7 Dec: Long Beach Press Telegram: How do wildfires start? Usually with people
By Liset Marquez Updated 9 Dec
This week’s explosion of fire activity in Southern California may have many wondering: How do wildfires start?
In short, by humans, says John Keeley, who has been researching fire records from the past 100 years to determine the historical causes of fires in the state.
During Santa Ana winds one of the most common causes is power lines being blown down. Another is arson.
“Humans are the only sources of fires during Santa Ana winds,” said Keeley, a research ecologist with United States Geological Survey. “You don’t get lightning during Santa Ana wind conditions. Humans are responsible for all the fires, either directly or through the power lines.”
According to Cal Fire statistics, seven of the top 20 most destructive California wildfires were caused by power lines or arson. Another seven on that list are still under investigation or undetermined.
“A lot of arson-ignited fires occurs under Santa Ana wind conditions because I suppose the arsonist sees that as an opportunity to create a really big fire,” he said by phone Thursday afternoon.
As for other causes reported by CalFire and the U.S. Forest Service, Keeley said his research has found...ETC ETC READ IT ALL
*****What’s not a factor?
Climate change, Keeley said.
He said climate change would only figure in California’s more heavily forested landscapes in the state.
Looking at 100 years of climate data and fire data for the state, “in Southern California we could not find any relationship between climate and fire,” he said. “We believe the reason is, every single year it’s hot enough and dry enough for a big fire.”...
Which means it’s outside factors that determine a big wildfire.
“That’s usually people igniting fires under bad conditions,” he said.
http://www.presstelegram.com/2017/12/07/how-does-a-wildfire-start-with-people/
some of the following may be small fires, but they all add up:
9 Dec: Pasadena Star News: Fire officials: Pasadena brush fire is arson – the third Southern California case this week
by Brian Day
The Pasadena case is the third arson or attempted arson reported in recent days — one happened Friday night in Anaheim and a second blaze was reported in Irwindale — as much of Southern California was shrouded under the smoke of multiple, massive wildfires...
Anaheim residents helped police detain a man who authorities say was spotted trying to set fires near the Anaheim Hills Festival shopping center at 6 p.m. Friday, authorities said. No active fires were reported in the area at the time.
And police in Irwindale arrested a 33-year-old Azusa man Wednesday on suspicion of arson after he was seen fleeing from the origin point of a nearly 1-acre brush fire near Lario Park in Irwindale...
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2017/12/09/arson-suspected-in-brush-fire-on-arroyo-parkway-in-pasadena/
6 Dec: CBS San Francisco: Suspect Arrested In Lake Berryessa Arson Fires
A 59-year-old Napa woman has been arrested for allegedly lighting wildland fires around the north end of Lake Berryessa, authorities announced Wednesday.
Cal Fire said Debra Ann Windholz was being held in Napa County Jail on $500,000 bail for eleven counts of arson to forest land...
However, Cal Fire officials were also quick to point out that Windholz was not responsible for any of the devastating fires that began during the night of October 8 across Napa, Sonoma, and Lake Counties.
The investigations into the origin and cause of the October fires are ongoing...
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/12/06/suspect-arrested-in-lake-berryessa-arson-fires/
6 Dec: ABC7: Suspect arrested for setting Van Nuys palm tree on fire, dancing amid red-flag conditions
The suspect was spotted dancing after lighting the fire.
The blaze damaged not just the tree but nine vehicles in the area.
Police officers and firefighters responded quickly, extinguished the fire and were able to arrest the suspect, Carranza said on Twitter...
http://abc7.com/suspect-arrested-for-setting-van-nuys-palm-tree-on-fire/2749288/