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Attilatheblond

(5,030 posts)

63. The 1970 fires were brutal, and arson, I believe, up & down the coast. Santa Annas were blowing hard, it was very dry

Reply to chia (Reply #39)

Sun Jan 12, 2025, 06:44 PM

Jan 12

Most of the guys in my high school went to fight fires and help neighbors in foothills move horses and house pets. Some lost their cars while helping neighbors in the canyons.

We lived in the flats, but the police came thru with messages on bullhorns: There is no one left to call for help in town, so if your house starts to burn due to blowing live embers, there is no help. Be ready to evacuate. Keep roofs wet if you can.

My brother & I spent a lot of time on our roof and helping older neighbors keep theirs wet. My grandfather lived with us and had lung cancer & emphysema. We tried to keep shades drawn so he wouldn't see the smoke. Kept house closed up, but the smoke permeated everywhere. He died within the week. My brother and I were pretty ill. Can't fathom what it was like for the firefighters in the thick of it.

People in wetter climates with different vegetation have no clue what it is like. GOP pols from states with high water tables, surface water & different native plants need to STFU.

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chia

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If you run across anyone saying brush clearance could have prevented the Palisades Fire, show them this [View all] highplainsdem Jan 11 OP

Yes. Several years of wet growth followed by dry... FailureToCommunicate Jan 11 #1

And for that the indigenous practice, from Igel Jan 12 #41

Homeowners must do a better job clearing their spaces. I don't think controlled burns are a possibility LauraInLA Jan 12 #47

Sorry you guys out there are having to go thru all this. Even sorrier that you have to listen to all the spurts. state of stupid Jan 12 #62

Thank you for all this amazing and helpful information! LauraInLA Jan 12 #64

You are most welcome. Hang in there. state of stupid Jan 12 #65

I know a little about wildland fire fighting (with a valid Incident Qualification Card - "Red Card") .. and I know this: Bo Zarts Jan 11 #2

The more pertinent question is what actually "started" this fire? Tarzanrock Jan 11 #3

Or someone was deliberate. COL Mustard Jan 11 #9

Two arrests so far malaise Jan 11 #15

I didn't realized they'd arrested anyone for arson! LauraInLA Jan 12 #49

No one has been arrested for arson obamanut2012 Jan 13 #70

Me, too -- I'm in Burbank. That's why I was surprised. I hope you're staying safe ;). LauraInLA Jan 13 #75

Are you aware of the massive fees that So Cal Edison paid after one of our regional fires? Hekate Jan 12 #42

I know a RWNJ LPBBEAR Jan 11 #4

RWNJs can rake the forests all they want KS Toronado Jan 11 #28

They are full of shit Cosmocat Jan 11 #35

When that manage the forests better comes from GOP Pols in Ohio, where they get rain & have rivers, Attilatheblond Jan 11 #36

Just hand them a rake... rasputin1952 Jan 12 #55

They wouldn't know what to do with it. LPBBEAR Jan 13 #72

Appreciate this article. Mike 03 Jan 11 #5

When the Santa Annas are blowing 80 to 99 MPH dry winds, and live burning ash is traveling miles Attilatheblond Jan 11 #37

This place is a great resource and an awesome place to visit! They are on the 210 west of Pasadena. LauraInLA Jan 12 #52

That article does not exactly debunk the underbrush theory hueymahl Jan 11 #6

The brush evolved with wildfire. It evolved to burn. That's not spinning reality. That is reality. paleotn Jan 11 #11

You are making my point for me hueymahl Jan 11 #12

No, I'm not. Now you're twisting reality. paleotn Jan 11 #18

That's not what the experts are saying hueymahl Jan 11 #19

Yes, that is what experts are saying. paleotn Jan 11 #22

Well, we can do this all day, lol hueymahl Jan 11 #23

And you'd still be wrong. paleotn Jan 11 #24

I agree with you to an extent, but the fact is that years and years ago, construction was allowed in LauraInLA Jan 12 #53

those fires are in brushlands, not tall tree forests. there no understory carpet of debris to clear compared to msongs Jan 11 #14

Correct hueymahl Jan 11 #17

I'm not sure you understand how difficult a lot of this terrain is -- it's part of why people built there, LauraInLA Jan 12 #54

I'm From The East RobinA Jan 13 #73

That really is the throughline, right? "Everybody wants his ocean view." ;) LauraInLA Jan 13 #74

Let's talk cutting brush. I volunteer, cutting brush, building boardwalk and so forth at a local swamp. 300+ acres. 3Hotdogs Jan 11 #7

Several mountain ranges to the east of the LA basin. Many canyons and hillsides. Look at Altadena here, chia Jan 11 #13

Yeah Mountainguy Jan 11 #26

Yes, that is the problem... the winds were probably a freight train down Eaton Canyon, throwing embers chia Jan 11 #39

You are making so much sense. Sadly, I read an interview with one Altadena resident who lost her home -- LauraInLA Jan 12 #56

It takes a lot of money to replace a roof, money a lot of family just don't have. I see you're in LA, chia Jan 12 #58

Thank you! I'm glad you're safe! My heart breaks for everyone who lost their home and community, LauraInLA Jan 12 #59

The 1970 fires were brutal, and arson, I believe, up & down the coast. Santa Annas were blowing hard, it was very dry Attilatheblond Jan 12 #63

Those memories stay with you, mine are still vivid from 1970 and 2003. Your last line is right on the money. chia Jan 13 #69

And cut brush quickly dries out Zambero Jan 13 #77

stupid azureblue Jan 11 #8

The stuff is built to burn. It evolved with regular wildfires. Part of the life cycle of many indigenous plant species. paleotn Jan 11 #10

I thought I remember from my grade school days Littlered Jan 11 #16

Why would they let anyone build anything in Asheville NC? Or Chimney Rock? Or Bat Cave? Or Lake Lure? paleotn Jan 11 #20

exactly. dying hurricanes going along the appalachians is not that unusual and buildings in the bottom of canyons msongs Jan 11 #25

I've often said the same thing Littlered Jan 12 #45

100% hueymahl Jan 11 #21

Chaparral is designed to burn. Botany Jan 11 #27

Evolved ... not designed. VMA131Marine Jan 11 #31

But doesn't evolution over generations. Botany Jan 11 #38

Evolution is not in any way directed VMA131Marine Jan 11 #40

Picking the fly poop out of the pepper over the use of the word design aren't you? Botany Jan 12 #46

Design implies intelligence and a purpose VMA131Marine Jan 12 #67

You just described evolution. n/t rasputin1952 Jan 12 #57

Live about 50 miles south in Orange County FHRRK Jan 11 #29

+++ KPN Jan 12 #51

Social media is loaded with asshole comments Klarkashton Jan 11 #30

Chipping it works to greatly reduce combustibility KPN Jan 12 #50

and the other fallacy stopdiggin Jan 11 #32

Every year. Prescribed burns and brush clearing. Melon Jan 12 #44

the point being, this is NOT a problem you are going to solve stopdiggin Jan 12 #66

It's a big state Retrograde Jan 12 #68

Around and through major cities Melon Jan 13 #78

Also show them this meme & link. ancianita Jan 11 #33

It depends on who is responsible for doing the raking which was a point made the last time state of stupid Jan 11 #34

Nawww...so the answer is that we are helpless and this is gods plan? Nooooo Melon Jan 12 #43

Yep, nothing more threatening or dangerous than wind KPN Jan 12 #48

Great and informative podcast by a "old experienced firefighter" SupportOurTruths Jan 12 #60

Many Easterners don't comprehend that California has a climate Retrograde Jan 12 #61

I'm originally from the SE, not live in CA obamanut2012 Jan 13 #71

MAGA thinks they are experts in everything that enrages them. Basso8vb Jan 13 #76