Putin Urged to Deploy Nuclear Weapons to Expedite War and Sever NATO Supply Routes

[rooster59]

California wildfire becomes state's 3rd-largest, more evacuate

By Caroline Anderson

 

Firefighters provide structure protection at the historic San Ysidro Ranch as flames from the Thomas Fire, now the third-largest on record, rage in the distance in Montecito, California, U.S., December 16, 2017. Courtesy Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

 

VENTURA, Calif. (Reuters) - A raging California wildfire became the state's third-largest on record on Saturday as fresh evacuations were ordered amid a resurgence of the harsh winds that have fuelled the deadly blaze threatening to scorch 18,000 structures.

 

The so-called Thomas Fire has already destroyed more than 1,000 structures, including about 750 homes, in Southern California communities since erupting on Dec. 4, state fire officials said.

 

More than 8,000 personnel using nearly 1,000 engines and 32 helicopters were fighting the blaze that has become the seventh most destructive in the state's history, they said.

 

"This fire isn't letting up," the California Governor's Office for Emergency Management said on its Twitter feed. "Tough terrain, dry conditions, single-digit humidity, ripping winds make for difficult conditions this weekend."

 

A new evacuation order was issued for parts of Santa Barbara County on Saturday as high winds whipped the fire through bone-dry terrain. The blaze is chewing up tall grass and brush as it spreads along the scenic Pacific Coast.

 

Mandatory evacuations were already in place in several Santa Barbara County communities, including Carpinteria and Montecito, and parts of Ventura County. An evacuation order for the city of Ventura, which was hit hard in the first days of the fire, was lifted on Saturday morning.

 

The Thomas Fire is only 40 percent contained, officials said. Among the places being threatened include the wealthy enclave of Montecito just outside the coastal city of Santa Barbara.

 

ROAR OF FIRE

 

The 13 days of shifting winds and evacuations have taken their toll on a weary population.

 

Paul Pineda, who lives in Fillmore, about 55 miles (90 kms)northwest of Los Angeles and on the eastern flank of the fire, said he will flee if the blaze gets too close.

 

"It's pretty crazy. Went to sleep last night about midnight and then woke up to the roar of this fire coming through about 3 a.m." Pineda said.

 

The wildfires forced many schools to close for days, shut roads and drove hundreds of thousands from their homes. They were also responsible for poor air quality throughout Southern California.

 

The cost of fighting the blaze that was about 40 miles (65 km) wide and 20 miles long has already reached $104 million, authorities said.

 

For California, this year has been unprecedented in terms of structures lost and the size of the wildfires, officials said. Five of 20 most destructive fires in recorded history ravaged the state in 2017, according to Cal Fire.

 

The vast landscape charred by the blaze, centred fewer than 100 miles (160 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, reached 259,000 acres (104,800 hectares) early on Saturday. That surpassed the 257,314 acres (104,131 hectares) that California's Rim Fire, which had been the state's third-largest on record, destroyed in 2013, authorities said.

 

The hot Santa Ana winds have propelled the fire's expansion, at times sending embers far ahead of its main flank. They were forecast to remain strong through Saturday evening in the Santa Barbara County mountains, the National Weather Service warned. Gusts of up to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) were expected.

 

From Saturday night through Sunday evening, the winds could lash neighbouring Ventura County, the Weather Service said.

 

Cal Fire engineer Cory Iverson, 32, died on Thursday while battling the flames near the Ventura County community of Fillmore. Fire officials said Iverson, the blaze's first fatality, left behind a pregnant wife and 2-year-old daughter.

 

The Thomas Fire was one of several major blazes that broke out in Southern California this month, although the others have been contained.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-17

[Emster23]

This is what outcomes of global warming & climate change will look like in early stages (not saying this is direct result in this case, before some jump on me). Returning carbon to the atmosphere. Removal of green cover to potential of desertification. Just wait til the rain forests go up in flames.

[howbri]

This has got zero to do with the "climate change" and everything to do with land management. For years, Californians have forbidden management of forest lands in favor of "letting nature work". The most liberal state in the country has cost everyone billions plus loss of home and neighborhoods.

[timendres]

6 hours ago, Emster23 said:

This is what outcomes of global warming & climate change will look like in early stages (not saying this is direct result in this case, before some jump on me). Returning carbon to the atmosphere. Removal of green cover to potential of desertification. Just wait til the rain forests go up in flames.

The most serious threat to the rain forest is not climate change. It is humans clearing vast swathes for farming and grazing. This loss of rain forest, unfortunately, is not helping with the atmosphere, since it removes an enormous carbon consumer and solar absorber.

 

3 hours ago, howbri said:

This has got zero to do with the "climate change" and everything to do with land management. For years, Californians have forbidden management of forest lands in favor of "letting nature work". The most liberal state in the country has cost everyone billions plus loss of home and neighborhoods.

Indeed. People forget that CA was largely a desert. Natural and man-made "wetness" created expectations from the previous century that are unrealistic and unsustainable. For the past decade, the state has been getting drier and drier. This combined with the poor land management has been manifesting as more frequent and more devastating fires. The state needs some serious leadership to address the many issues coming to a head.

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎12‎/‎17‎/‎2017 at 2:22 PM, howbri said:

This has got zero to do with the "climate change" and everything to do with land management. For years, Californians have forbidden management of forest lands in favor of "letting nature work". The most liberal state in the country has cost everyone billions plus loss of home and neighborhoods.

Thanks for stating the truth and not some theory to blame for everything.

Fact- brush fires are a fact of life on earth and nothing to do with CO2 levels.

Fact- people have moved into areas prone to fires and then are surprised that their house burns down in a completely natural and expected event.

 

People have 2 choices

1/ stop living in fire prone areas ( or flood plains, or 1 foot above high tide etc etc ).

2/ remove the material for fires from around their houses. Building among trees in a fire prone area is just insanity.

Edited December 18, 2017 by thaibeachlovers

[Rimmer]

An off topic post has been removed, topic is about California wildfires

[thaibeachlovers]

21 hours ago, timendres said:

The most serious threat to the rain forest is not climate change. It is humans clearing vast swathes for farming and grazing. This loss of rain forest, unfortunately, is not helping with the atmosphere, since it removes an enormous carbon consumer and solar absorber.

 

Indeed. People forget that CA was largely a desert. Natural and man-made "wetness" created expectations from the previous century that are unrealistic and unsustainable. For the past decade, the state has been getting drier and drier. This combined with the poor land management has been manifesting as more frequent and more devastating fires. The state needs some serious leadership to address the many issues coming to a head.

We are always being told how prosperous California is. They should use the money to build massive solar powered desalination plants and water all the residential areas to stop trees drying out and becoming fuel. I'm sure Leo DiCaprio will be happy to put up a few million for an environmental project as green trees absorb CO2.