees were killed from the bark beetle infestation. I live in San Mateo in the middle of the Bay Area bad air. It's not good but not as bad as the worst places in CA, OR and WA. The air is bad, plenty of headaches to go around. My daughter has a cabin in the Sierra foothills about 3 hours NE of here. She lost 5-6 pine trees 50-80 feet tall. There were dead trees all over. We had them removed as did many others but there are places too steep to remove easily. They were just cut down so they didn't fall on anyone but left there. I'm sure most of the Sierras have the trees still standing deep in the forests. These trees have had 4 years to dry out. The pictures are not nice Autumn foliage.... they are dead pine trees.

From the 2016 article.....

"She added: "The trees that are starting to die and have already been hit by bark beetles won't recover. They will die. It's more fuel for wildfires."

The beetles are attacking coniferous and hardwood trees; Ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, and pinyon pines are the most impacted. Trees in the southern Sierras, Fresno, Madera and Tuolumne counties, and some of the coastal areas near Monterey have been especially hard-hit. But Head said:"They're everywhere and in almost every county."

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/bark-beetles-California-dead-trees-fire-risk-7390544.php


(https://i.ibb.co/qdjbNn9/920x920.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qdjbNn9)


(https://i.ibb.co/SJBgmBg/Five-years-of-drought-prevent-pines-from-the-invading-Bark-Beetles-More-than-102-million-trees-have.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SJBgmBg)

(https://i.ibb.co/zGPbzVd/bark-beetle-12345.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zGPbzVd)

Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Rhodan on September 14, 2020, 12:22:42 AM
Thanks for the thread Dusty; I've been reading through it to see how the other guzzistas are doing. 

Here in WA, things will get better over the next few days unless you're by an active fire.  The winds have changed and brought in some cooler, moister air.  The down side is more smoke as the offshore plumes blew back onshore.  The upside is better weather for people fighting these things.  Hats off to those charging into harm's way to save people, animals, property, and the places we love.  Condolences to those who have lost any of those things over the last month.


Wild OR, thanks for that link and stay safe out there.
You're going to love your v7iii.  I have the yellow sibling.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on September 14, 2020, 06:02:47 AM
The smoke is so thick up in British Columbia we have to keep the windows closed and it dropped the temperature.
Please be careful down there.
Not to be outdone someone set alight to our 100 year old creosote saturated wharf that's really added some toxins
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Muzz on September 14, 2020, 06:19:12 AM
We see it on our news here every night, and it just looks terrifying.

Thinking of all you guys over there, stay safe and hope that the firefighters can get these monsters under control.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Wild1_OR on September 14, 2020, 07:36:32 AM
Thanks for the thread Dusty; I've been reading through it to see how the other guzzistas are doing. 

Here in WA, things will get better over the next few days unless you're by an active fire.  The winds have changed and brought in some cooler, moister air.  The down side is more smoke as the offshore plumes blew back onshore.  The upside is better weather for people fighting these things.  Hats off to those charging into harm's way to save people, animals, property, and the places we love.  Condolences to those who have lost any of those things over the last month.

Wild OR, thanks for that link and stay safe out there.
You're going to love your v7iii.  I have the yellow sibling.

I have two acquaintances fighting the fires. I've been able to keep in touch with one of them via text to send well wishes, but I don't want to bother him, because he has a lot to handle and I'm sure his family is wanting to maintain communication. Firefighters are undermanned due to the vast scope of the fires, so they've begun a two day course to get certified as a volunteer firefighter and support them. If only I were younger and healthier.  :sad:

The evacuation line has retreated to about 8 1/2 miles from my location, so it appears the worst is over for me. There are many on the West Coast who aren't as fortunate.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Rhodan on September 14, 2020, 02:42:13 PM
I saw this posted by the National Weather Service office in Spokane WA. 


(https://i.ibb.co/jWqwpjh/Air-Quality-Index-Spokane.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jWqwpjh)


Frodo, I don't think we're in the Shire anymore.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 14, 2020, 03:08:37 PM
i really like purpleair. dunno if they will have it in your area but in the bay area and environs there are plenty of sensors out there. i clear my grid of everything but the outdoor sensors and it provides areally clear picture of what the particulate counts are in your specific area and also anywhere surrounding. the local tv news is using it too. the website just aggregates the reports from the sensors in the field. pretty nifty - citizen particiption.

Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 14, 2020, 03:16:42 PM
BTW - 301 is pretty bad but the record so far seems to be that from our man in quincy, CA with numbers in the low 600's!!. now that's really realllly fugging bad!

that's minestrone soup level bad, you're inhaling minestrone, and heading toward clam chowder bad. i am down to the 180's around here and that's just (just) consumme bad. in the 300's and you are heading toward minestrone but you can sorta see the bottom of the bowl at times. the worst we have gotten in oaktown is in the low to moderate 2oo's and i thought that was some odious soup - i can't imagine stuff in the 300's and certainly not in the 600's.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Wild1_OR on September 14, 2020, 05:18:29 PM
I saw this posted by the National Weather Service office in Spokane WA. 


(https://i.ibb.co/jWqwpjh/Air-Quality-Index-Spokane.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jWqwpjh)


Frodo, I don't think we're in the Shire anymore.

We were at 501 this morning and that was after it began to improve.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 14, 2020, 07:20:38 PM
We were at 501 this morning and that was after it began to improve.

JEEEEBUS!

you're heading into the clam chowder zone. you want some crackers with your air?
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Wild1_OR on September 14, 2020, 07:33:05 PM
JEEEEBUS!

you're heading into the clam chowder zone. you want some crackers with your air?

Send all the oyster crackers you have.  :tongue:
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: DesertPilot on September 14, 2020, 10:11:33 PM
I was planning to ride past the burn area for the CZU August Lightning Complex this coming weekend to see how badly it hammered one of my favorite parts of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  I'd thought that fire was over -- the NASA FIRMS map isn't showing any hot spots big enough to see from orbit -- but according to Calfire, it's still only 86% contained.  This is unreal.  I'm having some trouble coming to grips with the magnitude of this thing.  This isn't just some bad times version of our usual fire season, or even a once-in-a-century disaster like we had in 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018.  It's more like Apocalypse Lite.  I may steer clear of the area until the winter rains begin so I don't get in the way of fire crews or residents trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

Forecast is for a slight chance of drizzle here in the Bay Area Tuesday night, with a chance of showers north of Ukiah later in the week.  Let's hope this arrives and helps damp things down.

UPDATE: It appears they ran a bicycle race through the Bonnie Doon/Empire Grade area yesterday, which suggests that either 1) the CZU Lightning Complex Fire is no longer an issue, 2) these are very fast cyclists, or 3) someone doesn't like them very much.  I'm betting on Option 1 here, and may swing by to have a look at the area soon this weekend or next.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Moparnut72 on September 15, 2020, 01:47:18 PM
501. That's not bad.  :evil:  We have been over 900 for the last few days. We have been cooped up in the house for days.  I am going stir crazy. It has lightened up a bit now, probably around 300+.
kk
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: LowRyter on September 15, 2020, 02:02:13 PM
I didn't know the Bark Beetles affected California like I've seen in Colorado.  Of course as long as dead tree are in the forest, they'll be fuel.  Actually that beetle wood is now sought after.  Hopefully more of it can be harvested before there are more fires.

I think they've begun to spray the forests to kill those beetles?
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: wirespokes on September 15, 2020, 06:54:19 PM
I'm going stir crazy here too. But we're nowhere near your levels - yesterday was 329, today about 229. That's still pretty bad with about 1/4 mile visibility. Maybe a half mile at most.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Lumpy Idle on September 16, 2020, 12:35:04 AM
501. That's not bad.  :evil:  We have been over 900 for the last few days. We have been cooped up in the house for days.  I am going stir crazy. It has lightened up a bit now, probably around 300+.
kk

900 + !?!!
i didn't even know that was possible. i was stupefied by that number so i went to google maps to figure out where quincy was.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Quincy,+CA+95971/@39.6622922,-121.3797889,10.25z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x809c5c6208c3e32 3:0x4ebc03dabe13d11!8m2!3d39.9368363!4d-120.9471764

good lord man, you are in the middle of the forest and you are merely 25 (some-odd) miles northeast of a hugeass fire. the fire marker is on google maps and its pretty much near your back damned door.! you are right in the thick of it. the literal thick of it. i can't fathom what it must be like to be up there in quincy right now.  i wish you and yours all the best. please stay safe. thoughts and prayers go out to you and yours tonight.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Moparnut72 on September 16, 2020, 08:42:17 AM
The fire came to a couple of miles from us. We had to evacuate  for short time. The air quality index max is 1000 from what I understand.  The smoke has been brutal. Have to drive with headlights.  Bike riding has been zilch.
Kk
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: wirespokes on September 16, 2020, 09:59:21 AM
My only real bike accident was on the way to Quincy 15 years ago for a BMW rally. I know Quincy - great place to live - unless there's a forest fire.

AQI (air quality index) of 1000!!!!! Two or three hundred is bad enough, I can't imagine what a thousand would be like. I'd be huddled over the air purifier.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Moparnut72 on September 16, 2020, 10:57:17 AM
We get quite a few bike wrecks here every summer.  Lots of challenging roads. Some riders get in over their heads. I have seen and took part in one of those rallies when I had an Airhead. My office when I worked for the county was in the Fairgrounds.
kk
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: jbhotchkiss on September 16, 2020, 12:03:40 PM
While in the man cave with the radio on a few days ago, DJ mentioned that it "looks like Blade Runner out there".  Nailed it.
Oregon.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Demar on September 16, 2020, 07:24:49 PM
Gold Lakes Hwy is awesome. I participated in a Kawasaki meet in Graeagle on my Stelvio.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Wild1_OR on September 17, 2020, 06:37:04 PM
Some heartening news.

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2682OF

 :smiley:
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: chuck peterson on September 18, 2020, 08:13:40 AM
Very unusual sunsets on the east coast...

Take care everyone


(https://i.ibb.co/1fw6dCK/53684-C68-9752-49-EA-BA15-9-D5-CC10-EDCF4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1fw6dCK)
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Fireflyr on September 18, 2020, 02:53:27 PM
Very unusual sunsets on the east coast...

Take care everyone


(https://i.ibb.co/1fw6dCK/53684-C68-9752-49-EA-BA15-9-D5-CC10-EDCF4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1fw6dCK)


I'll say it's unusual; it's supposed to set into the ocean.

The visibility is finally clearing out here.  We flew from Visalia up to the Creek Fire yesterday, got to the Auberry Heli-Base and eventually had to turn back.  Visibility was down to less than a mile.  Air Attack was at 10,000' above the smoke.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: mobiker on September 18, 2020, 03:19:56 PM
Hope all and theirs are safe and stay safe.

We've had smoke haze four that last 4 days (that I noticed). I'm in Missouri  :shocked: Can't imagine how bad it is out west.

That Yakima River bridge pic
(https://i.ibb.co/3B6dXkd/eekers.gif) (https://imgbb.com/)


I didn't know about the beetles reeking havoc on the trees. Probably 20 years ago now, a beetle came through my parents place in Tennessee. Killed all the pines. That particular beetle didn't seem to do anything to hardwoods, as all my parents trees survived, but I remember seeing entire mountainsides, where pines were prevalent, that were just brown with dead trees.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Fireflyr on September 18, 2020, 04:11:57 PM
Hope all and theirs are safe and stay safe.

We've had smoke haze four that last 4 days (that I noticed). I'm in Missouri  :shocked: Can't imagine how bad it is out west.

That Yakima River bridge pic
(https://i.ibb.co/3B6dXkd/eekers.gif) (https://imgbb.com/)


I didn't know about the beetles reeking havoc on the trees. Probably 20 years ago now, a beetle came through my parents place in Tennessee. Killed all the pines. That particular beetle didn't seem to do anything to hardwoods, as all my parents trees survived, but I remember seeing entire mountainsides, where pines were prevalent, that were just brown with dead trees.

A similar situation out here but for a different reason.  Drought stressed trees have no defense from the Bark Beetle and tree mortality is in the high 90% in areas.  Conifers here also.  It was much more visually apparent a couple years ago when the dead trees still had their red' needles.  They have since dropped them and are just bare sticks.  The injuries and deaths from falling limbs and trees has increased significantly in that time.  I would say 90% of our rescues are from these problem trees.  I have a boy on the fire line in Washington state and it scares me to death.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: mobiker on September 18, 2020, 04:27:14 PM
A similar situation out here but for a different reason.  Drought stressed trees have no defense from the Bark Beetle and tree mortality is in the high 90% in areas.  Conifers here also.  It was much more visually apparent a couple years ago when the dead trees still had their red' needles.  They have since dropped them and are just bare sticks.  The injuries and deaths from falling limbs and trees has increased significantly in that time.  I would say 90% of our rescues are from these problem trees.  I have a boy on the fire line in Washington state and it scares me to death.

Interesting info, thanks. Best wishes (and mondo respect) for your son.
Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: DesertPilot on September 19, 2020, 09:09:11 PM
I rode through the fringes of the burn area for the CZU Lightning Complex fire today.  I didn't mean to, but it was impossible to avoid.  Wow.  The thing burned across Highway 1 in places!  Redwoods up in the hills seem to have fared OK.  Eucalyptus down near the coast... maybe less so.

Here's a shot of Felton Empire Grade, where the firefighters were able to hold the line at the road.

(https://i.ibb.co/pzZLPLv/x25r60-IMG-3727.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pzZLPLv)

Title: Re: west coast fires
Post by: Fireflyr on September 20, 2020, 02:35:21 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/frhjqzZ/D9-C17508-37-CC-421-E-94-B5-8-F330-EBBF76-E.jpg) (https://ibb.co/frhjqzZ)

(https://i.ibb.co/QMRfs3d/C5-E549-F6-4-ADF-4-BE6-B2-E3-66-D3-C100515-B.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QMRfs3d)

(https://i.ibb.co/dMLndBc/D8-F2-ED33-F285-4921-B001-06-FF0-D051522.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dMLndBc)


Some pictures of the Creek Fire. The two that appear to be taken at night were snapped about 15:30. Mid afternoon. The last was this morning on our flight around 0930. There are areas of complete torching on the south facing slopes. North facing fared much better.

The USFS Cobra took the first two pictures (Huntington Lake).