Interesting Fire Department stuff.

[Oberon]

http://imgur.com/gallery/CPELb



As escapes go, they don't get much luckier than this.

[fireftr18]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

[Jimbuna]

Awesome respect for the guy....a true professional

[fireftr18]

This was part of the fire brigade at the Farmall plant. It is an in house fire truck. The pump ran off the PTO and the big box underneath is the water tank.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

That's partially due to the philosophical difference imparted at one point by Franklin's American frontier mentality...now known as the Rurban-suburban interface. A Cal Fire chief lives on my street in Napa and the Napa Sonoma hills-Mayacamas mountains are just two blocks over and will burn in their turn when the conditions are right- of that there is no doubt. Small, spread-out and interlocking mutual support is the modus operendi for wind-swept dry manzaninta, second growth redwood and large propane tank fueled infernos.

And lo it came to pass: Currently the Lake fire is 5% contained and has destroyed 400 homes and much of Middletown (Evacuated)and 61,000 acres. The contained Rocky Fire burned 61,000 acres; the Jerusalem fire, also 100% contained burned 25,000 acres.

Two of California's fastest-burning wildfires in decades overtook several Northern California towns, killing at least one person and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses and sending thousands of residents fleeing highways lined with buildings, guardrails and cars still in flames. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection confirmed one fatality in the wildfire north of San Francisco that raced through dry brush and exploded in size within hours. Officials also counted 400 homes, two apartment complexes and 10 businesses destroyed by the flames,

This part of my work related territory and saddens me greatly
http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-flee-2-fast-moving-california-wildfires-063329864.html# A map overlay of the awful situation:https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zp8nK_5H0MFQ.kzTmU5XK-qJQ

[Aktungbby]

Fire still going strong; minor sprinkles not deterring the flames much Evacuations underwayNot fast enough it seemsFighting fire with fireWarning: These videos are extremely unnerving http://www.marketwatch.com/story/terrifying-video-shows-driver-escaping-californias-valley-fire-2015-09-14

[fireftr18]

For the wildland firefighters
That's some real work. Weeks at a time in a camp for fighting the fire. It isn't like a house fire. Those guys and gals hike to the fire, then start working. Digging, raking, and hoeing.

[Aktungbby]

It's just a wretched mess with three major fires; all germinating in the area in the last month NE NAPA county with 30 knot winds and perfect tinder dry drought underbrush up chimney like hills/canyons. Not as bad(yet) as the Lexington Resevoir and Oakland Hills fire IMHO from my appraiser days in the '90's.

The Oakland fire ultimately killed 25 people and injured 150 others. The 1,520 acres (620 ha) destroyed, included 2,843 single-family dwellings and 437 apartment and condominium units. The economic loss has been estimated at $1.5 billion

http://www.ebparks.org/about/history/firestorm-20-years-later/The_Oakland_Hills_Firestorm____Trapped_by_the_fire My Cal Fire chief neighbor across the street hasn't returned home for three days...we think we saw him on the TV news earlier this evening.

[Oberon]

I feel sorry for the poor animals in paddocks and fields, humans can at least try to escape. But yes, what a terrible situation out there, the firefighters involved in tackling the California fires are very very brave men.

This guy, crazy, but some incredible footage:

[Aktungbby]

Yeah, it looks like a war zone. Cobb, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lakes appear hit worst. The Calistoga fairground is now a refugee center. Eight of the over 1200 firefighters have lost their own homes. The donations have turned one of the fairground convention halls into a Walmart. The American Red Cross has open shelters. So far about 585 homes are totaled; 25,000 Lake County residents evacuated and 62,000 acres are burned. Fortunately only one reported death ...so far and rain is expected; the weather is helping with less wind and cooler temps. Rain is forecast for tomorrow but may sprinkle today. I'm not looking forward to going there (work) but inevitably will have to. Cobb, possibly the starting point of the fire, is worst hit: every home destroved; I almost moved there myself as it is remote and beautiful; and there were cougars on one occasion within 10 feet of my car. Currently the fire is 10% contained.

[Gargamel]

I had my red card many many years ago, but never got called out or really did much with it. One of the crews near where I lived at the time had taken an old dual rear axle tanker/pumper, removed the rear wheels, and added a half track setup to it. They stored it west somewhere, since shipping it back to Ohio every few months was ridiculous. When the crew got called out, they'd go get the truck and work from there. They'd live off that truck for weeks at a time.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by aktungbby

I'm not looking forward to going there (work) but inevitably will have to.

OFF to the north for the better part of the day; I hope that realtor, Ms Meachum, ain't holdin' an "Open House"-it could get confusing!!!: I can blog on my new Verizon tablet...assuming there's still WIFI:

[Aktungbby]

Fire behavior was moderated today due to cooler weather and very rainy conditions since noon today. A chance of rain continues to exist this evening. Rain is assisting firefighter’s efforts on strengthening and constructing additional fire line. Firefighters continue to focus on structural defense and perimeter control. 585 homes have been destroyed by the Valley Fire and hundreds of other structures are known to have been damaged and or destroyed as well. Now #9 on CA's alltime list of most damaging fires. The army: 3.128 personnel; 358 engines; 58 crews; 2 airtankers; 15 helicopters; 65 dozers; 70 water tenders 70,200 acres burned... 35% contained. Resources are thin: there are 5 current fires in CA and the troops are tired. One tanker plane engine disintegrated and engine parts fell on an inhabited area damaging an auto. The pilot is ok! Looting is a growing problem in evacuated communities as crews of firefighters and utility workers deal with the still-dangerous Valley fire. Law enforcement teams encountered looters through the night, officers were told during a Wednesday morning briefing. "...Department on Wednesday, a deputy recognized Worley from "prior law enforcement contacts" and began pursuit as Worley tried to speed away. The deputy said he found Worley wearing a yellow rain jacket - similar from a distance to the yellow fire-resistant garb emergency crews wear - and a red baseball cap with a California Highway Patrol logo. Inside Worley's car, the deputy found computer and cellular devices, a scorched wallet belonging to someone else, and a locked safe, as well as 13 obsidian points (archaeological artifacts), authorities said.
Worley has been charged with petty theft during an emergency, with impersonating an officer and with removal of an archaeological artifact." People are terrific aren't they?

[Aktungbby]

Now two fatalities known;Increased support: 3,580 personnel; 441 engines now on scene; 68 crews; 18 helicopters; Fire behavior was moderated overnight due to cooler weather and rainy conditions. Over one-half inch of rain fell over portions of the fire yesterday. The rain assisted firefighters in strengthening and constructing additional fire lines. However, a warming trend is expected over the next few days with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees over the weekend. Containment still at 35%... the fire is thought to have started in a shed in Cobb-investigation still ongoing. We're down 1 dozer (64).

[fireftr18]

Prayers to the people, firefighters, law enforcement and support personnel in the affected areas.