West Coast Smoke, UGH!

[Hay Dude]

Are the wildfires extending into Canada or Mexico?

 

[bcp]

Are the wildfires extending into Canada or Mexico?

This is from about 10 days ago.

Here's a map of all the wildfires currently burning in B.C. | CTV News

" As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 104 fires actively burning in British Columbia, with more than half of them (57) located in the province's Southeast Fire Centre.

Hot, dry weather, followed by lightning strikes, has led to the significant surge in fires. A total of 88 new blazes have been discovered over the last two days, and 73 of the 104 fires burning in the province as of Wednesday were believed to be caused by lightning.

The most significant of the fires burning in the province is the Christie Mountain fire, one of 18 burning in the Kamloops Fire Centre. As of Wednesday afternoon, the blaze had grown to 1,400 hectares and prompted evacuation alerts and orders affecting thousands of homes."

 

[bcp]

Some of Mexico.

Map of wildfires in northwest Mexico - Wildfire Today

Bruce

 

[Wagtail]

That watering trailer linked from my post #361 above is an IBC tote on a little trailer rated a half ton. Here's a photo after I bought the trailer, well-used. That's 2500 lbs of water plus 100 lbs ? for the tote. Then 150 lbs for this trailer under it. The little tractor pulls this all over, but I think you need something larger than a Hilux to pull or carry a tote plus pressure washer offroad.

I have a 12 volt boating bilge pump dropped down inside the tote for delivering irrigation water. It delivers 10~15 gallons per minute. That might be enough volume to feed a small pressure washer. (Any larger bilge/sump pump won't fit through the opening on top).

I like the idea of a pressure washer to jet water out to where its needed.

Update on the petrol pressure washer... short story = NO.

Somewhat longer story: I went into Launceston today (when you go into the 'Big Smoke' it's usually when you have at least 3 things to get/do ) and the last thing I wanted to do was stop at the Karcher Dealership to discuss & purchase for my needs. The technicians/salesmen basically said that I'd be wasting my money (minimum A$800) as a pressure washer simply wouldn't have the 'range' to act as a fire-pump. They said to make up a float (trailer) with an IBC tote and a dedicated petrol-driven fire pump (I've already got one of those for defending the house).

Good on the Karcher blokes for their honest advice... mind you, that's the way it is here in Tassie. Reputation is KING on this island State.

 

[cqaigy2]

That's good the tech had a better alternative for you.

 

[bcp]

Thursday early afternoon.



Bruce

 

[bcp]

Friday morning



Bruce

 

[deezler]

Ugh, that stubborn creek fire is still smoking out the whole valley? Why can't they get it put out, terrain too rugged? 380,000 acres burned..... good lord. The stats on this thing are nuts. 340 miles of dozer line? People hand cut 98 miles of containment? Thats as far as New York City to Philadelphia.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7147/

Total Miles of Dozer Lines: 340 miles

Total Miles of Dozer Line Completed: 184 miles

Total Miles of Handline: 98 miles

Total Miles of Handline Completed: 45 miles

Total Miles of Road as Line: 147 miles

Total Miles of Road as Line Completed: 86 miles

 

[California]

Ugh, that stubborn creek fire is still smoking out the whole valley? Why can't they get it put out, terrain too rugged? 380,000 acres burned..... good lord. The stats on this thing are nuts. 340 miles of dozer line? People hand cut 98 miles of containment? Thats as far as New York City to Philadelphia.

Creek Fire Information - InciWeb the Incident Information System

Total Miles of Dozer Lines: 340 miles

Total Miles of Dozer Line Completed: 184 miles

Total Miles of Handline: 98 miles

Total Miles of Handline Completed: 45 miles

Total Miles of Road as Line: 147 miles

Total Miles of Road as Line Completed: 86 miles

That says its burning toward the NE, up toward the crest of the Sierras. That's extremely rugged and remote country, mostly without vehicle access. No mountain passes cross the Sierras in that region, too high and rough. Many peaks, even meadows, are above 10,000 ft. The region where the fire is advancing is west of the Pacific Crest Trail. Find Mammoth Lakes, California on Google maps then look beyond the ridgeline west of that, toward Yosemite.

The collection of photos titled Little Lakes Valley Trailhead show how hard it is to get in there. My daughter hiked in from there or somewhere similar, a two day hike, for a month long research project up in the alpine valleys. She and the girl with her were issued an expensive satellite phone and were resupplied by helicopter. I don't think they saw anyone for the whole month. (They were documenting the die off of high-altitude frogs as UV increased, related to the hole in the ozone layer). California isn't all flat. The highest peak in the 48 states is just south of there.

That's beautiful country. Fires there are a part of the natural ecology, so likely most firefighting effort is to save structures.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yes, beautiful country! I USED to enjoy backpacking through terrain such as that. Now I like flat hikes!