Sunday, April 19, 2015

[californiadisasters] Unattended Cooking Fire Sparked Chino Blaze, Fire Officials Say



Unattended Cooking Fire Sparked Chino Blaze, Fire Officials Say

By Asher Klein and Shanna Mendiola

Published at 8:51 AM PDT on Apr 19, 2015

Fire officials on Sunday said an unattended cooking fire sparked the Chino blaze that has charred more than 1,000 acres and triggered a smoke advisory for areas in the Inland Empire.

As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the fire had grown to 1,020 acres and was 35 percent contained, Cal Fire officials said.

Smoke was expected to travel inland on Sunday, according to NBC4 meteorologist Shanna Mendiola.

People reported smoke to emergency responders in Simi Valley that the Ventura County Fire Department determined came from the burning brush fire, about an 80-mile drive away, authorities said.

PHOTOS: Vast Brush Fire Burns Near Prado Dam

PHOTOS: Vast Brush Fire Burns Near Prado Dam

"If you are seeing or smelling smoke in the air and cannot identify an area that it is coming from it may be from the Highway Fire," a Simi Valley Police Department release said, using law enforcement's nickname for the fire.

Dry conditions from California's extreme drought, now in its fourth year, contributed to the fire's rapid spread.

Forecast: Prado Dam Fire

[LA] Forecast: Prado Dam Fire
Fueled by California's drought, a large brush fire burning in Riverside County may bring smoky, unhealthy air to parts of the Inland Empire. NBC4 Shanna Mendiola has the fire-related forecast on Sunday, April 19, 2015. (Published Sunday, Apr 19, 2015)

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for parts of the Inland Empire Saturday, saying some area may have air that's unhealthy to breathe for sensitive groups. Likely areas to experience this air include the northwest, southwest and parts of the central San Bernardino Valley and the Norco and Corona area.

The air quality would be poor for several days, as firefighters took on the fire, Mendiola said. Winds, temperatures and dry air help fuel a fire, Mendiola said, but she expected help on several of those fronts.

FORECAST: Onshore Wind Cooling SoCal

[LA] FORECAST: Onshore Wind Cooling SoCal
A cool end of the weekend was expected to linger into the week, but smoke from a large brush fire was expected to dirty the air in the Inland Empire. NBC4 meteorologist Shanna Mendiola has the forecast for Sunday, April 19, 2015. (Published Sunday, Apr 19, 2015)

Calm in the morning, winds were expected to pick up Sunday evening, possibly pushing smoke toward that Coachella Valley, Mendiola said.

Cool temperatures in the mid-70s were also forecasted, and a storm was possible later in the week, according to NBC4's forecasts.

Firefighters Limit Spread of Smoky Chino Brush Fire

[LA] Firefighters Limit Spread of Smoky Chino Brush Fire
Though only 15 percent of the large brush fire was contained, firefighters set up barriers to protect nearby homes. Melissa Etezadi reports from Corona (corrects Chino) for Today in LA on Sunday, April 19, 2015. (Published Sunday, Apr 19, 2015)

Dry air in the area would continue to provide fuel for the fire, Mendiola said, but the cool, onshore wind would bring moisture that could temper the fire's strength. Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler said added humidity in the air helped stymie the spread of the fire.


Source: www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/IE-Riverside-Corona-Brush-Fire-Air-Quality-300586881.html



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Posted by: Kim Noyes <kimnoyes@gmail.com>


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