I now live on Mars

[robmcd]

I live down south, and work in Irvine CA. The sun is just a faint orange dot right now, at 10 am. As an avid trail runner I have been laying low for 4 days now, and I am starting to crawl out of my skin. I am a lifelong SoCal native and I have never seen anything like this. The closest fire to us is 60 miles away.

 

[Pterophyllum sp]

Oregon apocalypse 2020.

 

[esoxlucius]

Well, the title of your thread Jexnell is certainly apt. This is a real picture of Mars! Stay safe guys.

 

[esoxlucius]

Just wondering guys. These fires, many of which can start naturally I suppose if the sunlight catches a broken piece of glass in tinder dry bush for example. But there are so many of them, large and small. Surely not all of them are natural, a small number must be man made. That whole area, correct me if i'm wrong, is very popular with campers and walkers.

During the "fire" season are their any very strict bans put in place stopping people from going to these places. We know all to well how irresponsible us humans can be. Or are people still allowed to barbecue, camp, go fishing, walking etc.

When you think of the potential devastation to life and property you'd think there'd be patrols and such. Is this the case or is it a free for all?

 

[Jexnell]

What we are going thru is a untimely occurrence of events. First off was a round of thunder storms, these lightning strikes are what cause a lot of the fires. Yes some are started my man. Then we had a very unusual heavy wind event for a couple days that grew the fires exponentially. Steady winds of 30+ mph gust to 70. These winds pick up burning embers and drop them up to miles ahead.

Yes we have rules on when you can and can't have camping fires and back yard burning etc based on how dry, wind etc. Yes these is a Forest service that watches State and Federal parks. But like you said all humans don't follow rules and not enough people to watch especially now with covid.

Seems to be getting worse every summer. I can remember when I was young the summers around here were never really hot pretty mild really. Fall thru spring would normally be raining every day. Not so much anymore. Doesn't help that Washington and Oregon are pretty much just huge forest with small areas we humans have cleared out to live in.

 

[Jexnell]

Now at Noon, the sky has shifted to a orange tint

 

[robmcd]

Now at Noon, the sky has shifted to a orange tint
View attachment 1432196

Can you smell the smoke there? We have the dark, orangish skies and a bit of ash falling, but I haven't smelled any smoke all week.

 

[Jexnell]

Can you smell the smoke there? We have the dark, orangish skies and a bit of ash falling, but I haven't smelled any smoke all week.

Yes you can, well I can at least. I got ordered when in the National Guard years ago to help fight forest fires and will never forget that smell.

 

[robmcd]

Yes you can, well I can at least. I got ordered when in the National Guard years ago to help fight forest fires and will never forget that smell.

Don't I know. I was on a wildland crew for a couple years back in the '90s. It was hard work but it was also a lot of fun. I still get sweaty palms when I see a big head of smoke and smell the aroma of a wildfire.

 

[Jexnell]

Monday or so they say is when the smoke cover should clear out, winds changing from East to West. Will blow the smoke into the forest instead of the city's.