il_serpente Posted August 19, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 19, 2020 Things going crazy again around here with wildfires. We had a big lightning storm come through the area a few days ago (a rare occurrence in these parts) in the middle of a record-breaking heat wave and it sparked a bunch of fires because the vegetation is so dry. One of my employees, who lives on the coast side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, got an evacuation order late yesterday for his community and has no idea if his house is still standing. The same area got hit a couple of years ago, but not so close to dwellings. There are definitely houses burning now. This is for the most part highly vegetated mountainous terrain, not densely populated and includes Big Basin Redwoods State Park, home to some truly majestic trees that are hundreds of years old and now potentially in danger. That's just the fires between us an the coast. There are others around the SF Bay Area and the rest of the state. Visibility is poor, air quality is poor. I work in a hospital, with far better air filtration than normal businesses or residences, and the air smells like smoke and my throat is feeling scratchy. Until the last couple of decades you didn't really see a lot of big fires in the northern part of California. One of the effects of global warming has been the spread of the fire risk to north and to higher elevation. It's now a yearly occurrence. I'm just waiting for Trump's accusation that it's all because the Democrats who run California have been doing a horrible job of managing the forests (not enough raking of the forest floor, dontcha know). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choffer Posted August 20, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 20, 2020 23 hours ago, il_serpente said: Things going crazy again around here with wildfires. Looks awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Saw this story and immediately thought of @tonyh29: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 2 minutes ago, HanoiVillan said: Saw this story and immediately thought of @tonyh29: Like I’d have vegan friends 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post blandy Posted August 21, 2020 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted August 21, 2020 10 hours ago, HanoiVillan said: Saw this story and immediately thought of @tonyh29: Yes, I did too. I always thought of Tony as a James Blunt. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Well shit.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted August 21, 2020 Author VT Supporter Share Posted August 21, 2020 6 hours ago, lapal_fan said: Well shit.. I need to lie down 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Paddywhack Posted August 21, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 21, 2020 (edited) A few weeks back, whilst on a beach in Pembrokeshire, my wife wandered off for a while to find the right pebbles for something she wanted to make. She bought a glue gun online and when we got home she put this together. It’s supposed to represent me, her and our little boy. Spoiler How do I tell her she’s crafted three cocks and placed them on our mantelpiece? Edited August 21, 2020 by Paddywhack 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 17 minutes ago, Paddywhack said: How do I tell her I have an idea but I doubt you'd appreciate it. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted August 22, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 22, 2020 On 19/08/2020 at 13:54, il_serpente said: Things going crazy again around here with wildfires. We had a big lightning storm come through the area a few days ago (a rare occurrence in these parts) in the middle of a record-breaking heat wave and it sparked a bunch of fires because the vegetation is so dry. One of my employees, who lives on the coast side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, got an evacuation order late yesterday for his community and has no idea if his house is still standing. The same area got hit a couple of years ago, but not so close to dwellings. There are definitely houses burning now. This is for the most part highly vegetated mountainous terrain, not densely populated and includes Big Basin Redwoods State Park, home to some truly majestic trees that are hundreds of years old and now potentially in danger. That's just the fires between us an the coast. There are others around the SF Bay Area and the rest of the state. Visibility is poor, air quality is poor. I work in a hospital, with far better air filtration than normal businesses or residences, and the air smells like smoke and my throat is feeling scratchy. Until the last couple of decades you didn't really see a lot of big fires in the northern part of California. One of the effects of global warming has been the spread of the fire risk to north and to higher elevation. It's now a yearly occurrence. I'm just waiting for Trump's accusation that it's all because the Democrats who run California have been doing a horrible job of managing the forests (not enough raking of the forest floor, dontcha know). I'm so sorry. Ever since since I first visited California I'd hoped one day to be rich enough to retire there. Now though, it's on fire for 3 or 4 months of the year. My in laws and nieces and nephews are in Davis near Sacramento. Every day we've been saying, "You can come here, just drive" (we're in Colorado now.) I hope they don't have to evacuate but seriously: Isn't every year worse and worse in living memory? What has to happen before the bozos in charge realize? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidcow Posted August 22, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 22, 2020 On 19/08/2020 at 20:54, il_serpente said: Until the last couple of decades you didn't really see a lot of big fires in the northern part of California. One of the effects of global warming has been the spread of the fire risk to north and to higher elevation. It's now a yearly occurrence. I'm just waiting for Trump's accusation that it's all because the Democrats who run California have been doing a horrible job of managing the forests (not enough raking of the forest floor, dontcha know). Fake news, Trump has already told you ain't no such thing as global warming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post il_serpente Posted August 22, 2020 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted August 22, 2020 So my employee has lost his house almost certainly. Friends and neighbors of his have confirmed theirs are gone and it's pretty much impossible that his would still be standing as everything else in the area has been destroyed. There's very little rental housing available in Santa Cruz, the nearest city, and housing on this side of the hill is already in short supply and insanely expensive. I'm hoping his homeowner's insurance covers the cost of temporary housing while he sorts out the insurance settlement and selling or rebuilding. When my dad lost his house in the Ventura fire 3 years ago they were fortunate to have rent covered for the 2 years it took to rebuild. Big Basin Redwoods, the oldest state park in California, has had all structures wiped out. I used to go on all day bike rides there from home. I'd stop in the town of Boulder Creek and get a deli sandwich to bring in for a relaxing lunch and nap in the redwoods before heading home. Half of Boulder Creek is now wiped out and below is what's happened to the Big Basin park headquarters building. Redwood trees are very resilient, and the walking trails at Big Basin and Muir Woods have plenty of examples of charred trees that have survived fires over the years (centuries?). Here's hoping most of them made it and the park can be rebuilt. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il_serpente Posted August 22, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 22, 2020 16 hours ago, TheAuthority said: I'm so sorry. Ever since since I first visited California I'd hoped one day to be rich enough to retire there. Now though, it's on fire for 3 or 4 months of the year. My in laws and nieces and nephews are in Davis near Sacramento. Every day we've been saying, "You can come here, just drive" (we're in Colorado now.) I hope they don't have to evacuate but seriously: Isn't every year worse and worse in living memory? What has to happen before the bozos in charge realize? It does seem like each year gets worse. Even if radical policies to address climate change were adopted, it's too late to reverse the trend with fires, I'm afraid. Towns in forested areas are pretty much all at risk going forward. A lot of people, my wife and I included, have had visions of retiring to areas like that and now have to seriously recondiser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted August 23, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 23, 2020 4 hours ago, il_serpente said: It does seem like each year gets worse. Even if radical policies to address climate change were adopted, it's too late to reverse the trend with fires, I'm afraid. Towns in forested areas are pretty much all at risk going forward. A lot of people, my wife and I included, have had visions of retiring to areas like that and now have to seriously recondiser. I hope you are correct and the Redwoods do survive. Thousands of years of growth would never be replaced. All I can say is Colorado seems pretty sweet so far (2 weeks in.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il_serpente Posted August 23, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 23, 2020 19 minutes ago, TheAuthority said: I hope you are correct and the Redwoods do survive. Thousands of years of growth would never be replaced. All I can say is Colorado seems pretty sweet so far (2 weeks in.) What part of Colorado, and how long are you there for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted August 23, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 23, 2020 1 minute ago, il_serpente said: What part of Colorado, and how long are you there for? Denver - got a job just before the lockdown and unless something unforeseen happens it's permanent. It's a perfect move for us at this point in our lives with a toddler. We now have a back yard! We also have family in Santa Fe (5&1/2 hours away) a town we love and where we work there in the summer - it's also closer to my wife's family (California) We still own our apartment in Manhattan but we'll rent it out for 2 years and then see where the market is. Loving Denver so far. My sister in law in in Davis, CA however - fires are 20 miles from their house :-(( Stay safe yourself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tegis Posted August 23, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 23, 2020 5 hours ago, TheAuthority said: Loving Denver so far 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted August 23, 2020 Administrator Share Posted August 23, 2020 7 hours ago, TheAuthority said: I hope you are correct and the Redwoods do survive. Thousands of years of growth would never be replaced. The redwoods actually need the fires in order to propagate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted August 23, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted August 23, 2020 5 hours ago, limpid said: The redwoods actually need the fires in order to propagate. But isn't there a tipping point? Some fire good, too much fire and things get irreparably damaged? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted August 23, 2020 Administrator Share Posted August 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, TheAuthority said: But isn't there a tipping point? Some fire good, too much fire and things get irreparably damaged? For the redwoods? I don't believe so. For everything else? Definitely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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