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A wildfire in the area began yesterday afternoon. It's a typical Autumn event in our region. We're not in any danger here, so far, but one starts to think over what to grab for evacuation, just in case.
There's the DC-10 that drops fire retardant.
As the sun set, the smoke turned a strange orange. The sliver of rising moon was red.
This morning, it was still going, though once the DC-10 gets going again (they don't work during darkness), it may soon be under control.
News coverage during the night showed firefighters in neighborhoods putting out spot fires--many palm trees lit by flying embers. Another reminder that our decision to pay to have most of the neighbor's palm trees cut down was a wise one. Palms ignite like a match.
Update, please. I can't find anything about this fire online. Is it the Canyon Fire near Anaheim? If so, you're only in for ash and smoke and pretty sunsets. Think of ash as nitrogen fertilize.
ReplyDeleteCanyon Fire, yes. It appears to be knocked down already; the smoke from the area has ceased. All hail the firefighters. They are awesome.
DeleteJust a tiny bit of ash, and no smoke smell. There was such a powerful inversion layer it went over us.
Wow, this fire looks to be quite close. Can you smell the smoke? When I was in Portland a couple of weeks ago, the air quality was terrible because of the Columbia Gorge fire, and there was ash everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThere was this amazing inversion layer so strong that all the smoke went right over us without sinking down to us. No smoke smell, just the faintest dusting of ash. And now the smoke is gone from the fire location. This time, we were very lucky! We have in the past had terrible smoke from fires nearby and had to stay indoors and run the A/C. The smoke is very very bad for the lungs. I hope it is better in Portland now, looks like they were getting showers the past day or two.
DeleteI'd hoped that the first Santa Ana of the official season would have a gentler impact. I was startled and distressed yesterday when I looked out my office window and saw that huge plume of smoke to the east. We didn't get any smoke smell either but the fire certainly lit up the sky last night and this morning.
ReplyDeleteYes wasn't the light strange? So orange... They seem to have the fire largely under control today. Hooray!
DeleteOne thing I don't miss, those damn Santa Anas. We are having our version of that here,red flag warnings, hot and windy but still nothing like like the real thing. Hope it settles down soon for you Hoov !
ReplyDeleteI wish I could not miss those damn Santa Anas, too. It's not that bad here--they predicted much worse but the high pressure is weaker than expected and moving on soon. Lucky--this time.
DeleteHope it gets better for you as well!
Glad it might already be under control - that's admirable! I send daily gratitude to our fire fighters up here, too. What a tragedy when so many of the fires are totally preventable... I didn't know palms were such easy tinder. Good to know...
ReplyDeletePalms, Peppers (Schinus molle), Pines, and Eucs are the worst. No word on what caused the one here. It's pretty much knocked down now.
DeleteThe firefighters are awesome!
Looking to find something good to come of the fires: pretty sunsets and a new crop of mushrooms is all I could come up with. Oh, and wildflowers...there will be many more wildflowers.
ReplyDeleteWildflowers are something...and it's not smoky anymore, is it?
DeleteI learned about the palms in a video clip during one of our summer fires. But didn't know the pepper trees are also a fire hazard.
ReplyDeleteThe fire authority here said the Schinus molle is a hazard, but other California sources say it is not. All agree it's invasive here (reseeds like crazy) and displaces native plants that are safer. They can be beautiful trees, but messy, reseeding, and nothing grows near them.
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