Sunday, November 18, 2018

The mystery #CampFire ‘second start’: Was it captured on firewatch camera?

The mystery Camp Fire ‘second start’: Was it captured on firewatch camera?
CONCOW — Firefighter radio transmissions indicate that a possible “second start” of the Camp Fire was caught on a firewatch camera near Concow Reservoir, about a half-hour after the first flames were reported about five miles northeast near Poe Dam and Pulga.

Security guards associated with Cal Fire Wednesday blocked off a section of Concow Road betwen Mountain Pine Lane and Rim Road. The closure was related to Cal Fire’s investigation into the Camp Fire. (Dan Reidel — Enterprise-Record)
 At 7:04 a.m. Nov. 8, a fire dispatcher rerouted a couple of fire crews to a “possible second fire” on Rim Road, just east of Concow Reservoir. Satellite images indicate that Rim Road crisscrosses underneath several PG&E high-tension lines in that vicinity. There are no obvious radio discussions indicating what may have sparked that second fire, in a review of archived radio chatter.

Minutes later a firefighter described the initial blaze as having grown to about 300 acres with a rapid rate of spread and heading toward Concow Reservoir. Firefighters responding to the second ignition alerted other crews to “two little kids walking the road” along the lower portion of Rim Road, also called Andy Mountain Road, near Jarbo Gap on Highway 70.

On Thursday, the Chico Enterprise-Record reported that security guards had set up a roadblock the day before outside Concow. Later, Cal Fire-Butte County Chief Darren Read confirmed that investigators have identified a “possible second origin” for the fire. He did not release any additional information regarding the second origin point, saying the fire remained under investigation.



Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean also declined to elaborate Friday.

“Our investigators, Cal Fire, have identified a possible second origin for the Camp Fire,” he said. “The fire remains under investigation, and no further details will be released at this time.”

No cause has been determined for the Camp Fire, according to Cal Fire. In addition to the first radio reports of a downed power line near Poe Dam where the first ignition began, PG&E reported to state regulators that minutes before the fire was reported, a transmission line had a malfunction in the area of the dam.

It’s unclear which firewatch camera possibly captured the second ignition. However in 2014, PG&E announced it funded $2 million to install 28 remote fire sensing cameras on “some of the most important lookout towers” in four counties, including Butte.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Wednesday that PG&E is cooperating with fire investigators, but it was not clear whether the utility’s transmission tower caused the fire.

The District Attorney’s Office was involved “in anticipation that if anything is referred to us in terms of a criminal case, that we’re on top of it right now,” Ramsey said.

The Camp Fire has claimed at least 71 lives and has destroyed more than 9,800 homes. It is the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history.

Chico Enterprise-Record staff writers Andre Byik and Dan Reidel contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.paradisepost.com/2018/11/16/was-possible-second-camp-fire-ignition-caught-on-firewatch-camera/?

Firefighters Injured on Early Morning Vegetation Fire #CAfires

Firefighters Injured on Early Morning Vegetation Fire

 Corralitos - Firefighters from throughout Santa Cruz County responded to an early morning vegetation fire in the area of Eureka Canyon in Corralitos near Buzzard Lagoon Road. 
 Over 50 firefighters were able to stop the fire at less than two acres. The fire is currently 50% contained. 
 Two firefighters were injured during the firefight after being struck by a falling tree. Both firefighters were treated at scene by advanced life support paramedics and transported by ambulance to local hospitals for further treatment. 
 The cause of the fire is under investigation. Ground crews and one helicopter will remain at scene throughout the day to reinforce containment lines and patrol.

CAL FIRE San Mateo - Santa Cruz Unit
Contact: Jonathan Cox, Division Chief
(650) 861-4084
Release Date: November 18, 2018

Friday, November 16, 2018

747 Global Supertanker Day 6 UPDATE McClellan Load and Return on the '#Campfire

747 Global Supertanker 'Camp' fire Day 6 UPDATE McClellan Load and Return

747 Global Supertanker, McClellan Reload Base, Sacramento Ca.




Take a behind the scenes look at how these huge Supertankers are turned so quickly during the 'Camp' fire at McClellan Reload Base, Sacramento Ca. LINKS: http://globalsupertanker.com/ https://www.10tanker.com/

Friday, November 9, 2018

Butte County #CampFire wildland fire becomes most destructive fire in California history, destroys town of Paradise

Camp Fire
Credit: KCRA 3

Camp Fire burns over 6,700 structures, becomes most destructive fire in California history

Evacuation Map

November 08, 2018

A wind-driven wildfire continues to threaten communities and prompt evacuations after consuming nearly the entire town of Paradise.

The Camp Fire ignited around 6:30 a.m. local time Thursday and has burned over 89,000 acres and is 5 percent contained.

As of Friday evening, 6,713 structures have been destroyed, making it the most destructive individual fire in California history. Previously, the most destructive fire was the Tubbs fire which destroyed 5,636 structures in October of 2017.

Nine fatalities have been confirmed by officials, according to the Associated Press (AP). Three firefighters have also been injured during containment efforts.

On Thursday afternoon, a state of emergency was declared in Butte County in response to the growing Camp Fire. On Friday, President Donald Trump approved California's Emergency Declaration, allowing federal assistance to be open to the state due to the wildfires.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. However, on Friday afternoon, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said that it experienced a problem with an electric line near the location where the Camp Fire started, according to the AP. It is unclear if this contributed to the start of the wildfire.

An evacuation order was issued for all of Paradise, home to over 27,000 people, where many had only minutes to flee the rapidly spreading blaze.

"Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it's that kind of devastation," Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean said via the AP. "The wind that was predicted came and just wiped it out."

McLean said Friday morning that the blaze had nearly quadrupled in size overnight.

As the Camp Fire continues to grow, evacuation orders have expanded into the city of Chico, California, where over 93,000 people live. An evacuation warning is in effect for areas south of Highway 32 and east of Bruce Road inside the city limits, according to the Chico Police Department.

The Chico Fire Department said there have been multiple traffic collisions, vehicle fires and medical emergencies.

The California State University campus in Chico remains safe, according to a post on Twitter.

Several shelters have opened for evacuees, but many are quickly filling up, including the Nazarene Church in Oroville, California.

Source: https://m.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/5-fatalities-confirmed-after-massive-camp-fire-pretty-much-destroyed-paradise-california/70006585?

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****REMINDER**** Every fire has the ability to be catastrophic. The wildland fire management environment has profoundly changed. Growing numbers of communities, across the nation, are experiencing longer fire seasons; more frequent, bigger, and more severe, fires are a real threat. Be careful with all campfires and equipment.

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer." --Abraham Lincoln

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