air is thick, and ash has been falling since at least noon... so... we'll check in in the morning.
Fire
- Thread starter Gologit
- Start date
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God Bless the Hot Spotters.
Law enforcement here doesn’t let that happen, two years ago they arrested several residents trying to get back to their homes during the fire.
We don't have much in the way of law enforcement here. It's a huge county, small population (apparently a lot of morons) low income area.
Apparently, the community survived the night, but the roads were dangerous due to the idiots. It's a bit smoky here this morning but there is no wind.
Wow. I think I would've hunkered down in one of the boulder fields out of a "notch" and wait it out.
Guys with more experience--your thoughts?
Guys with more experience--your thoughts?
So this is all armchair quarterbacking, which I don’t like, but I’ll make a couple comments
First and foremost… Why would they even go out? Did they not check fire conditions, or did they just go out anyway? I don’t get it. I wouldn’t want to take my crew out there, much less even consider going out there as two people with just hiking stuff that burns, melts and not have a shelter.
The boulder field on the left @ 1:33 in would have been a decent place to hang out. It had some space, a big escarpment on one side (I don’t know if it was the fire side, but if the fire was burning up that way it would have provided a lot of protection). It doesn’t appear like it would create a chimney effect and cook you either. But, they were well past that when they saw the fire and were probably smart not to try to back track down there, because they would have been overrun before they got there.
1:46 has less fuel load, but those draws get hot air cooking through them and even with little fuel load it can be game over.
Where they stopped was a decent spot. And they should have stayed there for a while before they started moving… I think. Moving down the dry creek bed they did was really stupid. They didn’t know where the fire was, and unlike South Canyon, it wasn’t their only option to prevent getting cooked… Again, I think.
The fire chased them down the hill, and the spot at 8:30 was the best place they had to stay. And yet they went back into the woods. I don’t get it. Things could have been hot just around that left crag and nobody would have known until they walked into it.
And lastly, I sure as hell would not have taken the time to take pictures or video. It was time to **** and get it, not mess with a camera.
Again, just first thoughts.
I’m going to edit this and say that they didn’t seem like inexperienced backcountry hikers, either. That might have saved their bacon with the ability to move around in that terrain. Not everybody is so lucky. But again, that just makes me question why they went out there even more.
I also wonder why the group managing that ground even let someone in that area. No suppression is fine, let it burn, it won’t hurt anybody. But it only won’t hurt anybody if no one is there.
First and foremost… Why would they even go out? Did they not check fire conditions, or did they just go out anyway? I don’t get it. I wouldn’t want to take my crew out there, much less even consider going out there as two people with just hiking stuff that burns, melts and not have a shelter.
The boulder field on the left @ 1:33 in would have been a decent place to hang out. It had some space, a big escarpment on one side (I don’t know if it was the fire side, but if the fire was burning up that way it would have provided a lot of protection). It doesn’t appear like it would create a chimney effect and cook you either. But, they were well past that when they saw the fire and were probably smart not to try to back track down there, because they would have been overrun before they got there.
1:46 has less fuel load, but those draws get hot air cooking through them and even with little fuel load it can be game over.
Where they stopped was a decent spot. And they should have stayed there for a while before they started moving… I think. Moving down the dry creek bed they did was really stupid. They didn’t know where the fire was, and unlike South Canyon, it wasn’t their only option to prevent getting cooked… Again, I think.
The fire chased them down the hill, and the spot at 8:30 was the best place they had to stay. And yet they went back into the woods. I don’t get it. Things could have been hot just around that left crag and nobody would have known until they walked into it.
And lastly, I sure as hell would not have taken the time to take pictures or video. It was time to **** and get it, not mess with a camera.
Again, just first thoughts.
I’m going to edit this and say that they didn’t seem like inexperienced backcountry hikers, either. That might have saved their bacon with the ability to move around in that terrain. Not everybody is so lucky. But again, that just makes me question why they went out there even more.
I also wonder why the group managing that ground even let someone in that area. No suppression is fine, let it burn, it won’t hurt anybody. But it only won’t hurt anybody if no one is there.
Bolt crk is a hop and a skip from Seattle, loads of morons go traipsing about hiking in these parts, Search and rescue does regular fly overs for lost injured hikers, its daily at a minimum even in crap weather, often times 6 or 7 trips just over my house, let alone the ground based search and rescue teams. and the weather doesn't dissuade them one bit, sunny days bring more of the ignorant goons.
DNR is pretty sure the fire is lightning caused, so it could of been smoldering for a week or more before going full burn, no one had any idea until Sat morning there was even a fire up there. so these poor hikers were caught with no notice of any fires.
I think it was on Forest Service ground. They can't stop people from going in. I mean, E. Germany couldn't stop people from escaping to W. Germany so how is the FS, which has been understaffed for some time, going to keep folks out.
It's also Western WA. which is a horrible place for fires to start. It was too windy for air attack and a helicopter had tried to get to those guys earlier but it was too windy. It's been the classic east wind conditions that have historically started "stand replacement" fires every two to three hundred years. It's the Doug-fir ecosystem that nukes the climax species. Think of a 150+ tall tree crowning out in a windy, dry forest. It moves fast. Then, digging line in a foot or more of duff--decomposing logs and branches. You've got steep drainages to act as chimneys, what could be worse?
Crews aren't as dumb as we were and will not take risks on steep ground anymore. I don't blame them. I mean, we even used firehose as a climbing "rope" and did firehose belays--equipment thrown down, radio up and ask if the hose was connected, and then grab on and go down the cliffy stuff. Kind of stupid.
Well to go along with the theme of morons being were they shouldn't be.
About 50% of the folks told to evacuate have decided to die on their hill of stubbornness, or they are waiting for the very last second, I don't think they comprehend that there is literally ONE WAY in or out of that area, a janky 2 lane hwy with horrible traffic on good days, there are no connecting logging roads, no secret bat cave exits, those are all on fire. Index to Sultan the only way through is HWY 2, and east bound is currently closed BECAUSE ITS ON FIRE...
This normal for fire response?
I guess they could take the rail road... that parallels hwy 2, but only if they have a speeder or a bicycle.
About 50% of the folks told to evacuate have decided to die on their hill of stubbornness, or they are waiting for the very last second, I don't think they comprehend that there is literally ONE WAY in or out of that area, a janky 2 lane hwy with horrible traffic on good days, there are no connecting logging roads, no secret bat cave exits, those are all on fire. Index to Sultan the only way through is HWY 2, and east bound is currently closed BECAUSE ITS ON FIRE...
This normal for fire response?
I guess they could take the rail road... that parallels hwy 2, but only if they have a speeder or a bicycle.
Sierra_rider
Piss revver
It seems like the general public either over or underestimates what fire does/is like. A lot of my neighbors think every fire is like a running crown fire in timber and are scared every time someone fires up a gas grill lol.
On the flip side, there are quite a few people that think we can just spray water and put the fire out, no matter the intensity. I can't tell you how many people I've had to deal with over the years that have called me a ***** or wonder why we can't "just put the fire out." These are often the people that stay and then freak out once the fire gets there.
I had a close call myself, a couple years ago in a timber fire, when a resident refused to leave until the fire was basically bumping their house. They then got seriously burned trying to leave and I melted the side of an engine getting them out.
During the Creek Fire there were fire trucks and law enforcement from all over the valley up there right away, and before long they were from all over the state.
Clovis is a city down in the valley.
Madera is also a city down in the valley.
I posted a similar thing on FB and someone insisted that folks are staying home to prevent thieves from looting their homes... they don't realize that the hwy is closed, and there are fire fighters and cops everywhere... So I'd imagine that anyone doing any thieving probably lives up there and has smelled a golden opportunity to get a their neighbors big screen tv or some S.
Could be. Or they don't have insurance. It's raining here. Not a lot but enough that it is dripping off the roof.
As for law enforcement, we have 40, 000 people in a county that is just above 5000 sq. miles. The sheriff's dept. is 30 people, our town of 5000 has a two person police force, the tribe has a few cops, but there are not many. Most of the towns contract with the sheriff dept. for law enforcement. The majority of residents are of the we don't want to pay taxes mentality so we have what can be paid for.
At this time, there are areas with a higher priority and a heck of a lot more people to worry about than a backwater rural area. Towns have been evacuated and major highways are closed. Our area isn't that important.
At this time, there are areas with a higher priority and a heck of a lot more people to worry about than a backwater rural area. Towns have been evacuated and major highways are closed. Our area isn't that important.
Pretty busy in eastern Oregon and Idaho:
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/150328/smoky-fires-rage-in-the-northwest
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/150328/smoky-fires-rage-in-the-northwest
Goodness. There is a flood watch for this area starting tomorrow afternoon. Heavy rain is forecast. We shall find out.
Maybe it will end the fire and smoke season?
Maybe it will end the fire and smoke season?
we got a taste of rain last night, not enough to do anything, still digging dust on my road project today... I think the porch got damp, but then it was dry as a jalapeno fart by day break.
Bolt Crk update, 8000+ acres, 2% containment, no air support cause winds, and the monkeys still haven't evacuated... Winds have "shifted" so the smoke isn't as bad here.
Its some steep ground up that way, Mt Barring you can see from I-5 is pretty much a 90deg cow face, the other side of the valley isn't much better.
Its some steep ground up that way, Mt Barring you can see from I-5 is pretty much a 90deg cow face, the other side of the valley isn't much better.
SW Washington got "rain" as well - .04" !
At least it broke our 66 day dry spell!
Even Huron sent an officer. I met very nice photo journalist from Pennsylvania who was trying to get to fire. I remember the first full day sheriffs and CHP chasing rvs and rigs that decided to try and go the back way by mono wind casino after being told to turn around on the 4 lane.
They could clearly see what I was seeing because I could see them.
l
