US Wild Fires why not use the Military to help ?

[RainbowUnicorn]

as if having your house burnt to the ground is not bad enough.
now insurance companys are cancelling policys preventing access to insurance.

If anyone is denied the opportunity to purchase a FAIR plan policy should contact our consumer hotline at 800-927-4357."

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/01...139-17.cfm

FAIR plan ordered to cease and desist fire insurance moratorium
News: 2017 Press Release
For Release: December 14, 2017
Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566
Email Inquiries: cdipress@insurance.ca.gov
FAIR plan ordered to cease and desist fire insurance moratorium
Insurance Commissioner’s action leads FAIR to immediately lift moratorium
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones issued the following statement:

"This morning I issued a cease and desist order requiring the California FAIR Plan to terminate immediately the moratorium it initiated on writing new fire insurance coverage in wildfire-impacted areas and ordering the FAIR Plan to make its fire insurance products available to all eligible Californians in keeping with its statutorily mandated purpose. I've been advised the FAIR Plan, after being notified of the cease and desist, agreed to lift its moratorium on writing new policies.

I originally took this action after receiving information that the FAIR Plan imposed a moratorium on writing new policies in current active fire zones across California. The FAIR Plan was established as the fire insurer of last resort to make certain California property owners have access to fire insurance coverage. There is no statutory allowance for the FAIR Plan to discontinue writing fire insurance policies for applicants anywhere in the state who need fire insurance coverage to protect themselves from financial loss. While the FAIR Plan is required to write coverage, any individuals or entities who attempt to commit insurance fraud by placing FAIR Plan or any other insurance coverage on damaged property to cover losses that already occurred will be investigated and prosecuted. If anyone is denied the opportunity to purchase a FAIR plan policy should contact our consumer hotline at 800-927-4357."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-w...SKBN1EC1DW

Homes in the Sierra Nevada foothills were dropped after wildfires swept through the region in recent years, and some other Northern California homes also have been cut from rosters, Jones said.

“We may see more of it,” he added in an interview. Insurers must renew fire victims’ policies once, but after that homeowners could be driven to unusual, expensive policies.
Retired firefighter Dan Nichols of Oroville, California was surprised when Liberty Mutual dropped his coverage this year, following a wildfire in the region.

[Yazata]

Winds have died down and the fire fighters believe that they are getting a grip on this thing. In about 24 hours they should have their defensive lines prepared between the fire in the mountains and the populated neighborhoods below. Evacuation orders have been lifted in Carpinteria and most of Montecito has been changed from mandatory evacuation to voluntary evacuation/warning. Downtown Santa Barbara's voluntary evaculation warning has apparently been lifted. Only slight growth in the red fire boundary.

So things are improving.

[Image: DRW0O89UMAAF-Pp.jpg:large]

[RainbowUnicorn]

Thats good
they will need to do a lot fo work on the drains & sewer system before it starts raining heavily to make sure they are not clogged with ash.
ive been wondering how the water reservoirs are holding out.

[Yazata]

Reportedly the fire danger in Santa Barbara county has receded so much that all mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders were lifted as of 9AM Thursday morning Dec 21, 2017.

Santa Barbara and nearby communities have gotten their Christmas present.

[Yazata]

If it isn't fire, it's flood. (Gonna be earthquakes next.)  

California is currently experiencing an intense statewide rain-storm. It's been pouring in the SF Bay Area (where I am starting to feel like an Oregonian) and apparently in Southern California too.

The fire-burnt mountainsides above Montecito are producing major mudslides and flash flooding. 5 are confirmed dead. 'Multiple' homes have been destroyed by mudslides beneath last month's fire area. They are ordering evacuations once again in Montecito.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/01/09/at-...ornia.html

Life in paradise... (At least we don't get hurricanes, tornadoes or sub-zero temperatures (except in the mountains).

https://twitter.com/EliasonMike?ref_src=...ornia.html

Here's Santa Barbara County Fire rescuing a 14 year old girl (right side of photo) who was trapped for hours in a destroyed house.

[Image: DTHYkeQVoAAFBWP.jpg]

This is the 101 freeway in Montecito.

[Image: 1515515762278.jpg?ve=1&tl=1]

[Yazata]

Currently at 13 dead (and rising). Apparently it's centered in Montecito, the upscale residental area immediately east of Santa Barbara. Many rescues. The 101 freeway (the main route along the Southern California coast) is closed from Ventura to Santa Barbara. The rail line along the coast is wrecked. Lots of disruption.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/01/09/at-...ornia.html

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-w...SKBN1EY0OO

The National Guard has arrived with rugged military trucks. I heard somewhere that there are 3 or 4 Coast Guard helicopters.

When the evacuation orders went out some people who had evacuated for the fires said 'Oh no, not again' and stayed put. One guy said that he woke up ready to scoff at the 'doom and gloom' predictions, went outside and discovered that it was even worse than predicted.

[Image: DTHyfsRUMAAufIb.jpg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_QQ2sRiXdo

[C C]

Currently at 13 dead (and rising). Apparently it's centered in Montecito, the upscale residental area immediately east of Santa Barbara. Many rescues. The 101 freeway (the main route along the Southern California coast) is closed from Ventura to Santa Barbara. The rail line along the coast is wrecked. Lots of disruption. [...] The National Guard has arrived with rugged military trucks. I heard somewhere that there are 3 or 4 Coast Guard helicopters.

Thanks. The international coverage is strikingly less in at least a few of the same venues I sampled during the inferno phase. Apparently fire/smoke is globally trending as more spectacle or center-stage worthy than water/mud when it comes to the annual expectation and focus on California calamity. But no doubt it's getting the ample degree of attention it deserves in local and most sectors of national media.

- - -

[Yazata]

The US Coast Guard has transferred seven C-130 cargo aircraft to Cal Fire, who are modifying them into air tankers at the former McClellan Air Force base which was closed at the end of the Cold War and subsequently transferred to civilian use including becoming Cal Fire's main air base. Seven of these big planes is a large number.

All in all, Cal Fire owns or has on order 52 fixed wing aircraft and 28 helicopters. 80 is more aircraft than some countries have in their entire air forces. In addition Cal Fire can call up air assets from police and fire agencies around the state by mutual aid, and can also call upon the aviation resources of the California National Guard.

https://twitter.com/CAL_FIRE/status/1757441890000261397