New Mother Nature (Page 6 of 8)

Sad for those folks that lost their homes. We live with that here every year, since fires in the chaparral are the norm in Southern California as well as super dry conditions and high winds. The brushy chaparral, our equivalent to forests, isn't as fiercely protected as forests by the wildlife preservation coalitions, since tall brush isn't pretty like tall trees, so controlled burns and thinning are the best defense here. The Colorado fires are quite small in area in comparison to the two big ones we had recently that consumed hundreds of square miles and thousands of homes. Forests are a fuel load and if they aren't thinned by logging or controlled burns, this is the result. We've learned to build rural homes with defensible perimiters and non flammable exterior construction which has worked well recently, giving the firefighters a good chance to save homes and control the fire. Rural homeowners are also required to install huge water tanks for fireteams to use with the pumper trucks.
I'm praying for a change in the weather there so the firefighters have a chance. That is what saved us here in the last big fires. If the wind hadn't shifted, it would have burned right through the city to the sea and consumed tens of thousands of homes, since there was no hope of stopping it when the santa ana winds were blowing 60 behind the fire, causing it to leap over the firebreaks by a half mile at a time. It rained ash for two days at my house. Whole sheets of carbonised newsprint were landing in my back yard, as well as burned twigs and sticks that had been blown by the wind. This was 10 miles from the fire at the time. Wildfire is a scary thing to confront.
Rick

As Rick mentioned, this is an annual problem here in Cali. The worst I can remember was the Oakland Hills fire of '91. 25 people lost there lives, 150 injured. Property damage was severe, 3,354 homes, and 437 Apt. & condo units were lost. An old friend was the last person on his street to lose his house, the one next store and across the street were untouched. OFD takes serious precautions when the same conditions arise these days. My friend Greg took me up with him when home owners were allowed back into the area 2 days after. He wanted to find his safe he left behind. It was guarenteed to 1200 degrees, all we found was a puddle of metal.

                                                                                                           Clear Dead Brush!

                                                                                                           J Dawg

We have been having some rain recently. Spare a thought for residents in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, third time in as many weeks. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18778840 Can't be anything to do with climate change ??????

God bless off-shore breezes! Current temp. 88 degrees, humidity 27%, wind 14mph NNW. Life is good!

                                                                                                   It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere!

                                                                                                   J Dawg

To quote the lion in the Wizard Of Oz movie, "Unusual weather we're having, ain't it"?

Rock ON & Keep the Fall Back Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Had to bring this one back up.  I live about 15 miles from Boston - it has been snowing since yesterday afternoon.  We currently have at least 2 feet (drifts are higher), and four+ feet of snowbanks on the road.  It is still snowing! 

Lucky we have power and snowblowers - and my work let me stay home (only supposed to work four hours - it would probably take that long to get there).  To all my buddies in the New England/Long Island area stay safe.  I'll try and get some pictures later.

Sandy

I'm right with Tres in that the Northeast is getting picked on one too many times by Mother #@$@#.  Hang in there guys.

I saw a picture of some guy's front door opened and the snow goes to about 5 or 6 ft, I guess from drifting.  You can see the imprint of the door and it gives me the creeps.  In my old age I've gotten claustrophobic.