HikeArizona.COM

Is anyone paying attention to the flaming mess currently going on, on the west coast? No, not the radical leftists, the fire situation.

Seriously, it's nuts.

I read something reference fire behavior analysts that the current fire situation will exceed the 1910 blowup. Pretty impressive The air is clearish here, now, but smells smokey to me. I know the dense smoke will return as the high settles in.

Active Fire Mapping is not accessible to me. Probably overloaded with people trying to access it. Same issue yesterday; loads part way, stops, fails.

It gets weirder. We might have to change the title again.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/08/us/el-do ... index.html

Read this morning that so far this year 2 million acres have burned in California, which of course is a record. The Santa Ana's are just starting to blow so California's "true" fire season is just beginning. I've had some good success with this link as it also shows smoke impacts.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewe ... MXhizeHrkU

I'm very, very sad to see the devastation in the small towns of Phoenix and Talent, Oregon, where I briefly lived in 2017. (It is the ONLY time in my life I ever have lived in a place called Phoenix!) These towns are between Medford and Ashland, in southern Oregon. I watched a YouTube video taken by a guy driving around the streets in his truck. Very bizarre burning pattern. Several whole blocks would be nothing but gray rubble on one side of the street, while the other side had green trees and pretty houses. The fire continued north toward Medford, along the Bear Creek Greenway, a bike path I used daily while living there. Loved that bike path, which paralled a creek. The creek was wider than most of our "rivers."

@Jim_H
I have been. I have relatives in Eugene that are sitting nervously while the Holiday Farm fire torches Willamette NF. Caused by a fallen power line. It has grown to 150,000 acres in just three days.

rayhuston wrote: ↑Sep 10 2020 1:09 pm @Jim_H
It has grown to 150,000 acres in just three days.

Police Arrest Multiple Suspects In Connection With West Coast Wildfires

Article HERE: https://bluelivesmatter.blue/police-arr ... vb6EhLeDP4

This is the very definition of "fake news".

It links to multiple different sources with dramatic photos from random unrelated social media accounts and unrelated facts.

It mentions every arrest of a person who did something involving fire ... despite not being related to the current fires burning across the west.

I recommend putting a source like this on your list of sources to not trust in the future as it is clearly trying to peddle something that isn't based in reality.

The ONLY arrest related to a current fire is the Sweet Creek Fire, a 300 acre fire that is 100% contained.

When you zoom all the way out and see the smoke cloud is bigger than two hurricanes combined...

I just hope the smoke clears out soon. Its weird living under a thick smoke layer. At least it isn't down low. It would be nice if the fires were contained, too.

Here's a recent update from a reputable source on arson and other causes for some of the Oregon fires.

Since meth seems to be the primary driver, Payson should be on high-alert 365 days a year!

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/20 ... fires.html

chumley wrote:meth seems to be the primary driver

Wasn't this the cause of several of the SoCal fires from last year too? Man alive who would have thought. I see toothless meth head bikers in leather almost every time I hit the needle vista parking area on my way to the superstitions. Good thing lightning and grass took care of that problem so that they can cook with abandon out there now.

Autumn colors in Oregon

Hiker Wandering Through Oregon Forest Enjoying Vibrant Reds And Golds Of Fall

@chumley - Just watched a video from Oregon that showed the fires have moved underground and are burning roots. One firefighter claims that the roots burning underground may continue until early next year, undeterred by rain or snow.

As long as the smoke haze clears and the air quality improves, then I'm happy. I'm on the fence about hiking out of the oven this Saturday. Mazatzal (M) Peak, or Humphrey, and it would be nice if the air was clear. I may need to wait on M Peak until October for clear air, and it is still mild on Humphrey even if Saturday is probably a zoo. Still, I am not interested in driving for hours to choke down 2 cords of wood smoke. If that is your thing, fine, but I prefer not to do so.