More fires in Southern California

RadishRose

RadishRose

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Location
Connecticut, USA
Firefighters try to control the spread of the Mountain Fire burning a structure in Camarillo, California, on Wednesday.
Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images

12-13-25-gettyimages-2182627085-jpg.jpg


CNN —

Dozens of homes in Southern California’s Ventura County were set alight in a sweeping wildfire that burned through thousands of acres of land in just a matter of hours midweek –– prompting authorities to send more than 14,000 evacuation notices across the region.

The Mountain Fire began early Wednesday near the small community of Somis and, driven by winds gusting over 60 mph, soon damaged or destroyed homes in the nearby Camarillo area some 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Cal Fire said. The flames have seared through more than 20,596 acres of land, according to Cal Fire.
2024-11-07t212339z-1082352572-rc2l0ba8lkp2-rtrmadp-3-usa-weather-california-wildfires.JPG


https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/08/us/californians-flee-homes-amid-raging-wildfires-hnk/index.html
 

Those beyond our state might wonder why California homeowners living in such obviously dangerous fire prone areas don't do more to protect their homes. Of course given climate change, what used to be a California phenomenon has increasingly spread nationwide in areas that in historic times had never burned. There is certainly plenty of public information about how to make older homes more fireproof as well as information how new homes built in such areas ought be built. To some extent new laws have been ennacted but rarely made mandatory.

A prime reason such falls on deaf ears is similar to why homes about southeastern seaboard states continue to build homes that hurricanes yearly destroy... $$$ and those preferring to keep their head in the sand gambling it won't happen to them. And when it does, they cry to FEMA and their politicians putting the burden on the government that of course means the rest of us pay for bad policy. At the same time, wealthy fat cats in real estate, financial corporations, and building industries, the actual source of such attitudes, just laugh at the rest of us while playing golf in Palm Springs. So it is another criticism of our real estate world I regularly condemn besides ridiculously inflated housing costs.

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/25/9366...-states-dont-require-fire-resistant-materials

...With climate change fueling bigger, more destructive wildfires, rebuilding offers an opportunity to create more fire-resistant communities by using building materials that can help homes survive the next blaze.

But most states don't require rebuilding with fire-resistant materials, an NPR analysis has found. While California has mandated wildfire building codes for more than a decade in high risk areas, other states have struggled to approve comprehensive rebuilding codes. In Oregon and Colorado, efforts faced stiff and ultimately successful opposition from home builders associations...
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I live in the vast San Francisco Bay Area dense urban zone that is bordered by either ocean, bay, or heavily vegetated coastal mountains but little remaining level open space. Of course, San Francisco itself is a hilly maze. Most mountain areas near urban perimeters are full of our most expensive homes with significant numbers too close to adjacent to trees and vegetation.

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/06/1204...climate-flood-wildfire-drought-building-homes

...It's one of the most difficult choices a community can make. Local governments typically want more housing, not less, because budgets are generally funded by the property taxes from those homes. At the same time, a nationwide housing shortage is creating even more pressure to build.

"[If] you're a local government, of course you want to develop," says Katharine Mach, who studies climate change and housing at the University of Miami. "You're building a community. You're supporting livelihoods. You're supporting tourism oftentimes. [And] there's the pragmatic dimension of, you need the property taxes...
 
RadishRose said:
Firefighters try to control the spread of the Mountain Fire burning a structure in Camarillo, California, on Wednesday.
Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images

12-13-25-gettyimages-2182627085-jpg.jpg


CNN —

Dozens of homes in Southern California’s Ventura County were set alight in a sweeping wildfire that burned through thousands of acres of land in just a matter of hours midweek –– prompting authorities to send more than 14,000 evacuation notices across the region.

The Mountain Fire began early Wednesday near the small community of Somis and, driven by winds gusting over 60 mph, soon damaged or destroyed homes in the nearby Camarillo area some 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Cal Fire said. The flames have seared through more than 20,596 acres of land, according to Cal Fire.
2024-11-07t212339z-1082352572-rc2l0ba8lkp2-rtrmadp-3-usa-weather-california-wildfires.JPG


https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/08/us/californians-flee-homes-amid-raging-wildfires-hnk/index.html
Click to expand...

www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/38639
 
911 said:
What is causing the fires? Storms, arsonists, carelessness with cigarettes and campfires?
Click to expand...
answer by perplexity.ai :

The recent wildfires in Southern California are primarily caused by a combination of factors, with human activities playing a significant role. Here's an overview of the main causes:

Natural Factors​

While natural causes like lightning strikes can trigger wildfires, they are not the primary cause in Southern California's current situation
4
.

Human-Related Causes​

Human activities are responsible for the vast majority of wildfires in California, accounting for approximately 86% of fires over the past three decades
4
.Equipment and Vehicles: This is one of the top three human-related causes of wildfires
4
. Faulty equipment or vehicles, such as a malfunctioning catalytic converter emitting hot particles, can ignite fires.Arson: Intentionally set fires are another major cause
4
.Debris Burning: Improperly managed burns of yard waste or agricultural materials can lead to wildfires
4
.Carelessness: This includes unattended campfires and improperly discarded cigarettes, as you mentioned in your query
4
.

Environmental Conditions​

The spread and intensity of these fires are exacerbated by several environmental factors:Santa Ana Winds: These strong, dry winds are currently fueling the rapid spread of the Mountain Fire in Ventura County
1
2
.Drought and Dry Vegetation: California's ongoing drought conditions have left vegetation extremely dry and susceptible to burning
5
.Climate Change: Rising temperatures and prolonged dry periods associated with climate change are intensifying and extending California's fire season
5
.

Current Situation​

The recent Mountain Fire in Ventura County has grown rapidly, consuming over 14,000 acres and destroying 132 structures in just two days
1
2
. While the exact cause of this particular fire is still under investigation, it's likely that human activity played a role, given the statistics on fire causes in California
3
.In conclusion, while natural factors contribute, human activities and environmental conditions exacerbated by climate change are the primary drivers of Southern California's current wildfire situation.
 
RadishRose said:
Firefighters try to control the spread of the Mountain Fire burning a structure in Camarillo, California, on Wednesday.
Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images

12-13-25-gettyimages-2182627085-jpg.jpg


CNN —

Dozens of homes in Southern California’s Ventura County were set alight in a sweeping wildfire that burned through thousands of acres of land in just a matter of hours midweek –– prompting authorities to send more than 14,000 evacuation notices across the region.

The Mountain Fire began early Wednesday near the small community of Somis and, driven by winds gusting over 60 mph, soon damaged or destroyed homes in the nearby Camarillo area some 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Cal Fire said. The flames have seared through more than 20,596 acres of land, according to Cal Fire.
2024-11-07t212339z-1082352572-rc2l0ba8lkp2-rtrmadp-3-usa-weather-california-wildfires.JPG


https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/08/us/californians-flee-homes-amid-raging-wildfires-hnk/index.html
Click to expand...
Every year those poor people in California have to deal with these horrific events, they suffer loss, property damage and devastation. My heart goes out to all of them, once again. Seems to never end, they never get a break for even one year. :(
 
Paco Dennis said:
answer by perplexity.ai :

The recent wildfires in Southern California are primarily caused by a combination of factors, with human activities playing a significant role. Here's an overview of the main causes:

Natural Factors​

While natural causes like lightning strikes can trigger wildfires, they are not the primary cause in Southern California's current situation
4
.

Human-Related Causes​

Human activities are responsible for the vast majority of wildfires in California, accounting for approximately 86% of fires over the past three decades
4
.Equipment and Vehicles: This is one of the top three human-related causes of wildfires
4
. Faulty equipment or vehicles, such as a malfunctioning catalytic converter emitting hot particles, can ignite fires.Arson: Intentionally set fires are another major cause
4
.Debris Burning: Improperly managed burns of yard waste or agricultural materials can lead to wildfires
4
.Carelessness: This includes unattended campfires and improperly discarded cigarettes, as you mentioned in your query
4
.

Environmental Conditions​

The spread and intensity of these fires are exacerbated by several environmental factors:Santa Ana Winds: These strong, dry winds are currently fueling the rapid spread of the Mountain Fire in Ventura County
1
2
.Drought and Dry Vegetation: California's ongoing drought conditions have left vegetation extremely dry and susceptible to burning
5
.Climate Change: Rising temperatures and prolonged dry periods associated with climate change are intensifying and extending California's fire season
5
.

Current Situation​

The recent Mountain Fire in Ventura County has grown rapidly, consuming over 14,000 acres and destroying 132 structures in just two days
1
2
. While the exact cause of this particular fire is still under investigation, it's likely that human activity played a role, given the statistics on fire causes in California
3
.In conclusion, while natural factors contribute, human activities and environmental conditions exacerbated by climate change are the primary drivers of Southern California's current wildfire situation.
Click to expand...
Doesn’t California have a vehicle emissions test once a year?
 
I believe forest fires are a natural event, like hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. And with the warmer fall months, it means there's way more dry tinder. When humans weren't around, fires could burn at will, and the forest could recover. Today, it's a different situation.
Have to admit Californians are a hardy lot. Their land could slip into the Pacific Ocean, homes can slide down mountains in rainstorms, if earthquakes don't shake them apart. And if none of that happens-forest fires.
 
Those fires are just awful and very frightening, even just seeing them on TV. I feel so sorry for those who have lost their homes and maybe their livelihoods too. I haven't heard of any human fatalities yet but I'm think some people lost pets. I feel for those who did.

@Paco Dennis being that close to the fire must be scary for your brother! I hope he and his family (if he has family) will be safe.
 
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OneEyedDiva said:
Those fires are just awful and very frightening, even just seeing them on TV. I feel so sorry for those who have lost their homes and maybe their livelihoods too. I haven't heard of any human fatalities yet but I'm think some people lost pets. I feel for those who did.

@Paco Dennis being that close to the fire must be scary for your brother! I hope he and his family (if he has family) will be safe.
Click to expand...
He is a Pastor of a Church there. I have asked him if he could send me what he says to the congregation this morning. It was an alarming and scary event!
 
OneEyedDiva said:
Those fires are just awful and very frightening, even just seeing them on TV. I feel so sorry for those who have lost their homes and maybe their livelihoods too. I haven't heard of any human fatalities yet but I'm think some people lost pets. I feel for those who did.

@Paco Dennis being that close to the fire must be scary for your brother! I hope he and his family (if he has family) will be safe.
Click to expand...
Terrifying !
 
I'm not sure there is any practical solution.

Control development, zoning against building in areas so naturally prone to these fires?

Aggressively mowing brush and scrub that carries these fires? Or at least maintaining broad firebreaks throughout the region? But surely that has ecological impact.

Reform the diversion and damming of water back to its natural state, letting streams flow again, marshes to return, and water tables to rise?

Or geeze, we can run around with our hair on fire, wringing our hands and blaming everybody else for "climate change" in the best tradition of alarmism and a lack of accountability.
 

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