Southern California Fires -- Live Thread 10/29

[olorin]

and also this:
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WILDFIRES_FIREFIGHTERS?SITE=CADIU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[SoCal Pubbie]

How much good does cutting trees down do? Do they remove them after to create a fire break?

[maggief]

good post.

[olorin]

It removes aerial fuel.

[Brad’s Gramma]

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- One firefighter was killed and two were critically injured while battling a blaze that has charred more than 230,000 acres in San Diego County, authorities said.

It was the first firefighter death in the outbreak of fires that have ravaged Southern California this week. Eighteen people have now died in the fires, many of them trying to escape the flames.

The firefighter died while battling the Cedar Fire in San Diego County - the largest and deadliest blaze in California. It has burned nearly 1,100 homes.

Department of Forestry spokeswoman Cathy Fritz said she had no additional details on the firefighter's death.

Matt Mathes, regional spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said the firefighters were injured in Julian, a historic mining town known for its apple crop. He said the two injured firefighters suffered critical injuries.

Hundreds of firefighters have converged on the mountain retreat of Julian in the past 24 hours to make a stand against the Cedar Fire. Firefighters in Julian were told that their injured colleagues were flown out of the area by helicopter.

[lainie]

I made myself go sit down for awhile earlier. Gotta do that every so often.

[ErnBatavia]

I know it well! You're looking southbound on the 5 (note all the traffic headed north from that juncture - this would be about 3 miles before Stevenson Ranch/Valencia. The sweep on the left is the beginning of the I-210 headed east. What curves in on the lower right is the infamous twice-collapsed-due-to-earthquakes Newhall Pass interchange at the end of the southbound Antelope Valley Freeway.

Right at the one car you see on it is where it collapsed during the Northrudge quake; it dumped itself all over both sides of the 5 freeway.

[BurbankKarl]

getting MAFFS2, Tanker 10, Tanker 6, Bravo 5

on

151.295 CDF Air Tactics 5

[GOPrincess]

AQMD on TV saying that these current ashy air conditions will last anywhere from 7 to 90 days after the fires go out, and that there are definitely dangerous carcinogens in the air; they recommend children should continue to play indoors and even indoor activity should be minimal unless you have an air conditioner that recirculates the air.

[maggief]

If you need on the scanner I'll get off asap.

[BurbankKarl]

if you cut the trees down and create a break, the fire will be less able to go tree to tree...

[olorin]

I don't think I'll be able to listen in from MN.

Can only hope from afar that the dragon is tamed soon.

[BurbankKarl]

http://www.rimoftheworld.net/messages/6

more info on Blue Jay

[GOPrincess]

AQMD says that what is in the air is called PM-10 and bad for lining of lungs. Just in case anyone interested.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks.


(gulp)

[olorin]

http://www.epa.gov/air/aqtrnd95/pm10.html