Re: [californiadisasters] Re: CD Needs Others To Stand In The Gap

I'm in your area currently Kim so I'm not local to any of the events; I can't pass much info along.  Others in the area(s) will hopefully step up with the blow by blow info per usual. 

However, I passed through Banning and Camarillo last week to get here from Tucson (a mistake, the LA basin was its usual parade of awful drivers who neither respect life nor understand basic physics).  I did note that the grasses (and some of the brush) weren't fully cured (not totally dead and dry) but had 'headed out' (fully grown, seeds fully developed and ready to be harvested/spread).

I'm sure that a few dry windy days would have cured the grasses completely; enough to make things worse but they're obviously ready enough to burn.  Short version; it could have been much worse in another week.

Remember that grasses are '1 hour' fuels, following the relative humidity up/down by a one hour lag.  Santa Ana winds are bone dry and hot.  (It was a pleasant 95 & 2% in Tucson before we left).  It won't the grasses long to cure (completely dry out).

Then there are 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000 hour fuels (timber).  All have lower fuel moistures than normal for this time of year (think October). 

Real short version: this year has a very high potential to suck for losses and bad air.  

If you haven't finished (or started) your 4191 PRC required clearing, best to get on it NOW!  As in today, this moment, right now (yep, mine's done).

100' or to the property line (whichever is closer) to any structure; distance can be increased by the local fire authority.  It doesn't mean moonscape, but non-pyrophitic vegetation (resistant to burning). 

-:-:-

No wind, no smoke, slight onshore breezes here but the crops of flowers a half mile away are potent (Wah-choo!).  On the other hand, it'll be nice to go someplace where English is the spoken language when we move on this weekend. 

Nearby Solvang was mid 90's today.  We assisted their economy a little.  Heading home soon; it's time to un-doggy and un-desert the RV, the 'Travel Cave'.  ;•)

Rick wa6nhc

Tiny iPhone 5 keypad, typos are inevitable

On May 3, 2013, at 9:19 PM, Kim Noyes <kimnoyes@gmail.com> wrote:

 

Thanks great job Joann, Lin, and Rick for the updates today while I was away and busy. I'll be equally busy all weekend long so please keep it up and please others of you get involved and contribute as well! Thanks in advance!

Kimmer