CA Fires ...

I hear there's a shortage of water to fight the fire.
 
Just heard from my Sister who lives and works right in the thick of it. Northern Santa Monica is being evacuated now. There is also a new fire that has erupted in Hollywood, so they are under evacuation orders now as well.
 
dwalby said:
Bob, this isn't a CA problem specifically. The forests in all the western states are mostly on federally owned land, called National Forests. They are all prone to wildfires, as we see every summer and fall, regardless of which state they're in. Forest maintenance costs a lot of money, and everyone knows Americans are averse to paying anything in extra taxes that won't directly benefit them, so who would fund that widespread maintenance over the entire western US anyway?
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Not just the forests, there is a lot of property that the state owns and also personal property that should all be maintained, but isn't. What's is burning now is not forests, but what I just said!
 
Due to the significant increase in forest fires Ontario has a FireSmart program to guide homeowners on how to protect their property.

Be FireSmart

Information from the FireSmart program on how to protect your property from wildland fires.
www.ontario.ca www.ontario.ca

We looked at the specs for our tree surrounded cottage and realized we'd be cutting back a huge number of trees if we implemented all of the the recommendations. We settled for removing brush and plant matter around the house and left it at that.
 
FastST said:
M

May not be a bad idea. Although I don't see it happening.
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It may seem great. The idea will be sold to you as a great convenience for you.

But then you'll find they can monitor your movements and you're restricted to the boundaries of that 15 minute city. You want to buy gas an hour away...tough luck. Your credit card won't work. After all...why would anyone want to go outside that wonderful place they have determined is good for you?

Chris
 
Daboo said:
But then you'll find they can monitor your movements and you're restricted to the boundaries of that 15 minute city. You want to buy gas an hour away...tough luck. Your credit card won't work. After all...why would anyone want to go outside that wonderful place they have determined is good for you?
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Sounds like N. Korea type of "good for you" thing. Even beats the former USSR (and probably China). And why do I need a car if all is in 15 min walk.
No pasara. This will never happen. (or maybe in CA??)

Many places in Europe have all you need in 15 mim walking distance. Not something big as Lidl or Aldi (and that can be too) but at least a convenience store, a pharmacy, a hardware store, etc. That can come convenient when you have it all where you live.
 
I generally ride 11-15,000 miles a year. I guarantee you, most of that is not within a 15 minute distance from home. My point is that it isn't whether I can buy milk and eggs within 15 minutes, but what if I want to take a vacation?
 
ReSTored said:
We looked at the specs for our tree surrounded cottage and realized we'd be cutting back a huge number of trees if we implemented all of the the recommendations.
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Good luck with that around here. Now we need a permit to cut down any tree bigger than a twig. A couple of years ago they revised the bylaw so that you need a permit to cut a tree in your backyard now as well. Can't even get a permit for a very large tree that leans towards my house and would smash the whole back of my house if it ever came down in a wind storm. The solution was they strapped it to the tree behind it. Great, so now both trees will fall on my house instead of just one.

They won't let you cut anything down in the name of saving the planet by having more trees but when there is a fire the result is total devastation. My Sister, who is currently living right in the middle of the LA fires, told me that the very same ridiculous tree cutting restrictions exist there and yet all of these officials who implement these policies are all somehow surprised at how big and destructive these fires become once they get started. Maybe the current policy of not allowing anyone to cut trees anywhere has something to do with it.
 
Also one of the unforeseen consequences of fighting wildfires; they used to burn out the accumulated brush etc that builds up and provides the fuel for these raging beasts. Instead of several smaller fires, we get one big massive one. I get it, you have to fight them any time they are near or threaten human habitation but we should be trying to clear the brush or doing controlled burns on a larger scale.
 
Andrew Shadow said:
Can't even get a permit for a very large tree that leans towards my house and would smash the whole back of my house if it ever came down in a wind storm. The solution was they strapped it to the tree behind it. Great, so now both trees will fall on my house instead of just one.
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We have restrictive bylaws in Mississauga re cutting trees. In the Kawarthas, where cottage is located, no bylaws as it is in the sticks, no shortage of trees.

One thing we did do at cottage is have an arborist come in to prune large trees near the house to reduce their wind load. This makes them less likely to be blown over in a storm. Also, arborist mentioned that all of the trees around the house (White Cedar or Pine) are a relatively light wood, so if they fall against the house not going to cut it in half like an old oak tree might.

Weaselinsuit said:
Also one of the unforeseen consequences of fighting wildfires; they used to burn out the accumulated brush etc that builds up and provides the fuel for these raging beasts. Instead of several smaller fires, we get one big massive one. I get it, you have to fight them any time they are near or threaten human habitation but we should be trying to clear the brush or doing controlled burns on a larger scale.
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Do you know of any local or regional politicians who would promote an expensive program like this? Taxpayers reward politicians who cut taxes, not those who think up new programs to increase taxes.
 
jodog said:
Does arcing electrical lines count as carelessness or stupidity?
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That has been the cause of most of the fires originating in the hills over the last I don't know how long. The suggestion to eliminate that possibility has not been taken seriously.
 
ReSTored said:
Do you know of any local or regional politicians who would promote an expensive program like this? Taxpayers reward politicians who cut taxes, not those who think up new programs to increase taxes.
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I know Parks Canada does controlled burns in the National Parks but yeah, no one wants to pay for the measures that help prevent or reduce the damage from these things, they'd rather point the finger when they do occur. I saw one guy's twitter posts, one from 2021 demanding that taxes be cut (i.e. including those that support fire departments) and then a day or so ago asking if anyone knew of a private fire fighting firm and that he was willing to pay anything.
 
dwalby said:
I think a large percentage of them are either outright arson, or stupidity like someone throwing a cigarette butt out of a car window.
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Saw who I think was the LA County Fire Chief being interviewed yesterday. When asked about the possibility of these fires being arson the only response that he would give is that 90% of wind-blown wildfires in his jurisdiction are caused by humans. He would not elaborate regarding accidental vs intentional.

If any of these fires were intentionally set, or are the result of someone doing something outright stupid like throwing a cigarette but out of their car window, I sure hope that they are found out and caught.
 
It will be interesting to find out how this fire started. Years ago a major fire in the Sierra foothills was started because a trailer safety chain was attached too loose and it caused sparks when it would occasionally touch the asphalt.
There is a firehouse literally about a hundred yards from my home so we get to know the Cal Fire crew there pretty well when we walk our dogs etc. I was talking to one of the Firemen and he told me that they are called out almost every week due to people starting illegal campfires and just abandoning them while still burning.
 
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