Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Latest Breaking News

Bo Zarts

(25,929 posts)

6. There is an old axiom in wildland fire fighting: "Wind changes everything."

Reply to riversedge (Original post)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 09:59 AM

Jan 8

Santa Ana winds put that axiom on steroids. Strong downslope desert winds undergo compression, which generates heat. So you get "double drying" .. drying from heat and drying from high velocity winds. Any little spark .. ANY LITTLE SPARK .. can start a catastrophic wildfire.

Some winds in the area of the Palisades fire have been clocked at almost 100 mph. You cannot fight fire in that kind of wind. You cannot fly helicopters in that kind of wind. You cannot fly tanker aircraft in that kind of wind.

Palisades has grown from 1200 acres to almost 3000 acres in the past 12 hours. And there are numerous other significant fire starts in the area (Woodley, Hurst, and Eaton fires) upwind of Palisades.

Another old saying in wildland fire fighting is "F.E.A.R." - fuck everything and run. There are over 25 evacuation orders (Level 3 - GO!) in the area of Palisades.

Wind changes everything. F.E.A.R.!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

berniesandersmittens cate94 scipan

21 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Fast-moving fires in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and Sylmar burn homes; gusts of up to 99 mph reported [View all] riversedge Jan 8 OP

This is my view of the #eatoncanyonfire in Los Angeles county. The strong winds completely blew out my power, riversedge Jan 8 #1

It was the horrific Marshall Fire December 30, 2021 between Boulder and Lafayette, CO with similar hlthe2b Jan 8 #2

From my brother in North Hollywood. Listen to this wind. That's what is driving these fires. riversedge Jan 8 #3

Wow berniesandersmittens Jan 8 #8

This is all I've thought about NJCher Jan 8 #4

What started the fire? Unladen Swallow Jan 8 #5

They are talking about the Santa Ana Wind even though they usually come in the fall, September October question everything Jan 8 #19

There is an old axiom in wildland fire fighting: "Wind changes everything." Bo Zarts Jan 8 #6

....Early Wednesday morning, evacuation orders expanded well into Malibu, creeping into the same area riversedge Jan 8 #7

So horrid Sequoia Jan 8 #16

omg! look at these palm trees, swaying in the wind and on FIRE!! riversedge Jan 8 #9

Of course, people, pets, homes, wildlife, and trees. But I've Never seen a Palm Tree on fire before! : ( electric_blue68 Jan 8 #20

Who had winter wildfires on their bingo card? IronLionZion Jan 8 #10

🚨🇺🇸 "OMG OMG" "That's a million dollar house - more - OMG" This is Malibu - one of the wealthiest affluent places o riversedge Jan 8 #11

Faux Weather announced it will carry the briefing at 8 am PST nitpicked Jan 8 #12

May it NOT resemble the Oakland 1991 firestorm nitpicked Jan 8 #13

At the 8 am PST press conference they just announced two fatalities in the EATON LauraInLA Jan 8 #14

My nephew is about 15 miles from the fire Marthe48 Jan 8 #15

Devastating images question everything Jan 8 #17

Every year RussBLib Jan 8 #18

20 people arrested for looting tonekat Jan 9 #21