Thanks for all the prayers and notes. Please keep them coming! Here's a brief update on what we're facing as of now.
In the mid days the air clears a little but in the mornings and nights it is very heavy. Right now, looking out the window by my desk, the mountains across from us are completely concealed, the neighbor's yard, a half acre away, is barely visible. The smoke is VERY thick.
According to the scanner, a big concern is that beginning this evening into the weekend more of these bizarre thunder storms are expected to move in. This COULD produce more lightening strikes. According to what I'm hearing, it is believed that all the fires in our area were caused by lightening though arson is suspected in some areas. The news is saying very little about this. The investigations will come later no doubt.
Andy and I were standing on our deck as they were hitting this past weekend. As a Georgia boy (seems like another life!) I grew up with lightening and I noted that these were bad. Instead of skittering along the clouds which can be pretty, these were solid bolts that were going straight down. That's not good.
Estimates have been that around 7000 lightening strikes over this period sparked over 800 fires in California, mostly in the North. There are still around 700 burning, many, like ours, without any containment.
Yesterday the "air quality" here was moved to "unhealthy," it has now been upgraded to "very unhealthy" for the entire area. The only rating that is higher is "hazardous" and in the Sierra foothills it is now there. Our area is rather remote and we don't have the recording stations of other areas, but appears that our area is also in this hazardous range. My lungs attest to the accuracy of this rating.
We've been joking about what is worse, since that's where the scale ends, and we figure after hazardous you're dead so it doesn't matter (just kidding...).
The humidly is getting higher now, which might be good for the fire fighters but bad news for those with lung and other health problems. I've heard fire fighters say though that this level of humidity only makes their suits more uncomfortable. Much higher humidity would be required to have any real impact with the fires.
There's a possibility that the smoke will keep the temperatures down but it is expected that we will return to the triple digits by this weekend. That will only make everything worse. Can you imagine being in those heavy duty fire fighting suits in 110 degree heat and smoke for hours and days on end! I tell you, I have some problem with the police and a lot of problems with the military, but I respect and appreciate the fire fighters! Moreso because our local fire fighters are volunteers! May God bless and protect these fearless men and women!
Here in Butte County we currently have 30 fires burning with over 6000 acres destroyed so far according to the news coverage. All the counties adjacent to us has similar or worse numbers. The Empire and related fires, which are the ones close to us, are considered to be among the most serious/threatening in the state right now. Hundreds of homes are still threatened, including the Orthodox Monastery it appears.
Let's see, what else... Where we are:
We're on the side of Yankee Hill, sort of between Paradise and Concow in Butte County by road, just off highway 70, but between Cherokee and across from Concow as the crow flies. If your news is showing the highway 70 closures at Big Bend, that's about a mile away.
The Pine/Yankee Hill Hardware store, which is a key fire fighting staging area, is the closet store (along with the "Dome Store") to us.
It still appears that our home is not being threatened by the fires and we are not under any of the evacuation orders. We connect to the Internet through a digital tower-to tower system and the smoke has slowed our connection quite a bit but for now we still have both power and Net.
Here a news update report with more info:
Fires Cause Evacuations In Concow
For those who may be interested, this is updated fairly regularly: http://newstalk1290.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/lightning-strikes-cause-several-fires
8:20 Update: The Butte Lightning Complex of fires have burned about 5 thousand acres, with containment still estimated at 5%.
6:50 Update: Boy scouts spending the night at a Chico evacuation shelter. Butte County officials say 79 scouts from five separate troops were staying at the Neighborhood Church overnight after evacuating the Mt. Lassen Boy Scout Camp Tuesday. The original evacuation impacted 400 camp attendees. County officials say the scouts remaining at the Chico shelter are expected to leave today.
6:40 Update: Local air quality officials are expecting poor air quality to remain in Butte County until the wildfires are extinguished. Health Officials and the Air Quality Management District issued an alert Tuesday that called conditions “VERY UNHEALTHY.”
Click for Audio: bad-air
Air Quality spokesperson Gail Williams says smoke from wildfires contain significant quantities of irritating chemicals. Smoke exposure could cause eye or throat irritation or coughing.
6:30 Update (Wed): Fire crews are paying close attention to 7 FIRES burning in OR NEAR Butte County. The Rim and Empire Fires continue to threaten the community of Concow. As of Tuesday night, the Rim Fire was 330 acres…the Empire Fire remained at 1000 acres.
Precautionary evacuation advisories remain in effect for the Butte Meadows area East of Chico and Jonesville due to the Smokey Fire. Evacuations remain in effect for most of Concow due to the Empire and Rim Fires burning to the North and South of the community.
Fire Information Officer John Buchanan says dozers are on the scene of the West Fire, which is on the east side of the West Branch of the Feather River drainage. The Breakneck Fire has burned about 150 acres north and east of Stirling City.
Buchanan says crews are monitoring the fire activity in Tehama County west of Highway 32. The Frey Fire is burning north of La Porte Road near Jackson Ranch…it has torched 1500 acres but is not an immediate threat to populated areas.
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6:15 PM Update: The Immediate Threat Evacuation Advisory to Butte Meadows and Jonesville has been downgraded to a Precautionary evacuation advisory, which means residents don’t have to evacuate, but should be prepared to do so in the even another Immediate Threat Advisory is issued. Officials say the Boys Scouts will still be taken to the Neighborhood Church, which the Red Cross has established as an evacuation center.
For current fire information statewide click here.
5:15 PM Update: Officials say the campers and adults should be arriving at the Neighborhood Church by 7:30 PM.
4:20 PM Update: An Immediate Threat Evacuation Advisory has been issued in the areas of Butte Meadows and Jonesville. The area includes the Boys Scout Camp known as Camp Lassen. Officials say the evacuation effects approximately 400 campers that will be taken to the Neighborhood Church in Chico at 2801 Notre dame Blvd. The phone number for the Neighborhood Church is 343-6006. Parents can also call the Golden Empire Council at 342-7460. Road closures are also in effect for Highway 32 at Humboldt all the way to Highway 36. This is due to the Smoky Fire which has jumped Highway 32. Officials say the communities aren’t threatened, but the escape route along Highway 32 could be compromised.
1:45 PM Update: Butte County Officials are sending two buses to a makeshift camp set up in Concow . There are about 50 people, including young children and pets at a private resident located on Skycrest Dr behind the dome store in Concow. Some say they don’t have fuel or transportation to evacuate the area. Officials tell KPAY News the group will be transported the shelter set up at Las Plumas High School.
1:00 PM Update: Emergency officials in Butte County have established two information centers. They are the Pines Yankee Hill Hardware Store on Highway 70 and the Holiday Market on Lakeridge Circle in Magalia. The centers are to give residents information on fire fighting efforts, evacuation centers and road closures. Those of you in Paradise who are concerned about the Saw Mill Peak should know that Cal-Fire officials say there is no threat from the fire. The town of Paradise is keeping an eye on all fires and will notify the public and media immediately if the situation changes, but according to fire officials the fire is burning AWAY from the Paradise Magalia area. The West Branch Fire is the one officials are keeping an eye on, but so far it has stayed on the east side of the drainage area and hasn’t posed a threat.
11:10 AM Update: Heavy smoke has caused Butte County Air Quality Management District officials to issue the highest ever air quality forecast. Officials say the 200-plus forecast for ozone and particulate matter is unhealthy for EVERYONE, and you should limit going outdoors, exercise and exertion.
10:15 AM Update: The Frey Fire, which is the largest blaze in Butte County, has grown to 1,300 acres. Crews continue to focus efforts on the fires in the Concow area. Crews continue to hold the line on the West Branch Fire which is burning in near the Feather River.
7 am Update: The shelter at Spring Valley Elementary School has 150 beds, with 50 of them being occupied. However, the parking area has reached capacity due to the number of RV’s and trailers that evacuated. A new shelter has been opened up at Las Plumas High School, 2380 Las Plumas Ave, Oroville. Staff is redirecting vehicle traffic from the Spring Valley shelter to the Las Plumas shelter. Las Plumas High School shelter has 300 beds, and a large parking area to accommodate the overflow traffic.
6:30 am Update: (AP) - Firefighters from Nevada and Oregon are lending a hand in Northern California, where more than 840 lightning-sparked wildfires are burning. Oregon and Nevada are assisting in the battle, mostly with firefighting aircraft. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger requested the extra help because he says “you can never prepare” for so many fires at the same time.
5 am Update: Flames continue to burn in Butte County…causing people to leave their homes in the Concow area.
Click for Audio: julie-hutichison-1
Cal-Fire Captain Julie Hutchison says the latest evacuations were caused by the Rim Fire. Again, there is an Immediate Threat Evacuation in the area of Concow between Jeffery Pine Lane to Hoffman Road along Concow Road. Some of the roads include Tweedy Lane, Cribbage Lane, Ishi Trail, Yellow Wood Road, and Shandoney Lane.
The immediate threat evacuation remains this morning for all residents in the area of Concow Road north of Hoffman and all side roads in the area due to the Butte County blaze known as the Empire Fire. There is also an immediate threat evacuation on Andy Mountain Road and Crain Ridge Road to approximately one mile up Rim Mountain Road.
The Empire Fire is also near Concow. It has burned an estimated 1000 acres. At last report, the Butte Lightning Complex, which includes all 27 blazes, has burned about 37 hundred acres overall. Cal-Fire is expecting to have updated numbers on the size of the fire later this morning. Cal-Fire is expecting more additional resources to arrive today to help local fire crews.
3:45 am Update: Another road closure put in place this morning. The CHP says a closure was enacted at Concow and Nelson Bar due to the fire activity.
3:30 am Update on Tehama-Glenn Fires: Over 37 fires for a total of 3,146 acres. 35 fires are contained. EAST SIDE (Paynes Creek Area)- The Antelope Fire is 900 acres and 10% contained, the Mill Creek Fire is 900 acres with no containment.
1:30 AM Tuesday Update: An Immediate Threat Evacuation advisory is in effect for residents in the area of Jefferey Pine Lane to Hoffman Road and all roads in between. This is due to the spread of the Rim Fire. Residents can find shelter at Spring Valley School at 2771 Pentz Road off of Highway 70.
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5:50 PM Update: Cal-Fire’s Janet Upton says the south (bottom) end of the Rim Fire has been giving fire crews trouble all day. Spot fires were reported earlier. The Rim Fire remains about 100 acres.
Fire crews are battling the lightning sparked blazes as a “complex,” so overall containment is about 5% as of 6 PM.
A Cal-Fire Command Team has arrived in Butte County from Southern California. That team will take command of the fire tomorrow to help relieve local resources.
5:45 PM Update: (AP) According to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hundreds of fires are burning in at least ten California counties. Some 4,000 firefighters are battling the blazes. One of the bigger fires was in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, about 160 miles north of Sacramento. Wildfires have destroyed more than 175 homes in Northern California so far this year.
5:20 Update on Fires in Tehama-Glenn Unit: 75 fires for a total of 2,146 acres. EAST SIDE (Paynes Creek Area)- The Antelope Fire is 600 acres and 20% contained, the Ishi Fire is 60 acres and 50% contained and the Mill Creek Fire is 417 acres with no containment. WEST SIDE (36W) - The Salt Creek Fire is 40 acres with no containment and the Vestal Fire 181 acres and 25% contained.
5 PM Update from the Town of Paradise:
There is an immediate threat to all residents in the area of Concow Road north of Hoffman and all side roads in the area due to the fire known as the Empire Fire.
There is an immediate threat evacuation on Andy Mountain Road and Crain Ridge Road to approximately one mile up Rim Mountain Road. Also, residents on Highway 70 between Fire Station 36 and Pulga are under immediate threat evacuation.
Road Closures: Highway 70 is closed at Big Bend.
Shelter: Residents and animals are being evacuated to Spring Valley School at 2771 Pentz Road off of Highway 70.
There is also a fire burning in the West Branch of the Feather River drainage on the east side of the river. All situations are being very closely monitored by fire personnel. The Town is standing by to assist the County and Cal-Fire.
3:00 PM Update: An Immediate Threat Evacuation Advisory is in effect for Andy Mt. Road and Crane Ridge Road in Concow, and the first mile of Rim Road due to the Rim Fire.
1:45 PM Update:
Current information reported by Cal-Fire
Butte County: 24 fires burning for a total of more than 1,397 acres.
Tehama-Glen Unit: Over 36 fires for a total of 2,146 acres.
Shasta-Trinity Unit: Over 130 fires for a total of 5,000 acres.
1:00 PM Update: Lack of Winds are working as a double edged sword as the fires in the Concow area aren’t spreading fast, but heavy smoke is hindering efforts from air support.
11:05 AM Update: Cal-Fire says a four acre spot fire has broken out near Bardy’s Bar Road at Big Bend Road. This has caused a precautionary evacuation advisory for Big Bend Road and all of its cross streets.
9:55 AM Update: Tehama County has released its own AIR QUALITY advisory due to the smoky conditions. The Air Pollution Control District says the Tehama County air quality is in the moderate to unhealthy range this morning. But officials expect conditions to worsen as wildland fires continue to burn in Shasta, Butte, and Tehama Counties. People could experience coughing, a scratchy throat, watery or itchy eyes, or difficulty breathing from the smoky conditions.
9:10 AM Update: Cal-Fire providing updated numbers about lightning related fires in Butte County, which is reported as 23 fires for a total of more than 1,397 acres.
8:20 AM Update: Due to the growth of the Empire Fire north of Concow, an Immediate Threat Evacuation remains for the north Concow area, for the area north of Hoffman Road. For additional information the public can call the Cal-Fire hotline at 538-7826.
7:15 AM Update: AN IMMEDIATE THREAT EVACUATION ADVISORY is in place for the Hoffman Road area near Concow. Cal-Fire’s Janet Upton says the Empire Fire is on the north side of that community.
Click for Audio: jan-jan
A fire evacuation center has been set up at Spring Valley School at 2771 Pentz Road off of Highway 70.
6 AM Update: Fire Crews are continuing to battle the Rim Fire in Butte County, which is one of hundreds that started from weekend lightning strikes in Northern California. As of Sunday, Cal-Fire was reporting 23 fires in Butte County, 36 blazes in the Tehama-Glenn County area, and 130 fires in the Shasta-Trinity area. More than 12 hundred acres have been burned in Butte County. One blaze, the Rim Fire near Concow, has prompted precautionary evacuation notifications in the area. It appears the CHP is working to close down part of Highway 70 because of the wildfire. At last report, a hard closure was in place at Hwy 70 at Big Bend Road.
Butte County officials say Supervisor Curt Josiassen signed a Proclamation of a Local Emergency Sunday night as a result of the “June Lightning Fire 2008″ event. Officials say the emergency proclamation was sent to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The full Board is expected to ratify the proclamation tomorrow.
Butte County health officials calling attention to the smoky air conditions today. The Health Department has issued a public health advisory for Butte County residents, telling people to stay inside with doors and windows closed to help minimize the effects of the smoke. Other tips include not running swamp coolers or whole house fans, and changing your air conditioner to the “re-circulate” setting.
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11:40 AM-Fire Officials have named the fire burning along Rim Road the “Rim Fire”. It’s estimated to be 100 acres in size, and heavy resources are fighting the fire including air support. Crews are also keeping an eye on a fire in the West Branch Drainage Area burning along the East Side.
11:05 AM- The American Red Cross is setting up an evacuation center at the Spring Valley School at 2771 Pentz Road off of Highway 70. The center is available for residents who choose to evacuate, and will be open in the event an Immediate Threat Advisory occurs.
10:40 AM- A precautionary evacuation advisory is in place for homes in the Concow Lake area due to a fire burning along Rim Road. This is ONLY a precautionary evacuation, which means you should be prepared to evacuate in the event you are advised to do so. Road closures are also in effect at Concow Road to Yellow Wood Road North to the end of the pavement. Rim Road, which is also Andy Mt. Road is closed from Highway 70 to the end. Concow road is also closed from Nelson Bar to the end of the pavement, and Deadwood Road is closed from Highway 70 to Concow road. The Red Cross is working to establish an evacuation center if needed, and when that is opened, we will bring it to you. A fire information line has been established for residents. The number is 538-7826. You are asked to ONLY call the line if you are in the affected area of the fire.
7:50 PM-Butte County Cal-Fire crews are working several small fires this evening. The largest fire burning currently is in the Jarbo Gap area. There are also small fires burning in Stirling City/Magalia, Concow, and Butte Creek. No structures are threatened, but Upton says crews will keep an eye on the Concow fire because of winds.
Crews have stayed busy with spot fires today which have burned nearly 60 acres in the county. Upton says the Northstate and Oregon have been hit hard by lightning today with up to 100 fires starting from the strikes.
She says crews fight lightning fires differently than they would a typical fire, with crews divided to fight all fires at once, rather than leaving the rest of the county vulnerable.
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