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jstan
climber
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Jul 17, 2013 - 01:31am PT
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbJjYQJhHkg
Good old 741!
I don't know what assets Calfire has working but when I saw these Skycranes from Erickson in WA show up in Santa Barbara I jumped up and down and cheered. Without them our house was a goner. They load 10 tons of water in minutes and have an unloaded speed near 100mph. Control wise they are like a rock. With IR hardly anything can stop them. Two 5000Hp turbos for power. Low rotor speed.
Here in JT, at least, the wind was down this afternoon and perhaps as a result of this less than two more square miles were added to the burn this afternoon. Smoke has been very heavy though. Even see some ashes here. Not many however.
PS:
If you personally have not been pulled out of hell by a skycrane, you won't understand the following video. If you have, go for it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=Q8O7HTzbKaA&NR=1
Wednesday noon update:
22 square miles
light winds
16 helicopters
one DC 10
one Sky Crane with IR - can drop water at night
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Jacemullen
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jul 17, 2013 - 04:06pm PT
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Just heard that Tahquitz is closed.
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HighGravity
Trad climber
Southern California
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Jul 17, 2013 - 04:59pm PT
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It has blown up over the morning. I live about 25 miles away and couldn't see much smoke yesterday, but now I can see a huge plum building up. If it hits the high country near Carumba it will get out of control.
Edit: Too late, it already has...
Edit again: My friend took the below picture. I'm hoping it stays east of town.
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Johnny K.
climber
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Jul 17, 2013 - 05:01pm PT
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:/
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Jul 17, 2013 - 05:09pm PT
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Dang that's an impressive pic. And not in a good way.
Here's to hoping that it doesn't come over the mountain.
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Alois
Trad climber
Idyllwild, California
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Jul 17, 2013 - 05:09pm PT
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Unfortunately, the fire flanked to the north this morning and hit the wilderness area North of Tahquitz Rock. It looks bad from Idyllwild, but at present it is not threatening the town. Looks really bad from our deck looking at South Ridge of Tahquitz Peak and Tahquitz Rock. The smoke and ash are pretty bad in town right now. Hoping it will not shift into the town...
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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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Jul 17, 2013 - 05:25pm PT
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A friend showed me a picture from the Mac Donald's camp (evacuating / ed), including horses). Really scary and it gave me shivers. Reminded me of the 49er fire in 88.
Good thoughts going that way.
Erik
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10b4me
Ice climber
Middle-of-Nowhere, Arizona
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Jul 17, 2013 - 05:36pm PT
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Unfortunately, the fire flanked to the north this morning and hit the wilderness area North of Tahquitz Rock.
that's not good. looks like a monsoonal flow(out of the southeast) starting friday.
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Jacemullen
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jul 17, 2013 - 07:18pm PT
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"Just got the lowdown on this one from my Fire Chief a few minutes ago(we have mutual aid agreements with neighboring FDs and CalFire), we have one crew and engine on loan at this fire. 10% contained this morning when the fresh crew rolled, and moving toward PalmSpr. Chief said "lotsa dry fuel, unfavorable winds, and moving fast, $4million in costs as of this morning, excluding any property damage (just the costs of fighting it)"."
Who are you working for? I'm at MBA.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Jul 17, 2013 - 08:25pm PT
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We've had a lot of smoke and ash up here in the park. Right now it's getting nasty now that the wind has shifted.
Best wishes to those fighting the fire and to those in the path of it.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Jul 17, 2013 - 08:48pm PT
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Mountain Fire Update - Evacuation Notice is in effect for Fern Valley, Idyllwild, and adjacent communities east of Highway 243.
https://twitter.com/SanBernardinoNF
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Bad Climber
climber
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Jul 17, 2013 - 08:57pm PT
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I've been studying pine beetle kills. Turns out they don't increase fire severity. A dead tree is harder to ignite than a dry live one with lots of volatile oils. A researcher from Colorado did an extensive study about fires and beetle kills and found, although they look bad, the effect on fires is quite counter-intuitive. This doesn't help the folks in Idylwild, however. Hoping for the best. That's a great area. Only climbed there once.
There are just too many morons out there starting fires.
BAd
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BG
Trad climber
JTree & Idyllwild
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Jul 17, 2013 - 09:00pm PT
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Notice just issued for evacuation of the town of Idyllwild and Fern Valley areas east of Highway 243:
http://inciweb.org/incident/3516/
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Alois
Trad climber
Idyllwild, California
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Jul 17, 2013 - 09:03pm PT
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As of 5:30 PM there is evacuation order issued for Upper Fern Valley area of Idyllwild and areas east of Highway 243. This is supposed to be an orderly in/out/in order which allows residents to go out and come back in. Areas west of Hwy 243 are so far not required to leave. We are gathering our things, those few things we cannot be without and just in case, taking hem off the hill. Hoping things turn out well...
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Jul 17, 2013 - 09:21pm PT
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I've been studying pine beetle kills. Turns out they don't increase fire severity. A dead tree is harder to ignite than a dry live one with lots of volatile oils. A researcher from Colorado did an extensive study about fires and beetle kills and found, although they look bad, the effect on fires is quite counter-intuitive.
Care to elaborate on the science behind that? Seems like the volatile oils would just become concentrated.
In the wilderness areas there is huge deadfall a decade or two old. Seems to me there is huge potential for both ground and crown fire conflagration.
Hoping for the best for those in it's path.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Jul 17, 2013 - 09:26pm PT
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5:15 P.M. UPDATE: The mandatory fire evacuation order is for the Idyllwild area east of Highway 243 including Fern Valley, Mt. San Jacinto State Park Wilderness, U.S. Forest Service Wilderness and Campgrounds, according to Chris Gaulding, public information officer for the Mountain Fire.
This is not a soft evacuation order now.
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the albatross
Gym climber
Flagstaff
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Jul 17, 2013 - 11:52pm PT
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There are nearly 3,000 personnel (including some 18 helicopters and over 50 twenty person crews) involved in the suppression efforts on this fire. The following is from the team evening report listed online a couple hours ago:
Significant Events: Evacuations Orders (Mandatory) continue for Pine Springs Ranch, Zen Center and Bonita Vista Ranch. Evacuation orders (Mandatory) now include Idyllwild and Trails End. Fire continued to spread to the northeast and west in Branch 1. Isolated torching and rolling material continue to be a hazard. Crews made good progress improving line in Div A, C and Y and continuing to mop up 150 feet in.
Remarks: Evacuation orders (mandatory) have been placed for the community of Idyllwild and Trails End. The Pacific Crest Trail as well as connecting trails will remain closed until full suppression. Zen Center has been ordered (mandatory) evacuated. Hwy 243 was reopened to public use this morning. East winds are predicted within the next 24 hrs that will further move the fire to the west and north. Mulitple highways to be closed. We are now Unified Command with Cal Fire.
Observed Fire Behavior: Fire made to major runs in opposite directions today with short range spotting, isolated torching and spot fires from rolling material are continuing to occur. The fire continued to burn actively through the night.
Planned Actions: For tonight, continue to build and strengthen containment lines in Branch I and lll with crews, engines and rotor wing aircraft. Contingency planning for Branch l and II continues. Continue to strengthen containment lines in Div A, C, and Y. Construct containment lines in Div U. Firing operations are planned in Div U.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jul 18, 2013 - 09:15am PT
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bump
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