Saturday 4 May 2013

Ventura County Fire Grows to 28,000 Acres

At the Los Angeles Times, "California wildfires: 28,000 acres burned in Ventura County."

And previously, "Camarillo Springs Fire Has Now Charred 18,000 Acres."



And see, "Updates on Camarillo Springs Fire: Southern California Fire Season Off to a Sinister Start":

The Southern California wildfire season got off to an ominous start Thursday with a massive brush fire in Ventura County that officials fear is just a preview of dangerous months ahead.

The fire showed in dramatic fashion how the region's record dry conditions and lack of rainfall can quickly combine with fierce Santa Ana winds to produce widespread havoc.

Firefighters said the dry winter and spring left the brush much more combustible than they've ever seen it at this time of year. Weather forecasters said the Santa Ana wind conditions Thursday produced gusts topping 60 mph. Those are speeds significantly above normal for May and more common for the fall, when the Santa Anas are at their strongest.

Thousands fled from several communities Thursday morning as flames consumed bone-dry terrain, devouring more than 6,500 acres in just a few hours. Humidity levels dropped to as low as 4%. Walls of flames — some topping 20 feet — bore down on homes and licked up against the side of the 101 Freeway. Temperatures topped 90 degrees.
More at the link.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

When I was young, the often dry California hills would have fire breaks cut into them so that large fires couldn't get started. Unfortunately, the eco religionists didn't think that was good for the environment. The result is BS stories about big fires and droughts and using is the default low water California sitution to push their AGW agenda.