[UPDATE Sunday] Camp Fire Tops 100,000 Acres; Multiple Dead (Maps, Video, and Images From the Devastation East of Chico)

Burned vehicles Paradise Camp fire Mckenna

Many of the dead were found in vehicles where the fire had overcome them. These are not believed to be those vehicles. [Crop of a photo by Mark McKenna]

At least nine victims have been counted dead after the Camp Fire exploded east of Chico in the early morning hours of November 8 near the town of Paradise which had a population of close to 30,000 and is now mostly a vast swath of destruction. Many of the dead were found in cars attempting to flee the fast-moving flames. Others were found in or just outside of residences.

A burned house in Paradise.

Abandoned cars lurch sideways on melted tires beside a burned house in Paradise. [Photo by Mark McKenna]

PG&E reported a power line outage at nearly the same time and in almost exactly the same place as the Camp Fire is known to have started.

The fire has now spread over 100,000 acres with 20% containment. Most of that containment is the southeast of Chico along Hwy 99. The flames continue to move rapidly. However, today should see some slowing due to weather conditions. But dangerous winds are expected to push the fire hard tonight. (See weather section below.)

Business burned in Paradise.

A candy and ice cream store’s sign above rubble outside a business burned in Paradise. [Photo by Mark McKenna]

Cal Fire is currently estimating that 6,453 residences and 260 commercial structures have been destroyed.

And, the fire is still spreading.

The Weather:  

The crew checks the wind speed on Highway 70 near Pulga.

The Humboldt County Strike team checks the wind speed on Highway 70 near Pulga yesterday. [Photo by Mark McKenna]

Firefighters expect a calmer day with thick smoke until about 8 p.m. when dangerous winds are expected to kick up. Gusts could go as high as 50 mph in higher elevations. These strong winds are expected to last until early Sunday morning.

The Plan:

The Humboldt Strike Team prepares for their assignment at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds in Chico.

The Humboldt Strike Team prepares for their assignment at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds in Chico. [Photo by Mark McKenna]

To keep the Camp Fire from spreading into the densely populated areas around Chico, Hwy 99 is a critical stopping point for firefighters. They will be battling to keep the fire north and east of that. Hwy 149 is a critical corner of the fence they are using to corral in the Camp Fire, also. They want to keep the flames north of it.

Firefighters will be fighting a house to house battle to save structures from Centerville northeast through Paradise Pines.

The Roads:

Flames burn on the side of the hill on Highway 70.

Flames burn on the side of the hill on Highway 70. [Photo by Mark McKenna]

Caltrans District 3 is reporting:

Caltrans road closure Camp FIre

Numerous county roads are also closed.

The Maps:

  • Camp Fire Public Information Map –to see details either zoom or click on the map and download a pdf.

 

  • Camp Fire Operations Map –to see details either zoom or click on the map and download a pdf.

  • Camp Fire KMZ Map–Zoom for detail or for 3D imagery, click on the map and download a file that connects with your Google Earth program. Warning this imagery was captured around 8 p.m. last night and does not show the latest borders.

camp heat 2

Heat map from yesterday at 7 p.m. 

Images:

First one video, from Thursday evening:

Then some photos from Thursday evening.

Camp Fire burning

Oaks burning in a field. [All photos by Mark McKenna]

Embers from a house burning on Oakridge Drive near Paradise shower a tree and home across the street.

Embers from a house burning on Oakridge Drive near Paradise shower a tree and home across the street.

A house burns on Oakridge Drive near Paradise burns on Thursday Night.

A house burns on Oakridge Drive near Paradise burns on Thursday Night.

A house burns on Oakridge Drive near Paradise burns on Thursday Night.

A house burns on Oakridge Drive near Paradise burns on Thursday Night.

Then yesterday’s devasting photos from Paradise and beyond. The Humboldt County Strike Team started the morning at Chico’s fairgrounds.

The Humboldt Strike Team prepares for their assignment at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds in Chico.

The Humboldt Strike Team prepares for their assignment at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds in Chico.

The Humboldt Strike Team prepares for their assignment at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds in Chico.

Planning

The Humboldt Strike Team prepares for their assignment at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds in Chico.

The vehicles are ready.

A burned car sits near gas pumps at a station on Highway 70.

A burned car sits near gas pumps at a station on Highway 70.

Humboldt County Strike team

Crewmembers from the Humboldt County Strike team decide their next course of action.

Smoke rises over a ridge from flames burning near high voltage lines crossing Highway 70.

Smoke rises over a ridge from flames burning near high voltage lines crossing Highway 70.

The Humboldt Strike team talks with Cal Fire on Highway 70.

The Humboldt Strike team talks with Cal Fire on Highway 70.

A firefighter out of Siskiyou County clears grass away from a home.

A firefighter out of Siskiyou County clears grass away from a home.

Strike Team Leader Kent Hulbert explains the plan for the the teams 24 hour shift.

Strike Team Leader Kent Hulbert explains the plan for the the teams 24 hour shift.

Miranda Fire at the Camp Fire

Miranda Fire at the Camp Fire.

Burned cars on the side of Pearson Road near Paradise.

Burned cars on the side of Pearson Road near Paradise.

Burned cars on the side of Pearson Road near Paradise.

More burned cars on the side of Pearson Road near Paradise.

Burned cars on the side of Pearson Road near Paradise.

Another view.

Burned cars on the side of Pearson Road near Paradise.

More trapped cars…

Burned cars on the side of Pearson Road near Paradise.

More crashed and burned vehicles.

Burned cars on the side of Pearson Road near Paradise.

Another….

A CHP cruiser that appears to have been involved in a collision and abandoned on Pearson Road Near Paradise.

A CHP cruiser that appears to have been involved in a collision and abandoned on Pearson Road Near Paradise.

Burned cars on the side of Pearson Road near Paradise.

A child’s toiletry bag near crashed and burned vehicles.

A burned utility pole hangs from the lines on Pentz Road near Paradise.

A burned utility pole hangs from the lines on Pentz Road near Paradise.

A burned house in Paradise.

A burned house in Paradise.

A burned house in Paradise.

Another burned house in Paradise.

A burned house in Paradise.

Another.

An auto repair shop on Clark Road in Paradise was destroyed.

An auto repair shop on Clark Road in Paradise was destroyed.

The Paradise Safeway was destroyed along with the other businesses in the shopping center.

The Paradise Safeway was destroyed along with the other businesses in the shopping center.

Stratton Market at the corner of Nunneley and Sawmill Roads in Paradise was a victim of the Camp Fire

Stratton Market at the corner of Nunneley and Sawmill Roads in Paradise was a victim of the Camp Fire. [Photo by Mark McKenna]

And, one final video…

Evacuation Information:

For the most up to date information, click here.

UPDATE:

New evacuation orders from the Butte County Sheriff:

An Evacuation Order has been issued for East Bound Hwy 162/Oro Quincy Hwy at Forbestown Rd east to Mountain House Road/4 Mile Ridge Road, including the communities of Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Mountain House and Bloomer Hill. Residents are advised to exit using West Bound Hwy 162 through the City of Oroville. #ButteSheriff#CampFire

UPDATE Sunday: High Winds and Dangerous Conditions Continue at the Camp Fire as More Dead Are Located (Maps)

 

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Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

The news call it Paradise lost (sorry for any misspellings)67 buildings burned in 5hrs. Seen a woman on the news that was crying saying she didn’t want our prayers or condolences she just wants it to stop.

Misinformation
Guest
Misinformation
5 years ago

That woman was actually a mother of one of the victims of the shooting in Thousand Oaks. She was saying she doesn’t want thoughts and prayers and condolences, she wants gun control and she wants the violence to stop. That story had nothing to do with the camp fire.

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago

If Praying did any good it wouldn’t haved started in the first place & or would be out by now!!!!

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

Perhaps we should try smothering it with exclamation points!!!!!

J
Guest
J
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

Well praying doesn’t override living not eco friendly and overpopulating the planet. Lots of people will see this devastation and be so sad, prayers but lets not change our ways and expect things to get better. I’m not Christian but I know there’s a higher power and we are also gifted with the power to control ourselves and our actions so don’t just pray and be “how sad”. Live as eco friendly as you can, reserve water, have 2 kids or less and property owners must maintain their entire property for fire prevention, not just 100 feet around the house. Change must be now or never. Mother natures pissed.

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

Well Dan, not everybody can be as negative as you.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

I once saw a single home burn. Decades later that image still haunts. This is beyond horrible.

A news station had an interview from a woman who was trying to evacuate and had to abandon her car on the road with fire all around. She had just had a round of chemo the day before but, sick as she was, had to run over a mile and a half through the fire burning on both sides of the road to reach a place where there were people to drive her to safety. Such awfulness.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago

These fires burning whole cities boggle my mind. It’s frightening and heart breaking.

Trolls Abound
Guest
Trolls Abound
5 years ago

OMG this breaks my heart. Stay every one 😥

Trolls Abound
Guest
Trolls Abound
5 years ago
Reply to  Trolls Abound

Safe

Dragonfly
Guest
Dragonfly
5 years ago

Again it looks like PGE is responsible! They knew about the downed electrical lines and did not initiate the protocol of cutting off the power! Corporate Terrorists!! Almost 7000 homes destroyed!

Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Dragonfly

Can you verify that it was caused by a downed power line, if so please provide the link?

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

The heading says “camp fire” Either way, if you believe that, i’ve got some condos for sale on Jupiter.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

I believe that you think you have some condos on Jupiter to sell.

Merrily
Guest
Merrily
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Started near Camp Creek thus the name Camp fire!

Clarify
Guest
Clarify
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Uh its called the camp fire based on location NOT what caused the fire.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Clarify

Oh. Thanks.

Power off here for 2 hrs.

political moderate
Guest
political moderate
5 years ago
Reply to  Dragonfly

I understood it to be a small tree branch that fell across power lines. Resulted in small spot fire in hard to access area. Sorry for everyone’s loss.

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
5 years ago

You can’t blam PGnE for that.

“ preparedness is a state of mind, survival is of the fittest. Mother Nature dosent care either way!”

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

Thank you.

Kathryne Cohoon
Guest
5 years ago

Can you show verification of that? The cause has yet to be determined. Possibly, the lines were burned by the fire, but not the cause of it. Let’s not jump to conclusions here.

A
Guest
A
5 years ago
Reply to  Dragonfly

Dragonfly,
thanks..
The times standard reported “PG&E power lines may have sparked deadly Camp Fire, according to radio transmissions – Times-Standard”
https://www.times-standard.com/2018/11/09/pge-power-lines-may-have-sparked-deadly-butte-county-wildfire-according-to-radio-transmissions/

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  A

Thank you.👍🏾

BonnieBlue
Guest
BonnieBlue
5 years ago

Also see story in Mercury News: Downed PG&E power lines may have sparked #CampFire…Utility already being sued for other deadly California wildfires.

There are strong indications that the fire origin was a PG&E transmission line at Camp Creek. The fire origin locale is being preserved by CalFire as a crime scene, per Butte County DA’s orders. Looks likely that PG&E is culpable for this destruction and devastation, too, as well as the Thomas Fire that previously burned through the Santa Rosa environs. This profitable “public utility” needs to be held accountable, IMO.

Jilly
Guest
Jilly
5 years ago
Reply to  A

“May have” is not definitive…it’s speculative and unverified, so fake news. Horrible horrible incident😔 but preventable? We don’t know yet.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Kym. Do you know how to get cash to Humboldt Pay It Forward? Last time I left it in a jar at Jitter Bean.

fire support
Guest
fire support
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Go to their Facebook page. There is contact information there.

fire support
Guest
fire support
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

To donate goods or money to the evacuation relief fund, go to the Pay it Forward Humboldt Facebook group for information. Things are getting organized to get supplies to the evacuation centers.

UnCommonSense
Guest
UnCommonSense
5 years ago

PG&E. How many more cities have to burn? How many more people and animals have to die (the most horrible death, imo) while they are allowed to continue operating in California? Geisha Williams (PG&E’s CEO) is getting over $4 million in bonuses this year. She should be getting life in prison.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  UnCommonSense

So what is the solution to a strong wind blowing a branch onto a power line? It catches on fire then blows over to the tree line.

Mike
Guest
Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Burying lines in high risk areas would be a good start, oh wait Jerry Brown vetoed that bill a couple of years ago. Sooo, their solution is to call pg&e terrorists. Not sure if they really know what that word means though.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Where is not a risk area? The last big one was started by sparks generated by a dragged chain ( or a flat tire ) right on a highway. Easily accessible and still it got away.

Armored wires? Local power generation?

Ullr rover
Guest
Ullr rover
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

There’s a lot more to burying high voltage lines than digging a ditch. In this case how would PG&E bury a line under the Feather River?

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

There was a money problem with getting the constitution equipment into some of those isolated areas. And some land owners didn’t want it either because of the crop they were growing.

antichrist
Guest
antichrist
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

really simple clear and pave from easment edge to edge. pg&e are under law supposed to maintain their lines ans easments. which in cost saving efforts they have overlooked for yeara. now that they are being held responsible by law suites they have decided to start doing what they were supposed to do all along at least in some places

Godless
Guest
Godless
5 years ago

If you go to reddit’s public freakout sub, the top video is from a gentleman who revisits the spot he ran from the fire on foot. He survived by laying in a creek. The people he tried to help are just charred skeletal remains inside of shells of vehicles. He gives a short story of what happened. Its very surreal. I won’t link it directly.

Paula
Guest
Paula
5 years ago
Reply to  Godless

Saw that. Friend of a friend. Very haunting images.
I had visions of Skulls this last new moon. Now I know why. Eerie.
This fire is in my old stomping grounds. So wierd.

Mack
Guest
Mack
5 years ago
Reply to  Godless

Can not find video on Reddit site. What’s a good search descriptor?

Janice
Guest
Janice
5 years ago
Reply to  Mack

It’s on Liveleaks page 3. It’s horrible.

Wildcat
Guest
Wildcat
5 years ago
Reply to  Godless

I did not find it on r/publicfreakout nor on r/public_freakout. I see Paula had better luck, unlike Mack and me. A link (with a warning for the faint-hearted) would be appreciated.

Not that I need any more ptsd-inducing traumatic stories while I wait to hear of the fate of one last friend from upper Butte Creek Canyon who is yet to report in.

Dragonfly
Guest
Dragonfly
5 years ago

PGE CEO Geisha Williams is responsible for countless deaths of innocent Californians and animals. Devastating Northern California. Power hungry Terrorist!

State Attorney General Becerra Prosecute! Prosecute!

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago
Reply to  Dragonfly

There is very little chance Becerra will do anything with regard to the recent devastating fires. He is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Time to bend over....................
Guest
Time to bend over....................
5 years ago
Reply to  Dragonfly

PG&E is a corporation. Corporations rule America. Have you noticed how may gas applications for increases PG&E have been published in the Times Standard. I count eight. And Why? Because of the gas explosion in San Bruno(?). They lost a number of personal lawsuits and a huge State fine. Think that deters them? NOPE consumers will pay that bill. And the fires in the Santa Rosa area because of lawsuits from insurance companies. You will see an increase in your electric bill. PG&E will make back every dollar they lost on the backs of their customers. The State Utilities Board has never denied a PG&E request for increases in gas or electric rates. This is like taxes. The people pay and pay and pay. And Trump and the Republicans gave the 1% ultra rich tax cuts and we got nothing. Middle and lower class taxes will increase. Yet locally increases in taxes to support local police departments has passed. And there is NO sunset clause in the proposition. That increase will nip away at your paycheck FOREVER. And will your increase tax protect from Crime. Again NOPE!! Police Departments don’t prevent crime. They show up after you have been robbed or assaulted. Police presence in my residence in McKinleyville has not stopped crime. In fact, crime to property and robberies has increased. I believe increased police presence does nothing to protect the public. The bad guys just get smarter and find ways to commit crimes. A friend who lives in Henderson Center told me people are having their car windows broken during the daytime. I had my front windshield and back window broken Halloween night. The deputy who responded told me it was probably teens and that finding them would be next to impossible. DUH! I knew that. Not only did I have to pay for my insurance deductible I have to pay the proposition taxes. My real issue is we were sold this increased tax with NO sunset clause would put more police on the street. I can tell you police driving up and down Central Avenue isn’t going to protect me where I live. Last, that increased tax will NEVER be rescinded.

lynn
Guest
lynn
5 years ago

Similar situation going all the way back to the 2nd world war with taxes. Baby clothes began being taxed…was to be rescinded…nope.nope.nope

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Dragonfly

We’re in a drought, with really windy conditions.

And yet I keep seeing similar comments around the web, pge as terrorists/lock em up—as if handing transmission lines over to a different entity will stop dry trees and scrub from catching fire.

I don’t know why trolls are attacking PGE, instead of climate change, or some UFO weather conspiracy…. but maybe you could redirect that energy, and help the affected people, animals and communities that need support right now.

hmm
Guest
hmm
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

In exchange for making billions, selling us power, pge is supposed to maintain it’s lines and easements. A branch can’t fall on the line and destroy communities if the branch is not there to begin with.

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

BRAVO finally some commen since. Even if a branch hit a line in boony country were this started did you expect PG&E to post someone along the line about every two to three miles to try to get a jump on something like this or have them try to fight it themselves. Are you going to go out there and spend a winter or even a month on a rotation to watch the lines? I highly doubt it.

Pge sux
Guest
Pge sux
5 years ago

Yep its time to take pge down!!! I really dont want to pay my bill, hate that im paying their fines for last disasters they caused.
Soooo much avoidable grief loss and destruction. We deserve at the least to have a choice who we buy power&gas from instead of some monopolizing corporate monster.
Their stupid huge ads in the paper about how much they care make me so mad, spend the damn money on fixing your equipment.
Im calling all our reps offices today asking for pge to be held more accountable&that we want a different place to buy power from, how do we get that started.
We need an end to corporate personhood so theres actually someone to hold accountable.

If you read what globalization activists wrote in the late 90’s about where things were going&why we needed to stop it then, well its pretty much exactly what we’re seeing now.
Anyone who doesnt get why we have to talk about politics in threads about fires and tweets about this horrible catastrophe might want to read up on things. No federal money for fire relief would be tragic, especially if based on a presidents dislike of a certain state.
Maybe its time to go ecotopia style and secede from the US.

This is all beyond heartbreaking, people deserve better.

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
5 years ago
Reply to  Pge sux

>”I’m calling all our reps offices today asking for pge to be held more accountable&that we want a different place to buy power from, how do we get that started.”

Hmmm… You can already buy ‘power’ from ‘other entities’…
but PG&E controls (most of) the power distribution network.

As far as breaking up the power distribution network, likely that is not a good idea.
This was tried early on in the 1900’s… you would end up with a lot of smaller
companies fighting over the network/line routing/right of way titles/outages etc.

VHDA
Guest
VHDA
5 years ago

Absolutely devastating, I can’t imagine the fear and horror these people suffered not to mention the loss of lives, homes and infrastructure. my thoughts and prayers are with the families, loved ones and our brave self sacrificing firefighters.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
5 years ago

Horrible tragedy. Stellar reporting and photography, though! Very thorough, well-organized, and sadly touching.

Maybe homes in areas susceptible to forest fires should have fire cellars. Like on the plains when you go below ground to avoid tornadoes. A safe, relatively cool place underground with enough space and air to last several hours. A fire bunker.
I can’t imagine where the people who escaped those burned cars would have escaped to. Around here, valley people would probably go to a riverbed… i mean when it really was just saving life and limb that mattered, and nothing and no one else could be helped. But if you didn’t have a cool, wet, low place to go–??

Chuck U
Guest
Chuck U
5 years ago
Reply to  lauracooskey

In Australia where they have fast moving brush fires almost every country place has a fire bunker. I asked a CalFire rep about it and he had never heard of it, he figured we just evacuate here. Our place has very steep terrain and 2 miles of 4wd to pavement but even still it is switchbacks all the way so we put one in in 2014. Has enough room for the fam and a couple fire crews if need be with air filtration. I also know every culvert under the road on the way out. The thing with culverts is you need some way to plug the downhill side so you don’t get a chimney effect and have it turn into a blast furnace.

https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/private-bushfire-shelters-or-bunkers/

https://www.homeimprovementpages.com.au/article/what_is_a_fire_bunker

Chuck U
Guest
Chuck U
5 years ago
Reply to  Chuck U

BTW I used the design concepts in Mike Oehler’s underground house book. A side bonus is I am about to load the summer’s crop of carrots, beets, turnips and potatoes in it for root cellaring.

https://undergroundhousing.com/index.html

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
5 years ago
Reply to  Chuck U

Glad to hear that you’re on it, Chuck. There are many natural events that make an underground shelter desirable. And some unnatural events, too–preppers probably are big on them, right? And the root cellar is a good call. Got some garlic in there with the potatoes?

Brian
Guest
Brian
5 years ago
Reply to  Chuck U

A fire bunker is next on my list, I appreciate your comment.

I put sprinklers on my roof this year…devoted pump and tank for it. Fire hoses: check.

We all need to be better prepared.

We’re losing too much to these fires.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
5 years ago
Reply to  Brian

A simple Google search turned up lots of interesting plans and thoughts about fire bunkers. Good luck with your fire-safety efforts.

No Joke
Guest
No Joke
5 years ago
Reply to  Brian

yes – everyone needs to be prepared, with defensible space, evacuation plans and supplies, suppression tools, etc.

I really think at this point everyone with a car should carry an ABC fire extinguisher, a shovel, and a gallon or two of water in their trunk in case they come across a small roadside fire before it blows up.

It's me
Guest
It's me
5 years ago

Super great article Kim, Thank you!!!

Small Fry
Guest
Small Fry
5 years ago

Devastating! I really hope it rains very soon!

Paula
Guest
Paula
5 years ago

Empathy for all who have lost in this worst of fires in my old hometown area.

spankie
Guest
spankie
5 years ago

Remember when the problem started with the ENRON power grid which created over-electrified communities and power was shipped as a commodity to Texas and sold on the market then shipped back to us at a price higher than it cost to produce?

That’s how some people get rich, and how other people get burned!

Al
Guest
Al
5 years ago

Thanks again for the coverage.

Anybody know why most of the trees were still standing but the structure burned?

Mark
Guest
Mark
5 years ago
Reply to  Al

The trees are burned, they just don’t fall down. The pictures are smokey and almost like black and white photo’s. If you drive thru burn areas, you can see trees that burned still standing. Lots of that on 299 to Redding from recent and past fires. Here is a picture I took of the Carr fire.(if it loaded).

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark

aplanetruth.info

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I_5E9jIs5A&t=384s 8 mins. August 2018

Al
Guest
Al
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Mark,
makes sense. Does redwood burn easily?

Dave Kahan
Guest
Dave Kahan
5 years ago
Reply to  Al

Mostly what burns on the living trees is the foliage (which with native species is often oily as an adaptation to surviving the summer without rain), the smaller twigs, and whatever dead (therefore dry and seasoned) material on the tree. Many trees have cavities with seasoned wood. A common scenario is that the wood around the cavity ignites, then continues to burn for days or weeks which weakens the tree. Parts of if not the whole tree will eventually fall; this is designated a “hazard tree” and mitigating that hazard is a large part of any timber fire.
Homes tend to have “receptive fuelbeds,” or weak areas in terms of fire resistance unless they have been designed, built, and/or retrofitted according to these principles: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8393.pdf
The good news is that the information exists to empower people to protect themselves.
Live tree trunks tend to not burn because the wood is green and unseasoned. Wood in house construction is dry and seasoned and therefore more susceptible to ignition. Then there are issues like needles (kindling) in gutters; if those ignite you’ve got flames working their way under the roof. In that situation even metal roofed structures will burn. Another example is firewood stored under the deck or against a wall.

yesmeagain
Guest
yesmeagain
5 years ago
Reply to  Dave Kahan

Thank you, Dave, for your helpful comments. It’s puzzling to see trees standing where houses burned down, leading to some very imaginative conspiracy theories. It’s also critical that we all learn how to make our homes and property as fire-resistant as possible, especially when embers are being blown many miles ahead of the active fires.

Faro
Guest
Faro
5 years ago

There’s definatley a government plan to burn down California. I’m sure Humboldt is next on list or very close to it. Get your homes as fireproofed as possible and have an escape plan.

Also update your insurance. With construction costs sky-rocketing your current insurance plan may not cover what it will cost to actually rebuild your house.

Mike
Guest
Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Faro

Which branch of the government precisely is burning down california?

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

It’s not horizontal.

The 1% in-bred psychos on the top of the slave master pyramid.

Faro
Guest
Faro
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

The Military Branch, they control the weather which means they control fire. All you need is one little spark and then the wind does the rest.

Remember last year when it didn’t rain in SoCal and then two weeks after the fires were over there were storms dumping 5+ inches of rain?

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Faro

Faro, that’s only a half truth, there’s a lot more to the story than you’ve enlightened yourself about. Think secret societies, Cabals, Goo gle darpa, and the rest will fall into place for you. Just don’t use goo as your trusty search engine. (or a few others).
The real Military is incredible, honorable, restored, and ready to go up against the secret one. Buckle up.

Rule of Law not Leftists
Guest
Rule of Law not Leftists
5 years ago

Many died because they delayed evacuation and got caught. Here’s a video of a gentleman who lost his friends and he only survived running into a creek bed. Beware it’s graphic.
httpss://www.liveleak.com/view?t=CfHfb_1541798651

barn owl
Guest
barn owl
5 years ago

Let me see if I understand this.
Last summer’s fires caused trees to fall on power poles, which then toppled and sparked more fires.
PG&E got sued by many insurance companies and decided to proactively shut down areas in the future when Red Flag warnings went up.
They tried that this summer, and people screamed bloody murder about losing their power.
Last Wednesday, PG&E issued at least 17 warnings that they planned to proactively shut down power in Butte County because of high winds and Red Flag warnings. Their last warning notice was just before 9 AM Thursday.
Then something happened (word from whatever conglomerate owns PG&E, perhaps?) and they did not shut power down.
Disaster and loss of life and property then ensued.
Yesterday their stock took a dive, wiping out all profits for the year.

Since nobody can sue Mother Nature for dry lightning or Santa Ana winds, insurance companies sued PG&E because weather caused trees to fall on their power poles. PG&E tried to take proactive measures, got grief for that, and now it appears that they planned to shut down Butte county and were instructed not to.

Is that about right?

nobody
Guest
nobody
5 years ago

i lived in ca my whole life.i love ca.THIS DROUGHT SUCKS!NIGHTMARE.

World guy
Guest
World guy
5 years ago

When PG&E went bankrupt because of the Enron scandal, state of CA had an option to turn it into a public utility. The state would become the utility. Instead they bailed out PG&E to the tune of many billions almost bankrupting the state. The latest lawsuits and subsequent state bailout from the fire damages in Santa Rosa other places was another lost opportunity to take over PG&E. And this latest disaster might be enough for the state to take them over. Without having to provide profit to share holders, would provide a lot of money to increase maintenance which PG&E hasn’t been doing because its expensive and reduces the profits to share holders. As to electrical prices, PG&E is one of the most expensive in the USA. SMUD ( the Sacramento city owned utility) has electricity prices about 1/2 of what PG&E does.
Shutting down power is a good option when needed. But its only one measure, better tree pruning and maintenance is required which PG&E has been sued already over their lack of doing an adequate job of. Call your Representatives!

spankie
Guest
spankie
5 years ago
Reply to  World guy

Thank you World Guy , for explaining why the important policy decisions are made
for the benefit of the few.

Help the critters....
Guest
Help the critters....
5 years ago

Donation site for emergency animal shelter

As of 8am
@NVADG
updated numbers are: 302 cats, 262 dogs, 41 chickens, 69 horses, 25 goats, 10 sheep, 2 cows, 1 pig, 2 lambs, 2 ducks, 4 geese, 4 rabbits, 4 birds & 1 turtle. That’s a Total of 729 animals!! Donate today!! (link: https://www.nvadg.org/donate) nvadg.org/donate. #CampFire #CampFirePets

Food4thot
Guest
Food4thot
5 years ago

As California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment puts it:

“By 2100, if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, one study found that the frequency of extreme wildfires would increase, and the average area burned statewide would increase by 77 percent. In the areas that have the highest fire risk, wildfire insurance is estimated to see costs rise by 18 percent by 2055.”

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/imageo/2018/11/10/satellite-images-and-animations-offer-sobering-perspective-on-california-infernos/#.W-dkphmIY0M

Frankie
Guest
Frankie
5 years ago

So this fire was reported at around 6:30 am. My mom got the evacuation order around 9:30 am at skyway and wagstaff rd. I’m wondering whitch agency was responsible for leting 3 hours pass before initiating a mass evacuation. Countless lives and property could have been saved if the evacuation order could have come even a half hour sooner. Yes PG and E are responsible for the fires ignition, but who is responsible for the delayed evacuation notice.

Frida
Guest
Frida
5 years ago

I don’t know why people have to point the finger at PG&E. How can they possibly clear every piece of vegetation from power lines. If you want that move to LA or Frisco. We live here knowing the risks. Don’t want to support them get off grid. But most want to bitch but enjoy the comfort of power. Same people that live in a redwood house but chain themselves to a log truck to protest logging.

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Frida

PG&E is responsible for their own property. Your corporate bootlicking is embarrassing.

Really?
Guest
Really?
5 years ago
Reply to  Jaekelopterus

Even if you use solar power totally, you are using corporate products. You are very unlikely to be typing your post on a device you manufactured yourself. That shows what your remarks are worth.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Frida

power lines need to go underground, sooner the better. most people that chain themselves to logging equipment live in fir framed homes with t-111 siding.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  local observer

“Underground cables have up to 75 times the capacitive effects compared to overhead lines. As the length of a transmission line increases, more and more current is required to overcome these capacitive effects (known as line charging), which reduces the current capacity available for power transmission. Therefore the length of an underground line must be limited, and underground lines must be thicker than overhead lines for the same power transmission capacity.

Because of this effect, the maximum length of line for a 345kV underground cable is 26 miles. A 26 mile long underground cable is unable to deliver any power at all because all the current is consumed overcoming capacitive effects.”

Underground works only for short distances and household voltages but not for long distance transmission lines.

UpYours
Guest
UpYours
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Before anyone else comments about power lines on poles or buried they should read up on Nikola Tesla and his wireless power transmission project to deliver free electricity everywhere on earth, 100 years ago!! This technology has been around that long, only problem is the Free part, with no way for corporate interests to $$meter$$ this energy funding was pulled and here we are, complacently paying out the ass for a feeble and extremely vulnerable power grid. Free wireless energy=no corporate profits(awesome)=extremely reduced risk of powerline caused fires=lives, property saved=more money in our pockets to do a little extra fireproofing on our properties. Also look up Roger H. Kimmel, Vice president of Rothschild Inc. and board member of PG&E since 2009. Time to get mad people, these fires are just another way for the rich to get richer, and for you and i to pay for it! This has to stop! Thoughts and prayers for all victims and their families of these tragic fires.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  UpYours

“There are plenty of other reasons why Tesla’s wireless power never really took off, for example it’s very lossy. You have to spray electricity out in the air, and whether that power is used or not, it eventually dissipates. Further, you’re shooting it out in every direction, which is a waste. And finally, given the body’s delicate electrical systems, I can’t imagine that living in a continually charged atmosphere is healthy.”

Not that there aren’t uses and improvements possible but charging up virtually the whole world is impracticable and dangerous.

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Agian BRAVO.

Al
Guest
Al
5 years ago

23 dead, camp fire.
Rip.

World guy
Guest
World guy
5 years ago

People who live on the east coast are amazed at how close trees are to the power lines here in the PG&E area. They don’t have fire danger like we do, but they are very concerned about power outages. They get ice storms and snow that will bend/break trees and then the power lines. So they cut the trees way back.
It is very possible that this fire started through no fault of PG&E, some sort of unusual failure. And its also possible that it started due to poor maintenance and poor system design.
We can expect more of these events as the years go by and climate change gets worse.

REO6205
Guest
REO6205
5 years ago

Great coverage of a truly horrible fire. I went to school and lived in Paradise for several years. It was a beautiful place.

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago

For all of you legitimately concerned about PG&E and wanting them to get their ship straight. There’s one very simple thing you can do, stop buying power from PG&E… It’s called a boycott, and they’ve been known to work quite efficiently. Of course it may be a little inconvenient for you.

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

If you dont mind either freezing your butts off or starving then people should follow your very bright and wonderfully thought out idea.