California blaze more than doubles in size overnight

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

LOWER LAKE, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California blaze more than doubled in size overnight despite an increase in humidity and cooler temperatures.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the fire, which erupted Sunday several miles away from the community of Lower Lake, had burned nearly 19 square miles.

For the second time in as many weeks, residents had to evacuate their homes because of the uncontained fire lighting up rocky hills about 100 miles north of San Francisco.

More than 1,100 firefighters are battling the blaze that's threatening 50 structures.

FULL story at link. Video: http://launch.newsinc.com/share.html?trackingGroup=92351&siteSection=bigstory_hom_non_non_dynamic_wire_ap&videoId=29501079



In this photo provided by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, smoke from a fire billows in the sky in northwestern Arizona, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015. Worsening conditions at the wildfire have prompted authorities to issue a second evacuation order this weekend. (U.S. Bureau of Land Management via AP)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f01c2266d4c44bcaaa08a99c4cce95b5/residents-evacuate-after-new-wildfire-erupts-near-blaze

[Divernan]

1. Historic level of fires raging in Northwest, Canada, Alaska & Siberia as well.

http://phys.org/news/2015-08-wildfires-rage-russia-remote-eastern.html
Wildfires rage in Russia's remote eastern Siberia
August 11, 2015

http://www.npr.org/2015/07/11/421995880/wildfires-in-canada-and-alaska-drive-thousands-from-homes
Wildfires In Canada And Alaska Drive Thousands From Homes

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/entire-town-evacuated-due-to-washington-state-wildfire/
CBS/AP August 5, 2015, 1:13 AM
Entire town evacuated due to Washington state wildfire

[stopwastingmymoney]

2. This is just Northeast of us

We have several friends who have been on evacuation alert for almost two weeks. There are possibly thousands of homes threatened.

It's a terrible idea, the thought of losing your home and everything in it. I know people say it's all replaceable, but to me it really isn't. I have a lifetime collection of family pieces and many other items with great sentimental value. It would be devastating.

Please keep your fingers crossed for my friends and everyone else.

[Auggie]

3. I have an earhquake kick. But I guess it's time to create a wildfire kit.

Something you can grab at a moments notice.

You never known.

[Divernan]

5. You can rebuild a house, but the land is devastated for many years.

Hopefully, most people have homeowners' insurance so will not end up homeless, but as you say, there is an emotional attachment to your home and all your belongings in it. You cannot replace your grandmother's china used for every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner going back generations. I really treasure the family heirlooms handed down from my great-grandparents, grandparents and parents.

On top of that, your lot, your garden, the landscaping you've nurtured for years, and your neighborhood are scorched wastelands, so you have to relocate to a new community. I can't do as much gardening as I used to, but I have now-mature evergreens and flowering perennials & trees which my kids helped me plant some 30 years ago. They are constant reminders of a loving family.

At 70+, I still live in the small ranch house I moved into when my kids were junior high, high school & one just started college. It was extremely crowded back then, of course. Nowadays it's just me and my 2 cats, but it is jam-packed with treasured memories.

I hope your friends do not lose their homes. I have read that the U.S. and Canadian governments have appealed for international help re firefighters and equipment.

Wouldn't it be just wonderful if instead of sending our young men and women to die in foreign wars and lands for economic interests, they all did several years of national service and were trained and available to deploy in national, natural emergencies such as these fires?

[SpankMe]

4. I know some older folks in AZ near one of these fires.

In addition to the property destruction wrought by these fires, respiratory problems in affected populations is - and will be - a huge problem as these wildfires crop up more and more.

[IcyPeas]

6. this should be breaking news but...... Trump

Haven't been hearing about fires on the news much at all. It's Trump all the time right now.

[prismpalette]

7. priorities

National service training in many many fields is a good idea. But sending more and more lives to protect property is insane. Fire is a natural phenomena and it will always be with us. I am truly sorry for the lives touched by this devastation but no property is worth risking lives. And yes, I lost everything to a fire when my kids were growing up. Mementos from their young school years and photos , family pieces etc. But none of us lost our lives and no other people were put at risk. Priorities people. 1100 firefighters to preserve 50 structures?????