Dismiss Notice
Thanks for being a member of our community. Please donate toward site expenses if you can.

Western wildfires: Soldiers to help battle infernos

Discussion in 'Current Events' started by IronFist, Aug 18, 2015.

Page 1 of 2
  1. IronFist

    IronFist Banned

    Joined:
    May 26, 2015
    Messages:
    119
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/18/us/western-states-wildfires/index.html
    *******n, it's getting really hot on West Coast. Firefighters can't do anything about those wildfires anymore, soldiers are helping them now to stop the inferno. I can't understand that, why didn't they do anything to prevent it? It was the hottest summer in California which led to a horrible drought and it was quite clear that it could end up with a wildfire. And now we need to put so many efforts to stop it... Who is to blame for that?
     
    IronFist, Aug 18, 2015
    #1
  2. FreshAir

    FreshAir Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2012
    Messages:
    151,199
    Likes Received:
    63,400
    Trophy Points:
    113
    nature is to blame

    though some say they are worse cause man keep preventing them
     
    FreshAir, Aug 18, 2015
    #2
  3. Lee S

    Lee S Moderator Staff Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2012
    Messages:
    10,660
    Likes Received:
    2,637
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Putting out small periodic wildfires leaves an accumulation of fuel on the forest floors in the form of dried branches, grasses and trees so there is a greater chance of large catastrophic fires. Fire break roads have been closed and have grown over so once a wildfire starts, there is no place for it to stop. Accumulated fuel on forsecst floors cannot be cleaned up because the enviroloons will go into palpatations. Policies won't change until a huge catastrophic fire occurs and it forces a change.

    When I was young and dumber, I worked on a helicopter crew as a bombadier for forest fires. We were putting out a fire that was heading for a medium sized lake. We scooped water out of the lake and we were beginning to gain ground on fire containment. After about the 20th turn at the lake, an environmental official told us there was a rare type of trout in the lake so we couldn't take water out of it. The nearest other body of water was another lake about 15 miles away so we went there to get water. The extra 15 miles added about 20 to 25 minutes between turns which was way too slow to contain the fire. The fire surrounded the lake and the lake boiled killing everything in the lake including the rare trout which we may have been able to save if we took water out of that lake.

    I know this is just one example, but it may go a long way to answer your questions.
     
    Lee S, Aug 18, 2015
    #3
    Libby and Merwen like this.
  4. doombug

    doombug Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2012
    Messages:
    56,871
    Likes Received:
    22,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Well we now have gay marriage and this follows:

    [​IMG]

    ....and this:

    [​IMG]

    ....and this:

    [​IMG]

    I am not making any claims I am just sayin'....
     
    doombug, Aug 18, 2015
    #4
    Merwen likes this.
  5. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2013
    Messages:
    41,184
    Likes Received:
    16,181
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    I've often wondered if any of these "unstoppable" fires has ever burned down any major city anywhere

    Or is it maybe like the skeletons of all the hapless cats that became trapped in every tree over the years
     
    Aleksander Ulyanov, Aug 18, 2015
    #5
  6. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2013
    Messages:
    41,184
    Likes Received:
    16,181
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Personally, I think it's Trump being popular. I mean, just as soon as he became front runner. God is all loving, merciful and kind but he can take just so much
     
    Aleksander Ulyanov, Aug 18, 2015
    #6
  7. Oldyoungin

    Oldyoungin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2013
    Messages:
    22,658
    Likes Received:
    6,195
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Chicago fire was pretty damaging. Look it up.
     
    Oldyoungin, Aug 18, 2015
    #7
  8. Phoebe Bump

    Phoebe Bump New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Messages:
    26,347
    Likes Received:
    172
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Dumping potable water on wildfires in California. You're in a bad spot.

    We had a 640,000 acre fire in NE Arizona a few years ago. We let the trees get way too thick. Still is the only thing I've ever agreed with George Bush on. Then, we let 10 or 11 guys get killed near Prescott a couple years ago when the fire changed direction. Let it burn.
     
    Phoebe Bump, Aug 18, 2015
    #8
  9. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2013
    Messages:
    41,184
    Likes Received:
    16,181
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Oh, no doubt, there have been big fires in cities, but they started in the city. Did any big city fire ever come from wildfires outside it?

    I have heard of wildfires threatening cities, so I guess it can happen, but has it ever?
     
    Aleksander Ulyanov, Aug 18, 2015
    #9
  10. therooster

    therooster Banned

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2014
    Messages:
    13,004
    Likes Received:
    5,494
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It's great for wildlife.
     
    therooster, Aug 19, 2015
    #10
  11. Deckel

    Deckel Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    Messages:
    17,608
    Likes Received:
    2,043
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The military involvement may be more logistical support than fire fighting. I know someone who was at Ft. Carson during the wildfires in Colorado. The media made it seem like the military was in there fighting the fires, but the person I spoke with said nope. If the public couldn't go into an area, then the military couldn't either. They just supplied water, equipment, and supplies to them and the firefighters did all the work.
     
    Deckel, Aug 19, 2015
    #11
  12. EMTdaniel86

    EMTdaniel86 Banned

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2011
    Messages:
    9,380
    Likes Received:
    4,403
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    It was 19 and they were Hotshots. Happened about 20miles away from me. The fire just didn't chance direction, there ware a lot of safety violations that happened.

    - - - Updated - - -

    I know a lot of National Guard unions are cross trained to help put out fires as in digging line.
     
    EMTdaniel86, Aug 19, 2015
    #12
    Labouroflove likes this.
  13. Deckel

    Deckel Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    Messages:
    17,608
    Likes Received:
    2,043
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I think that is usually done well in advance of the actual fire to create fire breaks. They create backfires too, but they are not directly fighting the main wall.
     
    Deckel, Aug 19, 2015
    #13
  14. EMTdaniel86

    EMTdaniel86 Banned

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2011
    Messages:
    9,380
    Likes Received:
    4,403
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    I have seen them digging line on fires. Like actually attacking it.
     
    EMTdaniel86, Aug 19, 2015
    #14
  15. Steve N

    Steve N Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2015
    Messages:
    71,490
    Likes Received:
    91,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Agree. By preventing fires all were doing is filling nature's gas tank. The stuff needs to burn from time to time.
     
    Steve N, Aug 19, 2015
    #15
    FreedomSeeker likes this.
  16. Deckel

    Deckel Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    Messages:
    17,608
    Likes Received:
    2,043
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Then they were trained to do it beforehand and are not just dentists showing up for their weekend.
     
    Deckel, Aug 19, 2015
    #16
  17. FreshAir

    FreshAir Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2012
    Messages:
    151,199
    Likes Received:
    63,400
    Trophy Points:
    113
    yep, good intentions can sometimes come back to haunt you, be it putting out small forest fires or stopping them from taking water from a lake

    just cause ones intentions short term are good, doesn't mean the long term outcome will be good.... just look at the war on drugs (prohibition), good intentions, bad outcome

    .
     
    FreshAir, Aug 19, 2015
    #17
    Labouroflove likes this.
  18. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    Messages:
    30,071
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Fire an' flames an' vapors o' smoke...
    [​IMG]
    Wildfires in central United States kill six, force thousands from homes
    Wednesday 8th March, 2017 - Crews grappling with vexing wildfires that have charred hundreds of square miles of land in four states and killed six people soon may get a bit of a break: Winds are forecast to ease from the gusts that whipped the flames.
     
    waltky, Mar 8, 2017
    #18
  19. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    Messages:
    30,071
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    In the belly of the beast...
    [​IMG]
    Dashcam Shows Scary Moments Amid Fires
    March 8, 2017 - Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Hileman shared a video Tuesday on social media of what he called "one of the most steering wheel gripping moments" he's had.
    ​
     
    waltky, Mar 8, 2017
    #19
  20. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    Messages:
    30,071
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Wildfire smoke may obscure eclipse...
    [​IMG]
    Oregon Wildfire Causes Evacuations, Closes Roads in Prime Eclipse Zone
    August 19, 2017 — Residents of more than 400 homes in a prime eclipse-viewing location in Oregon were ordered to evacuate Friday because of a rapidly growing wildfire that had already closed access to a portion of a wilderness area and a regional highway.
     
    waltky, Aug 19, 2017
    #20
  21. Merwen

    Merwen Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2014
    Messages:
    11,574
    Likes Received:
    1,731
    Trophy Points:
    113

    I think a recent one in Canada did.
     
    Merwen, Aug 19, 2017
    #21
  22. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    Messages:
    30,071
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Callin' inna Marines to fight Calif. wildfires...
    [​IMG]
    Navy Deploys Firefighting Helicopters Near Pendleton
    9 Dec 2017 | Across California, active-duty, reserve and National Guard commanders began mobilizing military might to support firefighters battling blazes. At Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, commanders from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, the "Stingers" of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 and the "Heavy Haulers" of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 attended a planning session with Navy officials to coordinate firefighting efforts.
    See also:

    Hundreds of California National Guard to Mobilize to Fight Wildfires
    8 Dec 2017 | Soldiers and equipment from the California National Guard were being mobilized as wildfires spread rapidly by high winds continue to ravage thousands of acres and burn down homes throughout the southern areas of the state, emergency and Guard officials said Thursday.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2017
    waltky, Dec 9, 2017
    #22
  23. The Wyrd of Gawd

    The Wyrd of Gawd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    Messages:
    29,682
    Likes Received:
    3,995
    Trophy Points:
    113
    There were countless fires in the 19th Century that burned down entire towns.
     
    The Wyrd of Gawd, Dec 9, 2017
    #23
  24. The Wyrd of Gawd

    The Wyrd of Gawd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    Messages:
    29,682
    Likes Received:
    3,995
    Trophy Points:
    113
    All of that smoke would violate the Clean Air Act.
     
    The Wyrd of Gawd, Dec 9, 2017
    #24
    Steve N likes this.
  25. FreedomSeeker

    FreedomSeeker Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2007
    Messages:
    37,493
    Likes Received:
    3,320
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Religion tends to suck the logic right out of people. I am just sayin'.
     
    FreedomSeeker, Dec 9, 2017
    #25
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page