May 15, 2014

  • Wildfire Update -- 5/15/14

    Today was another hot day -- it began with the fires feeling somewhat subdued, and the winds calmer.  As the day progressed, the temperature rose to the same level as yesterday, and the winds picked up in San Diego County.  As I left the movie I saw as a way to keep cool, I heard on the radio that two of the fires were whipping up again.  I returned home to get my camera, and drove to Dana Point to get a good view from a distance.  Along the way, from a stoplight, I shot one view of the signature 'cloud' that fire smoke creates.  The shots are from a distance of about 30 miles.

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    Almost to Dana Point, I spotted this view, and pulled over to the side of the road.

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    Zooming in, I could see the dark cloud of the flare-up, with a center of lighter smoke indicating that the firefighters were at work with their water, whether from hoses or from helicopters.

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    Again, shots of the signature smoke cloud as it spreads out and moves toward the ocean, and showing the brown air that is also typical (and that covered the area where I live yesterday).

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    Looking more directly out to sea, there is a line on the sea -- it is a shadow, through which the light was filtered before it shone directly on the water.

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    There were a couple of outrigger canoes practicing along the coast,

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    and just one bird sat in a nest.

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    On the way home this evening, I was able to see Saddleback Mountain, the mountain that was obliterated by smoky haze yesterday.

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    The red flag warnings have not been extended, and the temperature is expected to be cooler tomorrow.  Hopefully that will help the firefighters gain control of all 9 fires that are currently burning.  Rain is not a likely possibility, but cooler weather and calmed winds should help.  One of the fires was ignited by a bigrig fire by the side of the road -- the others are being considered crime scenes until proved otherwise.  There was a possible suspect in custody for 1/2 hour this afternoon, but he was released.  And this evening a charred body was found in the rubble of one of the fires. 

Comments (20)

  • How sad ... the charred body. I hope that it wasn't arson. Such a horrible crime!
    I'm glad that you have cooler weather being predicted for tomorrow. Perhaps the fires can all be brought under control, and ousted more quickly.
    Praying for you all now.
    Carolyn

    • It is typical that the crazies come out and set fires when the Santanas blow -- it's weird weather, and brings out the worst in everybody! They have said that they are considering all but one of the fires to be crime scenes until otherwised proven. We really need the cooler weather, and humidity higher than the current 5%! I hope that really happens!

  • Azurean blue sometimes gray but blue . I like the blue.
    Love
    Michel

    • Blue is nicest, Michel -- and gray will be welcome if it brings rain -- brown is not a sky color that I like to see!

  • Tragic that someone has died in the fires... I hope that if they are acts of arson the criminals are caught and prosecuted! Stay safe!

    • Apparently a homeless person died in Carlsbad. They have picked up 2 children now in connection with smaller fires, but no news on the bigger ones. I hope they find it's not arson, but if it is, I agree with your hope that they are caught and prosecuted. It can take years, though -- they never did catch the person who started the 1992 Laguna Canyon fire!

  • oh dear ~ sounds so ominous ~

    • I think the worst is over this morning, though the fires were still burning last night. The sky here is light brown again, but there's no wind.

  • So sad!

  • on the national news it was 15minutes about the fires.
    Once Mexico was on fire and we could see and smell the odor all the way up to us and we're 6hours away from Mexico

  • I have seen the fires on TV. I hope they were not intentionally set!!
    It's sad that somebody would do that with no regard for life, human or animal.
    I hope no firefighters die because of this.

    • A couple ofo firefighters have been injured, but the only death was a homeless man. The Santana weather pattern seems to be a magnet for arsonists -- how sad for everybody!

  • Wow, that is really horrible fires. TV news makes it clear that California is in great danger this fire season.

    • I'm sure Pam is safe from these fires, though there have been a couple much closer to her area. We are all in danger until the drought is over.

  • I didn't know that the fires were that serious until I saw it on the news.

    • This week has been similar to the firestorms we sometimes get in the fall -- what's really scary is that it's happening at this time of year -- we usually don't see this type of weather until September, October, and November. With the drought, the threat will be bad throughout the summer. Last night there were 9 reportable fires (they don't usually talk about them till they get way out of control!) in San Diego County, and the winds were still blowing!

  • Thanks for keeping us posted, Janet. The cooler weather is definitely going to be a blessing-hopefully will remain through Memorial Day weekend.

    • It's still hot this morning -- but the winds have died down. The skyhere is light brown again, but that may be a sign that things are settling down and the smoke just isn't blowing away. They are predicting 10 degree drops in the temp for today, tomorrow, and Sunday, and 60-70 for the first part of next week. That will be a relief for people, if not for fires!

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