What if it Snows?

I feel for those that are down wind of the path of fire. You need some rain out there. Too bad rain season for California is another 4 months away

 

Luckily, the winds are pushing it away from us and calm right now....but as the day heats up no telling what will happen.

 

Certainly not an expert on forestry, but from what I have observed the following may be the case:

A lot of the fires along I-5 in Norcal seem to be of the healthy variety, and by that I mean they didn't seem to just consume everything in a massive inferno with nothing left at the end. Many of the trees retained leaves and needles. It's like it was so dry that the fire moved through rapidly. Like when a flame hits a furry sweater and just cinges all the loose ends but the sweater remains totally intact.

Just a theory, maybe incorrect, I dunno.

Seeing as how everything is so dry from the drought, I expected it would all go up like an inferno, like a tinder box, leaving nothing behind. Best I can tell the opposite occurred.

Now this is a real head scratcher:

Along the 395 south of Tahoe, I would swear each individual tree, those squatty trees in that area, was burned individually, because no underbrush is burned, none at all. There is no sign of burning between these trees that are often say 50' apart. Quite the mistery.

 

The two areas your comparing have completely different vegetation. I-5 and around Tahoe is the larger varieties of pine (Ponderosa, Sugar, Spruce, Redwood) and the area of 395 is the desert varieties (Pinion, Blue Spruce, Knotty pine) the smaller varieties are much more drought resistant, maintain their needles better and don't create the ground duff associated with the first areas of larger pines. Plus the lesser vegetation in the lower altitudes include greasewood, manzanita, toyon, and the different varieties of fern that cover the floor of the forest. Also, the larger trees create a canopy that allows fire to race across the tops of the trees dropping burning debris to the floor increasing the fuel ladder for the fire to feed from and increase the heat output.

 

morning update has Caldor at 3000 acres...from our back deck...

 

Then there is "Honorable Mention", but myself never getting it, do not know where it ranks.

 

Alot of tinder in that picture. That tall gras is a wick for the flames to reach the home. Just saying, if you dont want fire, the combustibles need to be removed.

 

Cusseta Travel Plaza, I-85 Cusseta, AL.

Just "DON'T".

Standard-issue ex-76 Truck Stop slowly crumbling into the ground.

Sign said "Blanche's Restaurant".
Sometimes you luck out.

This was not one of those times.

Nasty looking buffet, one page menu.

Least lethal item seemed to be the double bacon burger and fries.

Totally unremarkable, all served on a disposable plate with diposable utensils.
For sit down prices. "Fool me once....."

I fear a bout of intestinal distress is in my future.......

 

That kind of money should be a piece of cake. Now that you're pulling that reefer.

 

Willies Nationwide Real Estate. Oversize parking spaces our specialty...