CZU Fire

[Syne]

But it does look like all the trees are more recent additions and perhaps aren't even native plants. Those 1880's old-timers might have had a better appreciation of wildfires.

Probably with lesser means to fight wildfires came more precautions against them. Too bad overconfidence or neglect means those lessons have to be relearned the hard way.

[Yazata]

CalFire had a CZU fire briefing this morning. The fire is still growing and has generally been blown south by the wind. CalFire sounded rather pleased with themselves in saying that they have pretty much halted its advance to the south towards Santa Cruz. The fire's been advancing eastwards as well, towards California highway 9, with the woodsy little towns of Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond and Felton strung along it. All are evacuated and Cal Fire says that they have been successful so far in defending the towns, though they have lost some structures further out in the woods. The firefighters haven't been as aggressive on the north flank of the fire since the wind has been blowing the fire south. But it's vulnerable if the winds shift.

There are more tales of heroism. The little town of Davenport (about 400 population) is surrounded on three sides by flames, with the ocean on the fourth side. A determined little band of CalFire firemen is dug in there and so far they have saved the town. 

CDF (California Division of Forestry) Engine 1767, stationed in Davenport.

[Image: a47625c0-8e16-4506-a387-d285e881f14b_l.JPG]

"We who are about to die..."

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(Photo by Dagmar Dolatschko)

More photos taken in Davenport on Wednesday, before the town was engulfed, by photographer Dagmar Dolatschko.

https://patch.com/california/santacruz/c...rie-photos

[Yazata]

I lied in my last post. Apparently Davenport wasn't completely cut off and the road to the south connecting to Santa Cruz was still passable. Still pretty heroic though.

Smoke conditions where I live are moderate. Low visibility and you can definitely smell it, but not to the point where it affects breathing or anything like that.

Dry low-rainfall thunderstorms are currently over the ocean west of Morro Bay and are moving northward.

Other than that, CalFire seems pleased with how well they are doing with the CZU fire.

[C C]

[...] CDF (California Division of Forestry) Engine 1767, stationed in Davenport.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-waymarking-i...f14b_l.JPG

"We who are about to die..."

That martyrdom feeling of running into what everyone else is fleeing.

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I lied in my last post. Apparently Davenport wasn't completely cut off and the road to the south connecting to Santa Cruz was still passable. Still pretty heroic though.

Smoke conditions where I live are moderate. Low visibility and you can definitely smell it, but not to the point where it affects breathing or anything like that.

Dry low-rainfall thunderstorms are currently over the ocean west of Morro Bay and are moving northward.

Other than that, CalFire seems pleased with how well they are doing with the CZU fire.

Another fire called the River Fire in Monterey county (there are fires all over) is smaller, but apparently some homes are burning there. Cal Fire's air force is in action.

https://twitter.com/AlexLeavenworth/stat...8476992513

I thank fiber optic internet for immunity from smoke, if not the flames when the cables aren't of the buried sort.