I’ve lost track of all the fires in California, Oregon, and Washington. It feels like the whole west coast is aflame or darkened by smoke and ash. I know fires are raging in other states but for the past day, my focus has been from southeast Washington through Oregon to northern California. The Creek Fire that triggered dramatic helicopter rescues of campers is further south, as is the fire started by the ridiculous gender reveal stunt. In Oregon, a fire started just north of Ashland and burned up the I-5 corridor to Medford but reports are it has calmed, spared Medford and some evacuations have been downgraded. Another Oregon fire east of Eugene (Santiam Fire) burned down several small towns along the McKenzie River. There are too many more fires to list. CalTopo has a real-time map of the fires with wind speed/direction. Big Sur’s Dolan Fire has info here.
6:45 PM 09/09/20 — I just listened to the press conference for the Bear Fire and this message from the Fire Chief is crucial to share. He said that mutual aid arrangements with other counties that usually extend local fire resources are not possible this time. Every California county is already dealing with fire and the lack of mutual aid is true throughout the state. As a result, the fire fighting resources such as vehicles and personnel are precious and limited. Thus, people who refused to evacuate cannot be rescued because there aren’t enough resources to do this. So if you are told to evacuate — go. If you are warned and need extra time — leave immediately. If you feel at risk — leave even if you’ve not been given an evacuation notice. Three fatalities are already known from the Bear Fire/North Complex.
BREAKING: Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by wildfires in Oregon and some communities have been largely destroyed Gov. Kate Brown says. https://t.co/8v5TuVUFhk— The Associated Press (@AP) September 9, 2020
BREAKING: Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by wildfires in Oregon and some communities have been largely destroyed Gov. Kate Brown says. https://t.co/8v5TuVUFhk
Active Large Fires, as of 3:50pm#SantiamFire #OregonFires #wildfires #orwx pic.twitter.com/vco0R0hYRM— Blurry Bits Photography 📷🔭🔬🏳️⚧️ (@BlurryBitsPhoto) September 9, 2020
Active Large Fires, as of 3:50pm#SantiamFire #OregonFires #wildfires #orwx pic.twitter.com/vco0R0hYRM
Anyone with information on their nearby fire, the smoke and pollution please share it in the comments. Please let us know you are safe. I’m safe — just rattled by the smell, the sights, and the reality that these fires are out of control.
The following two images show the fires in Oregon and NorCal last night.
Wildfire nightmare unfolding tonight in Oregon. pic.twitter.com/KfcLrvbyVK— Dakota Smith (@weatherdak) September 9, 2020
Wildfire nightmare unfolding tonight in Oregon. pic.twitter.com/KfcLrvbyVK
The fire in the southeast portion of the lower gif is the one near Oroville, CA.
Dangerous fires in Northern California as well.On the right, the rapidly growing Bear Fire. (~12hr lapse) pic.twitter.com/qNmHPKWnzu— Dakota Smith (@weatherdak) September 9, 2020
Dangerous fires in Northern California as well.On the right, the rapidly growing Bear Fire. (~12hr lapse) pic.twitter.com/qNmHPKWnzu
Outside my window in Chico California the sky is orange-red and dark; a solid layer of large ash and dead ember flakes coats everything. The Bear Fire creating my scene is southeast of me, on the east side of Oroville (town of the spillway disaster in 2017). This fire is also called the North Complex and is moving south towards (or over? details are skimpy) the Yuba River. The fire began about two weeks ago higher in the Sierra near the Pacific Coast Trail and Quincy. Yesterday, the strong northeasterly winds triggered rapid growth and the fire raged down the Middle Fork Feather River towards Oroville.
Video loop of the #Northcomplex #Bearcontingency wildfire. Leading edge indicates extreme fire weather conditions with multiple vortices along the leading edge of the wildfire aka fire whirls. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/sUBlxkfOep— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) September 9, 2020
Video loop of the #Northcomplex #Bearcontingency wildfire. Leading edge indicates extreme fire weather conditions with multiple vortices along the leading edge of the wildfire aka fire whirls. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/sUBlxkfOep
Wed morning fire cams
#NotMars. Image 1 - Looking southeast towards the east side of Lake Oroville from Bloomer Lookout. Image 2 - Looking south from Concow Mountain. Imagery via @AlertWildfire network of fire watch cameras. pic.twitter.com/MLXKQet653— Cal OES (@Cal_OES) September 9, 2020
#NotMars. Image 1 - Looking southeast towards the east side of Lake Oroville from Bloomer Lookout. Image 2 - Looking south from Concow Mountain. Imagery via @AlertWildfire network of fire watch cameras. pic.twitter.com/MLXKQet653
The Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville during the Bear fire in Oroville, California, as dangerous wildfires rage across the state. https://t.co/M4BOsrBqY9 pic.twitter.com/fxkevRHuMb— ABC News (@ABC) September 9, 2020
The Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville during the Bear fire in Oroville, California, as dangerous wildfires rage across the state. https://t.co/M4BOsrBqY9 pic.twitter.com/fxkevRHuMb
To put last night's incredible southwestward run on #BearFire into perspective: a conservative estimate based on current satellite heat detections suggests fire expanded by ~250,000 acres in ~24 hours. Fire now directly threatening Oroville, Hwy 70 corridor. #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/4J6epC1FyR— Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) September 9, 2020
To put last night's incredible southwestward run on #BearFire into perspective: a conservative estimate based on current satellite heat detections suggests fire expanded by ~250,000 acres in ~24 hours. Fire now directly threatening Oroville, Hwy 70 corridor. #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/4J6epC1FyR
The state AssemblyJerk for the Bear Fire area, James Gallagher, apparently pondered “how can I make a bad situation worse?” and issued this statement on Facebook.
Because of the smoke and bad air quality, all restaurants should open for indoor dining beginning today. Don’t wait for permission, just do it. *This is not an official state directive and yes there is risk of running afoul of the current rules, but considering the current circumstances it is my strong suggestion and quite honestly I wouldn’t blame restaurants who have already decided to open indoors. There is simply no good reason for them to be closed to indoor dining even before the fires. Be safe follow best practices but I would say open up.
Because of the smoke and bad air quality, all restaurants should open for indoor dining beginning today. Don’t wait for permission, just do it.
*This is not an official state directive and yes there is risk of running afoul of the current rules, but considering the current circumstances it is my strong suggestion and quite honestly I wouldn’t blame restaurants who have already decided to open indoors. There is simply no good reason for them to be closed to indoor dining even before the fires. Be safe follow best practices but I would say open up.
All national forests in California are now closed. First time ever for this AFAIK.
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