Sunday, September 27, 2020

I found another fire map at the LA Times:

https://www.latimes.com/wildfires-map/ 

What is amazing to me is when you drill down into Los Angeles on this map how many evacuation areas there are so close to civilization and homes and cities. I grew up in Tujunga from ages 5 to 7 and then moved to Glendale from 8 to 21 years of age in the 1950s and 1960s until 1969. So, I know this area even as a child riding my bicycle and then driving my first cars (1956 Ford Station wagon, 1965 VW BUG, 1968 Camaro that I bought new in 1968 etc. So, this area is very familiar to me and it is very sad some of the forests that were my favorites to ski and to hike and backpack into are burning up now in Angeles national Forest.

Note: This map tends to work differently than others I have used to find out information about Western States Fires and smoke. This one you click on the fire name and it automatically drills down into that area for you and you can then move the map to the right or the left to study that specific fire. I didn't see plus or minus there to drill into or out of wherever you want to on the map. So, this is a new software technology map as far as I can presently see.

It's pretty mind boggling just how many fires are still burning and many started in early to mid August and are still burning today. 

Part of the problem is that other states aren't allowed to send men or equipment into California and other states are having this problem too because each state has to protect it's workers from coronavirus. So, some states like California are letting prisoners become firefighters so they can have their criminal records expunged and have a career as a firefighter when they leave prison. California, and Oregon likely are also possibly deploying National Guard units to fight fires too.

So, if you are wondering why these fires aren't getting put out that much it mostly has to do with problems created by the Coronavirus regarding firefighters and equipment in western states at this point. There just aren't enough firefighters and equipment available to put all these fires out at this point in the western states.

So, many fires will burn until we get rain especially in wilderness areas where there are no roads at all and the only way in is by parachute or helicopter and the same for getting out is only helicopter. But, if there is too much smoke or clouds helicopters cannot be used to rescue firefighters.

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