California North Bay Fires

Good morning. Taking the day a few days off to pack up a few things and take off up the coast on the VFR (planned before the fires).
Bit of a shift in winds and the Nuns fire, closest to me, didn't get closer at the speed it had been. My wife's house is literally down the street from decimated businesses and residentials. Where you see the fire jumped Hwy 101, that's 4 lanes in each direction and a wide median!


Air quality is worse today than yesterday, back to red sun and ash in the air. I've always been one that wants/needs to work and before leaving for Sacramento, took this red sunrise.


On hwy 37, more of the same.


We have some clients that have been evacuated and have lost their homes. One, very close to my wife's house, returned to his home to find it gone, andn his truck that was left in the driveway, sitting on a solidified "river" of aluminum. That's a hot fire.
There has been no talk of my area being in danger and if there is anyone here that is local and needs to put their bike somewhere safe, I have room in the garage, with a security alarm.

 

There have already been instances where people's vehicles were photographed and spread through social media labeled as looters, when in fact they weren't.

 

Live right now, they are saying that the Nuns fire and the Atlas fire are 2% and 3% contained, but by tomorrow they expect them to combine and become one fire.

 

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Indeed. Using social media in such instances has a burden of tremendous responsibility

 

Sounds like new TV program “Wisdom of the Crowd” where they use crowd funding type software to fight crime.

 

Air quality was alot better today in our area, even went for a ride. Fires still growing and moving

 

Australians and Americans have common ground with respect to fires. I think we're all thinking of you guys over here and hoping for a weather change to help with containment.

 

I'm writing this from my office at Napa Valley College, as we are working to get our web systems back online.

We have about 500 evacuees at our site, while a couple of other sites have far less. People are living out of vehicles in our parking lots by choice, but other sites do have beds and plenty of supplies if people were to need them.

Here in the Napa, the Atlas Peak fire has caused most of our damage. Calistoga was fully evacuated two days ago due to the Tubbs fire, but no structures have been reported damaged in the city.

Some sections of East Napa are allowing folks back in, so that is positive.

People are stressed but coping, and donations are not a problem. Our community is really working together to provide shelter and supplies. I can tell you that the biggest lesson folks are learning is that you need to have a plan in place. So many just grabbed what they could, and regret not having a solid list and ready bugout plans/bags.

Money is great for buying supplies if you have them available, but Puerto Rico is an example of what happens when the infrastructure is damaged. An earthquake is likely to cause that same kind of infrastructure damage and prevent people getting to you. Money is not a bad idea, but if it is bad enough, local supplies of food/water can run out. Most people can actually handle weeks without food. You can't handle more than a few days without water. Non-perishable food and water are your number one priority in extreme cases, so be sure any preparedness plan includes adequate provision for those two key resources. I will certainly do some after action thinking and documenting, to be sure we are ready for when the next major thing hits. This kind of planning is a MUST for anyone living in an area like Napa, that is surrounded by vegetation.

Jose

 

Stay safe Jose. I wished there was something I could do to directly help my friends down there. I feel this way every time I hear of a disaster down there such as Katrina, and the weather disasters happening this year as well.

 

Yes. Need to buy more water to store just in case.
Bought a generator and extra propane to run it, also runs gas but don't want to clog the carbs with shitty ethanol.
Also heavy duty RV electric cord for $600.
What's a few more cases of water and cans of food?

 

Wow those fires are some seriously scary shit - stay safe everyone.

 

I checked last night and containment had jumped up to 44% on two of the fires, the big ones, and that is from 2% the day before. I think all the areas that have previous been burned and since burned out, are now like fire breaks. Either way, we'll take it.

With my wife's sensitivety to air quality, right now she is enjoying our weekend retreat that much more. It's clear out here at the coast. Thanks Jose to you and those helping with evacuees.

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Melted alumimum...... crazy.

 

Two nights ago we were standing in front of the main gym where most of the evacuees are, and watching the flames run south along the East ridge of the valley. It would hit a tree and spike a good 100 feet in the air. One of my coworkers was forestry fire in a previous career, so he knows exactly how bad this all is.

We (the Valley community) have been working hard to make things as "good" as we can, and Cal Fire has been communicating good daily updates at the shelters. We ran a movie in a small theater for the kids last night at the college, the Salvation army has been fantastic with providing hot meals, and Red Cross has provided cots and manpower. The air is finally clearing some too, and as noted by Jim, we are finally talking real containment. We might have made it over the hump last night.
Jose

 

30+ y-o pressurized fuel line fail..

 

Sad all the way around.
This year SUCKS


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