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Subscribe to RSSThere are at least 70 major fires in 13 states west of the Mississippi, the result of a dry, hot summer. NBC's Kristen Dahlgren reports.
Updated at 12:10 a.m. ET: The Idaho National Guard is joining the fight against at least nine wildfires burning across the state, including the 68,000-acre Trinity Ridge blaze, one of 60 large U.S. fires being fought in one of the worst U.S. fire seasons.
Most are scorching the dry and hot Western states, including Washington, where the 22,656-acre Taylor Bridge fire five miles outside Cle Elum has charred 70-plus homes and more than 200 barns and other structures this week.
More than 400 homes have been evacuated in the area, but firefighters managed to carve containment lines around 25 percent of the blaze's perimeter by Wednesday night, with full containment expected within a week, authorities said.
Not only are more wildfires flaring up in the West this year than last, but the nation's fires have gotten bigger, said Jennifer Smith, of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.
As of Thursday, more than 43,000 wildfires had been reported in the U.S. this season, burning a total of nearly 6.4 million acres, or 10,000 square miles, the center said.
The 10-year average for the period is 52,535 fires, but covering only 5 million acres, Smith said.
Photoblogs:
- Wildfires continue to burn, destroy homes in Central Washington
- Lone house, surrounded by scorched earth, survives wildfire
The massive Idaho wildfire, which has burned more than 100 square miles in the past two weeks, is bearing down on Pine and Featherville, vacation towns in the mountains 105 miles northeast of Boise.
"It's not a question of if, but when," Boise National Forest spokesman Dave Olson said of the fire reaching Featherville's outskirts.
The area has 450 homes, with about half inhabited year-round and the others serving as summer and weekend retreats.
Robert Sorbo / Reuters
Blazes in multiple states threaten houses and cause evacuations.
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In a Thursday morning update, officials from the Boise National Forest said the fire hadn't burned much closer to Featherville overnight, NBC station KTVB reported. Instead, they said the fire expanded west, overtaking the western ridge of Sheep Mountain.
Also in Idaho, a wildfire in the Salmon-Challis National Forest stranded 250 rafters floating the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Authorities closed a backcountry access road due to falling boulders and debris caused by the blaze. Some rafters were stuck for two days before authorities began shuttling them out Wednesday.
When Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter declared a state disaster on Wednesday, he allowed the Idaho Department of Lands to trigger its agreement with the Idaho National Guard to provide additional support to fire crews. That means Idaho Emergency Operations Center has been activated and will issue assignments to the National Guard, KTVB reported.
Wildfires burn in the foothills of Southern California, destroying buildings and sending two firefighters to the hospital. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
In Washington, NBC station KING of Seattle reported that firefighters made headway on the Taylor Bridge Wildfire burning near Cle Elum, but hot weather threatened to worsen the situation on Thursday.
Related: Inmates join fight against Washington wildfire
"We've got some pretty active fire weather coming in here the next couple of days, so we have to get after it and get this thing wrapped up," incident commander Rex Reed told firefighters at a morning briefing.
More evacuations were ordered late Wednesday on the north side of the blaze, adding to the hundreds of residents who have already fled homes. The fire started Monday and quickly spread in rural areas east of Cle Elum, about 75 miles east of Seattle.
Related: Lower temps, rain bring some relief from drought conditions
Elsewhere:
In California, crews were preparing for storms and strong winds at a wildfire in a remote, rugged area in Plumas National Forest. More than 900 homes were threatened by the 66-square-mile blaze in Northern California.
Nearly a dozen major blazes were burning across California, with some 8,000 firefighters assigned to get them under control, said state fire spokesman Daniel Berlant. They made progress against a blaze in Northern California's Lake County, allowing hundreds of evacuees in the Spring Valley community to return home.
A brutal heat wave in Southern California, however, fueled wildfires that tore through more than 24 square miles of brush. Lightning sparked a group of five fires that together burned more than 14½ square miles in a rural part of San Diego County, said state fire Capt. Mike Mohler. About 400 residents were ordered to leave in the communities of Ranchita and Santa Fe.
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In Oregon, four major blazes have been burning across the state since a series of lightning storms last week. One fire that straddles the state's border with California threatened a local landmark, the Crowder Flat Guard Station. Another blaze, which burned 675 square miles of sagebrush along the Oregon-Nevada border since being sparked by lightning on Aug. 5, finally stopped spreading this week.
In Nevada, 10 large wildfires were burning in northern part of the state.
In Arizona, rainfall and cooler temperatures helped crews battling two small wildfires east of Phoenix. Both were in such remote, rugged terrain that crews were forced to attack one of the, near Superior, by air only.
In Wyoming, firefighters used a helicopter to rescue five California men from a remote mountain fishing camp after a wildfire threatened their only way out. That blaze has burned 1,300 acres in the Shoshone National Forest, but no homes are in the extremely rugged area. Elsewhere in the state, firefighters had a 6,500-acre fire in Converse County nearly contained.
In Montana, about 15 residents west of Polson were forced to evacuate after winds up to 30 mph helped double the size of a 7-square-mile fire. No homes were threatened, though some outbuildings have burned.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press, Reuters and NBC's Jim Gold.
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Go get 'em, guys! My kids are up in camp in McCall and it's a little iffy whether 55 will be open to bring them south.
Thanks for serving your country, yet again!
You're my heroes.
Nothing like a little "socialist" government action when you need it, is there?
How fortunate we live in a nation where individuals will volunteer to serve their fellow man in many capacities.As fire fighters,donating to the Red Cross ,giving shelter or items to those who have lost everything. Including those who join the National Guard.Allowing them to help their fellow man in times of disaster.Americans can count on each other. To step in and help protect lives and property because these folks care.Not because they are being forced to by a government.
There was a time when people only had themselves or if they were lucky neighbors to depend on when life's disasters struck. Then as progress came, communities developed systems and came together to help meet the common needs which so many faced in times of difficulties. Today we reap the benefits of interconnected systems with citizens ready to be sent anywhere help is needed night or day. Even as neighbors continue to reach out. Caring about each other whether as fire fighters, neighbors or volunteers, or by joining a larger group to rescue from harm. It's demonstrating some of the best human traits possible ans one of the best things about Americans.It is not a political statement.
Shandril, excuse my confusion and being behind the times on this subject, but what exactly makes someone a "nationalist"? And why is it bad? You stated in your previous entry: "you are a nationalist, not a patriot". Can you explain the difference between a nationalist and a patriot? And a "true American" for that matter?
I generally like your posts, but in this case I think you use words that have completely different meanings and you are treating them as being interchangeable. I hope I'm wrong. Please xplain the difference between "nationalist", "American", and "patriot".
Have to agree wi th casual..I don't see an issue with Windancer's comments and in fact they are true. I've spoken with wildland fire fighters during training sessions. These people have a very strong dedication to what they do just like other firefighters. The National Guard is also called upon in times of extreme need when more resources are necessary.
Give kudos to these people battling these fires...they place themselves in very extreme danger during these events, moreso than even our standard firefighters.
Shandril, you are a warped individual. Winddancer was merely commenting about the "step up and help" that she is aware of. You are the un-american here. Pack up your propganda and take it to a real political arena. Very poor taste you've shown with your comment. Don't see you out there stepping up to help put the fires out.
Great true American post. It is always heart warming when people just volunteer to go help each other. What I feel is a shame is the environmentalist stopped the bill put up to cut fire roads in the forest that would have saved thousands of acres of destruction by saying the roads would destroy the forest. Fire Fighters and volunteers need safe routes in and out of these areas, and fire breaks would have helped.
Shandril Too!
Too disgusting and idiotic to warrant any further comment.
That pretty much sums up your comment girl.
You should hope that you do not find yourself in the need of these people that were called in to help fighting these fires. If you ever do you will think differently I bet.
Winddancersong1494878, good post!
I was happy when the fires moved out of Colorado, but I hadn't realized the rest of the West was still a tinderbox. Guess I'd better head over to the Red Cross site.
And Julkie, way to politicize a regional disaster. You're a real help in times like these.
Shandril, reading your comment, I thought to myself... "oh my goodness, I missed something in highschool..." But now I realize you don't know what you are talking about! Whew!
Glad I'm not the only one confused by Shandril's comment.
Shandril Too,
Your ignorance, petty hate and complete lack of anything resembling manners makes me wonder why anyone would bother to take you seriously. Windancer's comments were not "gross distortions of the truth" and the fact that you try to claim otherwise only makes it apparent that you don't know what the truth is to begin with.
Please grow up little girl and maybe get a clue while you're at it. Right now, you're just another mouthy little brat.
Thanks and safe passage to all the firefighters across the country and the world as they battle these fires.
A special thanks to the Native Americans who travel around the country lending their centuries-old knowledge and expertise to the task. Wado.
With what? The tribal DC10 or the ancestral flame retardant?
Maybe a rain dance?
if you're in the USA and understand the problem, and even more so understand what must be done! Than it's time to organize and do what we need to do. I'm dead serious send me an email, it's time we connect and plan people.
I wish our country would somehow get together and fight these fires as a whole rather than waiting for each state to declare a state disaster and then dealing with them by bringing in the National guard etc.. With the drought affecting almost all of the country it would make more sense to get them put out before they grow so large as to become unmanageable and even more deadlier.
I hate seeing anyone lose there home and everything they have worked for. There also are products available to make most structures almost fire proof but yet I haven't heard of anyone using them this fire season. I'm sure the insurance companies will be raising there rates to everyone for losses and to me that's not right my opinions don't matter to the insurance industry.
I would like to say thank you to all of the fire fighters and everyone helping them during this tragic time, please stay safe and watch out for each other.
Anyone that lives close to these fires or that could be affected by the fires please look into the products that could save or protect your home before its to late! They are very easy to apply and by what I've seen online they work wonders.
As dry as these areas are, these fires flare up strong very quickly. Add in winds which spread sparks to other dry areas and stat yet more fires (which tend to later merge into one really HUGE fire) and you have a major event well underway most times before people even realize there is a fire burning.
Trust me, these wildland fire fighters would love to be able to put these things out nearly immediately rather than chase after them for weeks on end. It is a very dangerous life they lead during fire season becasue sparks flying can start other fires and they have a good chance at being trapped inside a wall of flames at any point in the event.
As for the fire retardant gel, it can't be applied by the general homeowner, form what I read, but applied only, at most, a few hours before the flames reach the home and it has to be re-"activated" with a water mist, which would mean more ground crew to work the homes being covered. I agree though that from what I read the gel is very promising.
muddiemike
I wish our country would somehow get together and fight these fires as a whole rather than waiting for each state to declare a state disaster and then dealing with them by bringing in the National guard etc.
They Usually do, they come from all states to help out in these cases, but right now a lot of states are tinderboxes and they too have fires that they have to contain. There are not any left that can be sent to these states that are having an extreme fire season. So the national guard is called in to help out. Also if your home does not have a defensible perimeter they will not even try to defend your home from a fire. I also agree to your post.
I live in the smoke from some of the worst of the Idaho fires, and have had to deal with the threat of wildfires all my life.
First, the terrain where many of these fires are is so extreme that putting them out immediately is simply not an option. They flare up VERY quickly, and such idealistic response simply is not humanly possible.
Second, fire resources ARE shared "nationwide." That said, the local teams are still the best ones to assess the situations initially--never mind the fact that quick response with necessary equipment means that the equipment must be on hand locally. However, agencies coordinate between states over the entire West, and crews go where they are needed, not just within their home states. The "state of emergency" was for mobilizing the National Guard in addition to the regular fire resources--and since National Guard units are state units, that is simply the way in which they are mobilized.
Third, this situation was bound to happen--we've been watching the lack of adequate timber management here for the last few decades, just wondering when a year like this was going to hit. Back as late as the 1960s, we had sound forest management policies with adequate thinning and strategic control of tree parasites--and while it did not prevent all fires (nor is that a realistic goal), at least the forests were healthier and the fires did not blow up so fast or so big. Now, thanks to the misguided efforts of so-called environmentalists, we have dead and dying forests full of what is called "ladder fuel"--dead trees, some still standing, some in various degrees of falling over, like so much cord wood--and all it takes is a dry year and a lightning strike or a careless match, and the whole thing goes up like tinder. With drought conditions this year, we have all pretty much just been waiting for the inevitable.
Meanwhile, we have had visibility of less than a mile at times here due to the smoke for 3 of the last 4 days. We have visible ash falling much of the time. God help the next person who dares to use the words "carbon footprint" around most of the folks who are having to breathe this stuff!
This is the real PROBLEM everyone wants to do all the planning and the rest of us do all the WORK and then take credit for building this
Instead of your doing all the planning how about doing the WORK also so you will then know whether your Plan is worth a DAMN
We don't need generals to stand back and diret traffic get out there into traffic
Idaho gal,
Excellent post.
But Romney says "We don't need any more firefighters."
When did Romney say that?
He didn't, just another of those lefty made up lies.
He FREAKIN DID saay that IDOT right wing NUT
You think these firefighters are volunteres
They are PAID by the federal government
If Repugnicans had their way, firefighters would be protecting only those who pay for "fire service." It's just like Repugnican healthcare plans: Their goal is to get government out of anything and everything possible, enabling private enterprises to provide far superior service. After all, how will we get the national debt under control if the government keeps spending recklessly on firetrucks and spray planes?
When you start a post with name-calling (Repugnicans), any statement you try to make falls flat.
Thank you Liars.....
Al Kyda
This isn't about politics so run to the sites that will stroke your ego
Some people just don't have the common sense to post without political trash. They can only have an opinion someone gave them. It's a shame they don't understand just how repulsive their comments are and why nobody wants to hear them.
Liars: I agree. As soon as the name calling starts, my opinion shifts rapidly in favor of whomever the poster is ranting against.
Just remember, Romney does not want more firefigihters and police per his statement aftere WI governor recall failed vote, he wants less people to fight fires and police our streets. He will probably have his investment company contract those out to states/cities and you will have to pay them yourselves for services.
I can't wait! Let him get elected, so people will realize how crazy this country has gotten, and the revolt will happen much sooner than expected.
BigBearcatBill,
Just wondering how you came to that analogy. One question: does the federal government pay firefighters and local police?
Amazing how the fringe always wants to turn any discussion into politics. GFY!
Could you provide a link to those statements Big Bear. We know how you lefties like to lie and make stuff up.
ITs out there YOUR the ignoramus
HE DID SAY IT Bitch
romney said we do not need more police and firefighters
really he said it he did he said it
These forest fires are occuring Year after Year. We need to have a Long Term Solution for defense against Forest Fires. During the Dry Season the Trees and Bushes and Shrubs Dry providing Fodder for Fires. Also the Above Ground is Dry. The Solution for this is to have the Dry Ground Well Irrigated and Wet so that the Ground Remains Wet and the Trees, Bushes and Shrubs don't Dry But Grow into Green Forests. And Green Forests and Trees Attract Rains. Also Cloud Seeding must be done in dry areas so as to bring Rain so that the Ground becomes Wet and Trees Grow. Another Long term solution is to build Pipelines and Canals to transport Water from Water Surplus Areas and River Sources to Water Deficient Areas to keep the Land Irrigated throughout the Year. This will keep the land Wet and also more Crops and Trees can be Grown. After all the River water and the surplus water all flow back into the sea and thus precious Fresh Water is Lost. Also we must all Pray for Rains in the USA. Prayer is Very Powerful. GOD Bless the Americans. GOD BLESS THE USA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
Kevin...while a good idea in theory, how do you propose to keep millions of acres of forest sufficently moist to prevent a fire? Do yo have any idea how much water that would take? We don't have that kind of resource available.
Irrigation in that manner isn't going to help if the water isn't avaialble. Ground water or underground springs only hold so much..they are not infintie.
Lynn, thank you. I have seen similar posts from others during the NM wildfires earlier in the year. There are literally millions and millions of acres of forest to cover. Where do people thing the water will come from? There is not "surplus area" water to be pulled from. Much of the burning forest is "wilderness" areas. These are more protected than regular forest land. Human impact over the land designated to be "wilderness" is very minimal. it is not allowed to take ground vehicles in to these areas much less tear it up with irrigation systems, pipelines, and canals. Nor is it financially possible to water this huge vast amount of land on a regular basis. The draining of the lakes and rivers to supply the water would be disasterous.
Kevin
Each year the forest department and your local fire department advise everyone to cut back the brush from their houses and make sure that the plants and trees are not fire friendly around your house. However, alot of people ingore this advise. The fact is that you can not stop wildfires! It is a natural cycle to renew the forest for future generations.
Hi Goit...while I indicated the idea has merit but just isn't feasible, the idea is usually put out there by people who have no idea, or can't fathom, just how large of an area we are talking about. Those who have grown up in cities/suburbs and may never have gotten out out to the larger wilderness areas and are going on experience(s) in areas where the coverage isn't as dense.
When people hear the news that "millions of acres have burned" you have to admit that is a hard number to imagine and just how much area that covers. You figure a single acre of land is 43,560 square feet. A million acres would make that 43,560,000,000 (as in 43 BILLION, 560 million). I tell people to convert that to money for a better understanding of just how much that is and it usually gets their attention.
kevin - are you insane - pray - really - priceless - thats your solution - a god is not causing any of this - actually the silly party (GOP ) that believes in pray is the same party thats has made this problem worse by denying climate change and calling it a hoax - thats why these fires are betting worse - and water supplies are drying up - please if you are not a sane rational person - the rest of us do not need to hear your fairy tale view of the world - your delusional we get it
fred,
No, actually the people that have made this problem worse are your liberal idiot friends, the environmentalists.
They have filed so many lawsuits to block logging, even clear cutting DEAD TREES...blocked access roads from being built into more remote areas...which makes it much harder for fire crews to fight fires in the first place...the list goes on and on.
THAT is who is responsible...but you're a liberal ideologue so the truth really doesn't mean much to you when it isn't what you want to hear. Guess you have your own delusions huh genius??
How pathetic.
Global climate change is a hoax
— God
Your opinion Shandril...just becasue you say it doesn't mean it is true.
Shandril, I hope you are a hoax.
While Shandril's post is an opinion, Invisible Hand's is a distortion of fact. The globe is warming, god-caused or not, and saying it's a hoax does everyone a disservice.
Shandril, please stop being so hateful. You are just stirring up trouble and we have enough of that.
joe et al - shandril is not stirring up trouble as you say - she ids a smart reasonable person who speaks the truth - you call it "trouble " because she dares to touch on the fact that you" god fearing folk" are simply put delusional - hateful - the most hateful people i come across claim to be religious
What you should fear are those snake oil salesmen who preach the religion of climate change and global warming. They want you to live in tents made of recycled materials and walk wherever you go.
This is a terrible tragedy and it's coming to a location near you. CO2 is a heat trapping gas. Burning millions of years worth of stored CO2 in the form of coal, oil and gas releases millions of years and billions of tonnes of heat trapping gas into the atmosphere. The Keeling Curve tells the story. Charles keeling WAS A REPUBLICAN. We are very near 400ppb (parts per billion) of CO2 and will easily blow past 500 ppb even if we stop burning all fossil fuel today. The Global Average Temperature is expected to exceed 2 degrees Celsius or over 6 degrees Fahrenheit in the mid latitudes. Double that for the polar regions. The Arctic Ice Cap RIGHT NOW IS AT AN ALL TIME RECORD LOW. We will see an ice free Arctic within the next 10 years. This will profoundly change our weather patterns slowing down the jet stream causing our weather to stagnate. Depending on your location you will either experience extreme persistent heat and drought or extreme flooding and cooler temperatures. As the Greenland Ice Sheet continues to melt it will dump cold fresh water into the Gulf Stream causing it to slow down and eventually stop. Again, this will cause extreme weather patterns that will persist for hundreds of years to come. Expect crop failure, severe water and food shortages and political and social unrest as conditions continue to worsen. Contact your elected representatives AND DEMAND IMMEDIATE ACTION. Petition your energy companies to convert to wind, solar and natural energy sources. THIS IS NOT A LIBERAL CONSPIRACY TO TAKE AWAY YOUR SUV OR DIVERT MONEY TO AL GORE TO HELP PAY FOR HIS LOVE CHILD WITH KIM KARDASHIAN. THIS IS A VERY REAL AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. Get over your political ideology and TAKE ACTION TODAY. The lives of your children depend on it.
A "terrible" tragedy? Is any tragedy "not terrible"?
YES, my ex wife dying. ;)
I hope in the future we will see more home defense systems which draw upon private wells and swimming pools for water to actively wet down homes when outside smoke and wildfire alarms go off. These kinds of systems (including the private wells and swimming pools) should pay for themselves by lower premiums for homeowner insurance policies. - RC
What happens when they lose electricity to run the pumps for a couple of days? just askin.
Lookie, lookie Butch Otter stops bad-mouthing the Feds for a second and turns Socialist. Hope all the rednecks who voted for him remember how he ran Uncle Sam when it got a bit hot in Idaho this summer. Next up: Butch Otter pushes for more salvage logging on public lands the minute the embers cool.
gfy
When the GOP, for years, have put down, global worming, this accures, When thay say, that we don't need more firefightersand othe first responders, this accures. To say this is a political, it sure is. GOP, do not want alternative energy, for one reason,THAY WILL LOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, from their oil wells. Thay only want to keep on making this kind of money. even at the cost of the US burning into ashes.
When thay try to egnore the facts, this happens. Thay even say its gods way of cleaning this earth.?????????????. To continue in this way, has ended, what this world was like. I wish we cound have people in government, that will do, for all mankind, and not just for them to gat rich. These fires, are burning america, while the GOP shuts it eyes, is not the way, elected polititions should act. Our farms, homes, our very way of life, is being egnored. All the while the GOP is on witch hunts. We have to STOP, this kind of government NOW!
At least they are having volunteers, selfless people, to aid in helping the affected people fight these fires. They've realized it's either sink or swim so they are swimming. Quit bringing government policies into a discussion about wild fires. It makes no sense. I'd like to see an elected politician roll up his or her sleeves and go fight fires among the ones that know what they are doing.
PB is right..it takes special training of an already trained firefighter to work wildland fires and it isn't a job for every firefighter.
Volunteers that go in aren't in the thick of the fire..they are helping the main camps with food and water distribution to the firefighters, providing first aid or just out picking up, removing or plowing under possible fire fuel (weeds, tinder, brush) or creating breaks WELL away from the flames.
More BS! I was stopped on a highway in Montana years ago by law enforcement and USFS employees and told to take the boots they handed me as well as the hard hat and pulaski they offered and go up the hill and build fire line or else go to the County Jail for a few days!
Things have changed, and not for the best in most instances over the past 45 years!
A fire line NoBama is NOT in the thick of the fire and I also throw the BS flag on your impressment into service which would have been and is against the law unless you (the global you not you specifically) are a prisoner of the county or state. Also, the correct term is "firebreak" which is exactly what I described, removing fire "fuel" to prevent a fire from advancing.
Just out of curiosity, did you actually do the work? Here is what I am guessing. People are evacuated during a fire and people inside the evacuation zone running around are generally firefighters and volunteers. Anyone else is deemed, in emergency management terms, an outlier and is ordered out or escorted out of the danger area, yes, at risk of being detained. From the sounds of it you were in an area you weren't supposed to be and IF your story is true, the people you are talking about took you to be a volunteer, who they would have had jurisdiction over to order service.
The Bible says there will be no grass, not a blade of grass left. These fires are of things to come. The world is full of hate and sin and the disobedience to God.
BeeCee..unless there comes a time when the entire planet is in flames that would be impossible. We know from experience that after a large fire the forest/land begins to re-establish itself within a very short period of time..as in days. Fires, while destructive in modern times due to the way we live, are actually good for the forests and adds nutrients and minerals back to the soil. Wildland fires are not a new phenomenon but have been going on as long as the planet has been in existence.
BS! I see places where fire came through decades ago and it has not regenerated. When crown fires burn, they reach temps of over 2000 F! Heat like that sterilizes the soil and kills all bacteria in it. Leaves it like grey dust. Soils take about 100 years to come back. I suggest you visit the area around Avery and St. Maries Idaho to see what happens 112 years after a fire, instead of repeating what you read or heard in a classroom some where.
plez shut up and gfy!
Please quit with the ghetto language.
Nobama..I don't recall saying ALL land regenerates. Let me send you back, however, to the area around Mt St Helens. Lava is much hotter than 2000 degrees yet the area around there regenerated in only 5 years (this from the Mt St Helens historical record of the eruption located at the visitors center). Is it full regeneration, no..I said begins to regenerate, not that it springs up and looks the same way it did within days.
As for the ghetto language PB, it's OK. Using that language just shows a lack of the ability to find other more appropriate words.
It depends on wind patterns that bring in bacteria to regenerate the soil and birds or other flying "things" to bring in seeds and such.
oh! and where were you when St. Helens blew up? I was as close as I'd want to have been and saw a lot. I've also flown over it several times since and it still looks like it did in 1980.
1985...was headed for my duty station in Portland Oregon and stopped off at the visitor's center...never said I was actually IN the area when she blew. Sure, the area OVER Mt St Helens looks the same given she erupted again in what was it, 2004? I guess though that you prefer not to read..the evidence of regeneration of the foliage around St Helens is all over the place on the net. As for where I was, that was 1980...given the date of the eruption I was just finishing my freshman year in HS...east coast. That has WHAT to do with the conversation?
WindDancersSong said it right. They are responding the way Americans respond in a disaster. Without any coercions, ulterior motives, or expectations.
Shandril Too. Why such a big chip on your shoulder?
There are a lot of causes for Forest Fires. Lightning, negligence, inadequate maintenance and simply a failure to recognize potential dangers. Case in point in the latter, recently we had a small fire flare locally up due to truck trailer runaway chains dragging on the highway and sparking off the pavement. In the case of negligence, predominantly, this is most often from those who do not live in fire prone areas. People that have homes in fire areas are VERY aware of dangers and protocols.
As far as "The Federal Government" involvement in fire fighting AND management of the forest, the Feds are HIGHLY linked and involved with such. The lion share of fire prone areas are in and around National Forests. Maintenance of the forests for clearing areas whether it be around roads, fire breaks and general clearing of tinder is at an all time low due to the lack of funds which is the result of our continuing economic down turn. Make no mistake, businesses in particular have a GREAT DEAL to loose in forest fires. The notion that we cannot afford to fight them or apply funds and diligence to prevent them costs EVERYONE much more in the long run. It is no surprise that this year is looking to be the worst on record. It is due to a lack of prevention from budget cutting and, the costs to fight it are going to bite us. Penny wise pound foolish.
About 60 idiotic comments all from people who are no where near a forest or a fire. Most wanting to politicize the situation to expound upon their pet pov. The facts are these: the western forests are dying because of pine bark beetle killed trees:tussock moth killed trees and spruce bud worm killed trees! I see thousands of them from here. More each year. 50% of the Salmon/Challis is DEAD!! When lightening stirkes a dead tree, it explodes in flames. I've seen it happen.
The Mustang Fire is creeping up the Salmon River Canyon towards North Fork. It went from 7 thousand acres on Sunday Aug.12, to nearly 90 thousand today! I smell smoke all the time. The US Forest Service is largely to blame for this situation as are environmental groups. I sat in on an urban interface fuels reduction meeting 5 years ago and heard an environmentalist from Missoula say that they opposed all fuels reduction and logging because insect infestations and fire are nature's way of reducing the fuels and growth of trees! Sounds great if you do not live here or do not mind inhaling carcinogenic smoke for weeks at a time every summer.
Because of climate change, cold winters no longer kill the insect larvae in the trees. So they have exploded in numbers and in the spring, do what they do, which is kill coniferous trees. Then they burn more easily. The US FS is interested in spending money and driving around in $45 thousand dollar SUV's! Spending a fraction of the fire money on prevention makes too much sense. Remove the dead and dying trees, thus reducing the fuel loads.
A curious thing has happened recently in both Montana and Idaho. The Friends of the Swan in Montana, a radical enviro group, asked the State Dept. of Lands last winter if it could increase logging in the Swan Valley to reduce the number of dead and well as potentially dead trees. DUH! Another knucklehead group asked Gov. Otter if the same could be done in Idaho. Good luck with that!
And if you think this is bad, then Google "1910 Forest Fires" and read a little about that fire season and what happened 112 years ago this weekend across northern Idaho and Montana. No global warming or CO2 in those days. No dead trees either! Just living green ones. What do you suppose caused it?
You are an idiot. I spent 31 years as a public servant working in the U.S. Forest Service. While never a full-time fire figher, volunteered many times over my career to fight forest fires all over the country. Never drove around in a $45K SUP, I can assure you of that. And worked my a$$ off to get the fires contained ASAP. Also, your previous comment about being stopped by law enforcement and U.S. Forest Service employees on a road in Montana and being ordered to help fight the fire or go to jail is total BS - you are an absolute moron. So, they just happened to have your boot size sitting around waiting for you. Anyone who believes your crap is also an idiot.
Yes, Julkie but what do you call such a government you call socialist that's at the beck and call to every major corporation on Fortune 500? I think you're confused. Do you want more corporate involvement with how America is run? Most senators, congressmen, and cabinet members have had long careers in big oil, pharm, insurance and the like.
The agencies have long educated the public on the concept of defensible space. Google it to see the area recommended and then double it. Each home owner should see that the area around their homes have areas that allow the firefighters space and eliminate fuel for fires. Even a old woman like myself pulled brush out with my compact truck and cable. Keep trees and shrubs away from your house. If you live in fire prone areas think of a metal roof and cement composite siding when you improve or remodel.
These actions help to save your homes and help the firefighters.
Thes federal firefighters crews are largely college students working their way through college. A nice group of young men and women. I salute you.
Good post WindDanceSong that is the way it should work.
The Republicans have made jokes about people's concerns about global warming for the past 20 years. Now, when scientists are assuring us that global warming is not a myth as the Republicans want you to believe, IT IS TIME to vote them out of office and get people elected who want to address the real issues with real action and not be pawns of the corporations like the Republicans are.
VOTE DEMOCRAT 2012
gfy a hole!!!
NOB, John just voiced an opinion, same as you have in earlier posts. Your complete lack of maturity is showing in the post above. Just because someone has a different belief than you doesn't warrant your "gfy a hole" because you are afraid to type the real words. It's live and let live, everyone doesn't have to have the same beliefs as you.
like i said earlier!
gfy a hole
My, your ignorance is shining bright!
NoBama has a very limited vocabulary....
This is one of the many things our men and women in uniform should be doing rather than having their lives thrown away in foreign lands. Their purpose is to take care of our citizens and our country. Not the rest of the world who have no interest in what happens here. Much like those so called representatives that waste their lives and our money on foreign adventurism.
God does not send lightning to intentinally set fires that create destruction. Who is sending it. It's a part of this
imperfect system of things. God does not try or punish people in ways like that. Read your Bible. Although,
there is someone that does. God through his Son Christ want all of us to be saved from his coming day. These
fires are of the critical times hard to deal with. If you are sincere keep up the search for the True God and you'll
find out how he really is and opposite of what people say. God is love!
please shut up with the christianity insanity?
No one is big enough to help these people who have lost their homes but government. Taxes are paid so assistance can be available for those in need, that's how it works. We just have to get EVERYONE to pay their share.
That's right, we're drying up, burning up and blowing away! We have to do something about global warming, all of us; plastic bottles, plastic diapers, plastic bags etc. We can all so something!
why dont the tree huggers fight the fires thy are trying to save them