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Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Marsh Fire

 Aug 22 update:

In the past few days a has happened with the fires. They have doubled in number and in size. The governor of California appeared on the Democratic National Convention to discuss the issue. The third largest fire in California history is now burning just south of us. The SCU Complex Fire is now

SCU Lightning Complex: Hot, Gusty Winds Expand Burn Zone To 339,968 Acres 

Up by Vacaville, the LNU Complex fire is the second largest fire in Califonia's history. LINK The massive and still largely uncontrolled LNU Lightning Complex, has killed at least five people and destroyed close to 500 structures.

Of the five people that have sadly died from the fires, one was a helicopter pilot from Rancho Cucamonga, our home sweet former home and another a PG&E worker.

At 6:30 pm tonight,much of eastern Alameda County was put on fire evacuation watch and warnings. The cities of Pleasanton and Livermore were left out of the evacuations for now. I am hoping it is because we are not in danger. And not simply because it would be so difficult to evacuate hundred of thousands of people.

I keep thinking of the Tubbs Fire from October of 2017. It burned 2900 homes in the city of Santa Rosa, killing 22 people. Just being inside a city, doesn't guarantee any protection against a wildfire. We are sitting right on the edge of town, With Pleasanton Ridge just on the other side of the 680.

Just a couple of days ago, they shut down the I80 because the fire up by Vacaville was so fierce, it was leaping over the freeway. The fire watches and warnings are for at least the nest three days. Strong winds and dry storms are expected through Tuesday. 

Red Flag warnings are in effect through Tuesday night. The fire is nipping at our doorsteps.

The remaining concerts for the summer have been canceled. Workers have spent the past couple of days removing the stage venue so a helicopter pad can be put in its place.

Though the fairgrounds has been the stage area for the wildfires for several days now, last night is the first time I have seen fire trucks going out of the area. Usually they all out fighting the fires. Just after sunset, I am sure they were changing shifts. 

Another mid nineties day is today and for the following several days. Dry storms are again in the forecast, meaning the possibility of more lightning. The cause of all the original fires.

It is only August. The rainy season is not due for months. 

About 560 wildfires burn in California as more than 100,000 people evacuate









August 18th:



 

SCU Lightning Complex

MULTIPLE

A combination of 20 fires, including Deer Zone, Calaveras Zone and Canyon Zone. The fires continue to burn in steep inaccessible terrain. Fires are in Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. Some evacuations orders have been issued.



This is the vies of the smoke up on Pleasanton Ridge standing out in the grassy dog walking zone just outside the Campground. That area that is being used as a COVID testing ground right now. The other side of the dog walking park is set up as a concert venue at the moment. 

Fires burn out of control in East Bay, some residents warned to evacuate

Marsh, Deer Zone fires put residents on edge in Sunol, Contra Costa County



60 August 18th 11:00 pm


182 11:00 am August 19th

Right now, at 9:09 pm it is still 90 degrees and the quality sucks. You can actually see smoke wafting through this trailer. The temperatures have been over !00 degrees for the past five days, the highest being 109 on Saturday. 

On Sunday morning, starting at about 4:00 am, we woke up to a loud and rumbly thunderstorm. There are NEVER thunderstorms in California. This one came with buckets of rain. Three days of sunshine, and there are still puddles in the deep dips in our cement covered campground.

Thunder rumble on until around 9:30-10:00 am. The loudest crack jumped us all out of bed at 6:30. It knocked out the water pump for the entire camp ground, but the power stayed on. Luci cat was very unhappy about then entire situation.

Both Luci and Severus had begun racing around inside the trailer about an hour before the storm began. I think the must have felt the air pressure change with approaching weather system. They were both very nervous before the storm even hit.

Anyway, with months and months of overly dry conditions, a few hours of rain did nothing to stop the lightning from starting fires all over the Bay area. There are over 20 fires in the SCU Lightning Complex Fire, alone. The closest to us is the Marsh Fire. The one in the picture up on Pleasanton Ridge is one of three fires that are considered part of the Marsh Fire. 

Ten houses up on the Ridge have been evacuated. 


The large parking lot at the entrance to the fairground is being used for ground support for many fire fighting trucks, units and large equipment, like bulldozers and such. When this photo was taken, the fire trucks themselves were not there, but earlier, there were a couple.

So far, 25,500 acres are burning in the Bay area, with zero containment. The heat wave is suppose to break soon. Then we will only have highs in the 90s. 

So much better. 

This is the view of the smoke up on Pleasanton Ridge standing out in the grassy dog walking zone just outside the Campground. That area that is being used as a COVID testing ground right now. The other side of the dog walking park is set up as a concert venue at the moment. 

SCU Lightning Complex

MULTIPLE

A combination of 20 fires, including Deer Zone, Calaveras Zone and Canyon Zone. The fires continue to burn in steep inaccessible terrain. Fires are in Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. Some evacuations orders have been issued.


Right now, at 9:09 pm it is still 90 degrees and the quality sucks. You can actually see smoke wafting through this trailer. The temperatures have been over !00 degrees for the past five days, the highest being 109 on Saturday. 

On Sunday morning, starting at about 4:00 am, we woke up to a loud and rumbly thunderstorm. There are NEVER thunderstorms in California. This one came with buckets of rain. Three days of sunshine, and there are still puddles in the deep dips in our cement covered campground.

Fires burn out of control in East Bay, some residents warned to evacuate

Marsh, Deer Zone fires put residents on edge in Sunol, Contra Costa County


 60 Air Quality 11:00 pm August 18th


182 Air Quality 11:30 am August 19th

Thunder rumbled on until around 9:30-10:00 am. The loudest crack jumped us all out of bed at 6:30. It knocked out the water pump for the entire camp ground, but the power stayed on. Luci cat was very unhappy about then entire situation.

Both Luci and Severus had begun racing around inside the trailer about an hour before the storm began. I think they must have felt the air pressure change with approaching weather system. They were both very nervous before the storm even hit.

Anyway, with months and months of overly dry conditions, a few hours of rain did nothing to stop the lightning from starting fires all over the Bay Area. There are over 20 fires in the SCU Lightning Complex Fire, alone. The closest to us is the Marsh Fire. The one in the picture up on Pleasanton Ridge is one of three fires that are considered part of the Marsh Fire. 

Ten houses up on the Ridge have been evacuated. 


The large parking lot at the entrance to the fairgrounds is being used for ground support for many fire fighting trucks,  command units and large equipment, like bulldozers and such. When this photo was taken, the fire trucks themselves were not there, but earlier, there were a couple.

So far, 25,500 acres are burning in the Bay Area, with zero containment. The heat wave is suppose to break soon. Then, we will only have highs in the 90s. 

So much better. 😓

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