Several wildfires this season illustrate the links among infrastructure, climate change, and human assumptions about how to manage nature. A separate fire in Oregon illustrates how carbon credits can go up in smoke. A new fire started yesterday late afternoon near the Camp Fire (California) origin point. I’d read it began under the PG&E TX lines and was 40X40 feet when first approached. It’s in the Feather River canyon, steep slopes on both sides of the river, no access via roads (due to road condition) to bring in equipment or crews. Fire fighting planes were fast to attack. Yet, this fire, as is true for many others this season, is not controlled despite throwing expensive resources at it instantly and nearly continuously, despite forest thinning to reduce fire risk, despite PG&E assurances that their lines had been inspected and made safe, and, for this fire, in the footprint of recent past fires.
This first tweet is still w/in the first hour after it was spotted (“Intel” is “until”).
I watched it on FlightRadar last night as it was a great example of how costly it is to deal with these small fires, plus I have friends who live close enough to be at risk when the canyon winds shift from south to north, as they do each night. Three to five planes were constantly in action around the spot, mostly helicopters on direct attack due to the difficult terrain and the ability to suck up water from the Feather River.
This tweet was two hours after the fire was spotted—sounds good!
The next report was of all planes being grounded due to someone flying a drone over the fire. FFS. This was the last info I saw before I went to sleep last night, fire remained 1-2 acres. Still sounds good.
While I was sleeping it jumped containment lines and expanded.
This is what I found when I woke up and checked social media: The fire went from 1-2 acres to 1200 acres while I slept. Fortunately, the canyon winds shifted, as usual in the morning, to come from the south.
Five to seven planes are working the fire now, and a private jet dropped by for a look (I suspect PG&E). Initial planes came from the Chico Airport, a short distance away. A big tanker is dropping retardant or water on the opposite slope across the river, across Hwy 70. I don’t know if this is due to spotting as the canyon winds shift north or proactive to prevent spotting. VLAT (very large air tankers) have been ordered now, out of Sacramento. Additional TX lines are being de-energized ahead of the fire spread, affecting the back-up power option that has helped the area further west near the Beckwourth Complex fires that forced de-energizing their local lines.
And the PG&E de-energizing also affects Sacramento, not in or near the fire.
The map in this tweet shows just how useless it can be to clear or proactively burn areas to limit fires. The green area just below the fire is a granite dome with very little vegetation. Highway 70 (black line) is the main route across the Sierras here. Plus, a major railroad route, and important electricity distribution lines are all right in the fire now. The nearest community, Pulga, is less than a mile downstream (west). Concow residences, what remains or was rebuild after the Camp Fire, are two miles away (to the west).
Butte County Sheriff issued an evacuation warning (be ready to leave) for most of Concow and Pulga (small enclave close to the origin). And here’s the current situation.
Think about this — the fire was first addressed when it was 40 feet square. As many planes as could work the area were right there in the first hour and kept it to 1-2 acres. Field crews hiked in and worked to establish a line around the fire. The surrounding area is either recent past fire or bare rock. And now, 13 hours later, we might have an out-of-control fire.
How much did this cost? How long can we sustain this kind of expense? How can we not spend this money to protect communities, major electric distribution lines, railroads, and important roadways?
OH and one more fire-related OMG — the biggest fire in the US right now is the Bootleg Fire in southeast Oregon, 212,377 acres at 9am. It has 0 control and planes haven’t been able to fly due to wind and smoke. I read that plane fuel shortages are limiting use of aircraft in OR and elsewhere. The Interagency Fire Center declared Bootleg to be a Mega Fire a couple days ago. AND IT IS BURNING UP PRIVATE FOREST THAT SOLD CARBON CREDITS TO MICROSOFT. 🤯
Can we just stop this charade about carbon credits and get busy directly confronting the need to reduce carbon emissions?