magneze
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Whoops
California wildfires are “historic”
- Thread starter cupid_stunt
- Start date
story
Changing the facts
LA fires live: ‘Arsonist with flamethrower’ tied up by residents in citizens arrest
An alleged arsonist suspected of sparking the latest fire in Los Angeles was found with what neighbours described as a “large propane tank or flamethrower”.www.telegraph.co.uk
All I’m seeing now is that someone was “allegedly heard attempting to light a fire”. He was subsequently booked for a felony probation violation, no probable cause to hold him on arson charges.
Slebs cursing him on their feeds. This story will either disappear or turn into a cats-and-dogs story, with homeless people being accused and castigated.
Arson is always investigated for wildfires. But it could so easily have been caused by someone flipping a cigarette butt out the window of a moving car. Without the Santa Ana blowing the rapid and wide spread wouldn’t have happened.
New evacuation orders in place for a new fire in the Palisades.
Conspiracists asking why the trees and bushes haven’t been burnt to ashes when the houses were completely consumed… “just’ saying’…” etc. There comes a point when ignorance becomes wilful.
story
Changing the facts
For those who like maps and stats and facts…..
There’s another large wildfire burning in Arizona. Firefighters are tackling it in the midst of snow and freezing conditions. They’ve managed to contain it.
This is the most recent report, but it’s been burning since Dec 14…
ktar.com
There’s another large wildfire burning in Arizona. Firefighters are tackling it in the midst of snow and freezing conditions. They’ve managed to contain it.
This is the most recent report, but it’s been burning since Dec 14…
Horton Fire update: Firefighters make progress in snowstorm
Firefighters worked through a winter storm on Thursday to significantly increase containment on the Horton Fire northeast of Payson.
ktar.com
PTK
Paul Kegan
Donald Trump should be lauding the politicians of California who have shown such dedication to the principle of the “small state” that they cut funding for fire hydrants and other fire fighting measures. No greater love hath a neo-liberal for his or her principles than that are prepared to lay down the lives of others to uphold them.
brogdale
Coming to terms with late onset Anarchism
I know little of the politics or urban, social geography of LA, but I did notice that this BBC News map showing the spatial extent of the Eaton fire shows the dreadful destruction of large residential "working-class" districts in Altadena.
Obviously the media will be drawn to the film-star villas on the beach, but it is clear that many of those least able to afford uninsured losses will have been devastated.
weltweit
Well-Known Member
The LA fires seem to have completely taken over BBC R4 today, I was napping and watching and on and on went the LA press conference, what has this to do with me I thought, not a lot, wtf are they showing it, I wondered is there no other news in the world.
Boring, well worth a perhaps minute, there are many fires around LA, there has been property damage, 11 people have been killed, ok, on to the next story ..
But no BBC R4 dwelt and dwelt on it .. numpties!
Boring, well worth a perhaps minute, there are many fires around LA, there has been property damage, 11 people have been killed, ok, on to the next story ..
But no BBC R4 dwelt and dwelt on it .. numpties!
spring-peeper
Well-Known Member
I'm more upset seeing all the dead forest animal bodies than I am about the destruction of houses and buildings.
2hats
Dust.
Altadena is relatively affluent (compared to other cities, districts in the US; though obviously not Malibu-adjacent affluent).
(Have visited around there often - friends and colleagues being based at JPL, CalTech and nearby observatories - one place I used to stay at has definitely burnt down).
brogdale
Coming to terms with late onset Anarchism
Ta, I was careful to highlight my ignorance and appreciate some local knowledge. Still shit, obvs.
story
Changing the facts
Here’s a pretty decent outline of the different factors at play with these fires.
www.theguardian.com
Santa Ana winds are hot and dry from inland, and fast. So they dry the air and vegetation, and push the flames.
The winds make it more tricky for airborne fire fighting.
Urban water tanks are not intended for firefighting and ran dry.
Recent rains after drought increased vegetation, then more drought, which is now drying everything out so it becomes tinder and fuel for the fires.
Climate change makes any fires more likely, and more likely to be more destructive.
No doubt other factors will be added to this, but even without infrastructure errors, political stuff, socioeconomic factors or whatever else, these points alone add up to a huge increase in risk for fires like this.
Visual explainer: why are the LA wildfires so bad?
Santa Ana winds, drought and a hotter planet have helped exacerbate the fires in California
Santa Ana winds are hot and dry from inland, and fast. So they dry the air and vegetation, and push the flames.
The winds make it more tricky for airborne fire fighting.
Urban water tanks are not intended for firefighting and ran dry.
Recent rains after drought increased vegetation, then more drought, which is now drying everything out so it becomes tinder and fuel for the fires.
Climate change makes any fires more likely, and more likely to be more destructive.
No doubt other factors will be added to this, but even without infrastructure errors, political stuff, socioeconomic factors or whatever else, these points alone add up to a huge increase in risk for fires like this.
cupid_stunt
Where's the bloody sun?
At least 16 dead now.
Skinny Ethel
Well-Known Member
Am convinced lifes a big joke and were all involved. Its a black comedy directed by the Smash spud aliens i can visualise them all smiling laughing as on their adverts.
story
Changing the facts
At least 16 dead now.
They can’t take the cadaver dogs in until it’s safe for them. There will definitely be more dead once the dogs are allowed to seek.
story
Changing the facts
I know this is a terrible thing to think about but I can’t help it.
I’m putting it in a spoiler. It’s pretty haunting.
It’s about the aftermath of disasters and any survivors
Those trapped in burning buildings will very likely be dead. It’s very different in an earthquake, when there’s a desperate search for living survivors after the disaster. After the recent earthquake in Syria, I was told first hand about how people walking past collapsed buildings would go silently, so as not to give false hope to those trapped, and to protect themselves from having to helplessly hear their cries for help. And I think of the smell of the dead after a disaster and how that will be different for a fire.
I’m putting it in a spoiler. It’s pretty haunting.
It’s about the aftermath of disasters and any survivors
Those trapped in burning buildings will very likely be dead. It’s very different in an earthquake, when there’s a desperate search for living survivors after the disaster. After the recent earthquake in Syria, I was told first hand about how people walking past collapsed buildings would go silently, so as not to give false hope to those trapped, and to protect themselves from having to helplessly hear their cries for help. And I think of the smell of the dead after a disaster and how that will be different for a fire.
Johnny Vodka
The Abominable Scotsman
hitmouse
entreprenulsoip critical thinking
By the way, just seen confirmation that Jesse "Tall Can" Cannon, who's serving a five-year sentence as a result of charges for defending his city from a "Patriot March" in January 2021, is one of the imprisoned firefighters currently risking his life for way below minimum wage. If anyone would like to send him a postcard or similar to say thanks, his address is:
Jesse Cannon
BX4822
Konocti #27 13044 State Hwy 29
Lower Lake, CA 95457
United States
Background on Jesse and the circumstances leading up to his imprisonment:
theappeal.org
prisonersolidarity.com
Jesse Cannon
BX4822
Konocti #27 13044 State Hwy 29
Lower Lake, CA 95457
United States
Background on Jesse and the circumstances leading up to his imprisonment:
At Least 5 Capitol Rally Participants Were In A Violent ‘Patriot March’ In San Diego
Right-wingers and ultranationalists convened in the city days after the Washington insurrection, but the police crackdown that day fell on counterprotesters.
Jesse Cannon | prisonersolidarity.com
cesare
shady's dreams ♥
Monetise and/or politicise
PTK
Paul Kegan
It should certainly be politicised.
The USA would rather spend money on fighter jets than on fire engines. That is a political issue.
bcuster
Well-Known Member
Media has moved on from the story. but: Getting worse, not better
www.latimes.com
the global warming connection:
The extreme fire weather is also being fed by extraordinarily dry conditions. The last significant rain in downtown Los Angeles was on May 5, when 0.13 of an inch of rain fell. Since Oct. 1, only 0.16 of an inch of rain has fallen there — a drop in the bucket compared with the historical average of 5.34 inches that should have fallen by this point in the season.
The last time there has been so little rain between early May and the end of December was 1962, where downtown L.A. got only 0.14 of an inch, according to the weather service.
“In my view,” said retired climatologist Bill Putzert, “the past nine months has been one of the driest in the historical record going back to 1900.
Unprecedented new extreme fire alert brings danger to SoCal for next two days
Southern California will again face extreme fire weather conditions starting Tuesday morning. A fourth 'particularly dangerous situation' warning is possible.
www.latimes.com
the global warming connection:
The extreme fire weather is also being fed by extraordinarily dry conditions. The last significant rain in downtown Los Angeles was on May 5, when 0.13 of an inch of rain fell. Since Oct. 1, only 0.16 of an inch of rain has fallen there — a drop in the bucket compared with the historical average of 5.34 inches that should have fallen by this point in the season.
The last time there has been so little rain between early May and the end of December was 1962, where downtown L.A. got only 0.14 of an inch, according to the weather service.
“In my view,” said retired climatologist Bill Putzert, “the past nine months has been one of the driest in the historical record going back to 1900.
story
Changing the facts
Landlords and hotels have been taken to task for price gouging fire evacuees.
And they condemn other nations for being less-than their own stuff. The hypocrisy of the “bigger better best” mindset has irked me my entire life.
LA wildfire evacuees face 'obscene' price gouging as landlord lists house for $17,000 a month then demands $30,000
"You need to figure out how to adjust your prices consistent with the law. And if that means departing from your algorithm, depart from your algorithm."
As Mexico, Ukraine and Canada are sending or offering to send firefighters, I’m wondering what is being said by those who want America to stop sending aid to other countries, even when in dire distress. Are they suggesting the help is unwarranted and should be declined?
(I suspect Iran’s offer is more of a Viz joke than a real offer tbh, or at least a power move.)
bcuster
Well-Known Member
California should accept Iran's help. The human to human contact will do a very strained political relationship a lot of good.
Global warming is a bigger threat to Iran than to US, due to less bio-diversity.,..
Perhaps US can help them someday with global warming issues...
Global warming is a bigger threat to Iran than to US, due to less bio-diversity.,..
Perhaps US can help them someday with global warming issues...
story
Changing the facts
Media has moved on from the story. but: Getting worse, not better
Unprecedented new extreme fire alert brings danger to SoCal for next two days
Southern California will again face extreme fire weather conditions starting Tuesday morning. A fourth 'particularly dangerous situation' warning is possible.
the global warming connection:
The extreme fire weather is also being fed by extraordinarily dry conditions. The last significant rain in downtown Los Angeles was on May 5, when 0.13 of an inch of rain fell. Since Oct. 1, only 0.16 of an inch of rain has fallen there — a drop in the bucket compared with the historical average of 5.34 inches that should have fallen by this point in the season.
The last time there has been so little rain between early May and the end of December was 1962, where downtown L.A. got only 0.14 of an inch, according to the weather service.
“In my view,” said retired climatologist Bill Putzert, “the past nine months has been one of the driest in the historical record going back to 1900.
Your media has already moved on? That’s so unwell.
Still top of the news here, so far as I can see.
bcuster
Well-Known Member
American attention span is notoriously limited. Look who's been elected
story
Changing the facts
American attention span is notoriously limited. Look who's been elected
I know but even this? A home grown honest to god extreme disaster with international news coverage. I wouldn’t have expected it to get boring for the US news cycle before the fires are even out.
The next bit will also be disastrous. LA has always been the place where bad things don’t happen: if you’ve arrived in LA the only place further up you can go is into the various desirable hills and canyons. To be at the sharp end of a disaster in LA is going to bruise American sensibilities, I reckon.
hitmouse
entreprenulsoip critical thinking
It's not directly related, but it definitely adds to the apocalyptic feeling that Richmond, the capital city of Virginia, was left without drinkable water for a week due to a storm taking out a water treatment plant:
www.yahoo.com
Not seen much news coverage of that one, but a major city not having running water seems like a fairly big issue?
Richmond’s boil water advisory lifted Saturday
The Virginia Department of Health lifted Richmond’s boil water advisory, Mayor Danny Avula announced Saturday morning, after two tests of the city’s water confirmed it was safe to drink. Boil water advisories in neighboring counties Hanover, Henrico and Goochland were also lifted Saturday. The...
Not seen much news coverage of that one, but a major city not having running water seems like a fairly big issue?
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