Flames Force Evacuations; Man Arrested

[Emboldened Chimp]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-050404fire_lat,1,6689159.story?coll=la-home-headlines

By Hugo Martín and Sandra Murillo, Times Staff Writers


A series of wildfires in Southern California spread overnight, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes and leading to an arrest of a man suspected of igniting one of the blazes.

As many as 4,000 homes had been evacuated since midnight between Corona and Lake Elsinore, according to fire officials. The "El Cerrito" blaze rapidly spread in Temescal Canyon near Interstate 15 since it was sparked early Monday afternoon and, according to wire reports, is estimated to only be 10% contained.

In Riverside County, nearly 4,000 acres southeast of Temecula were charred in the "Eagle fire", which damaged or destroyed an unknown number of structures last night, said Rick Griggs, an engineer for the California Department of Forestry.

(snip)

Meanwhile, Herr Groper trapses around Israel. Really, what the flying fuck is that guy doing over there?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. There are 4 fires around SO Cal and I remarked to my friend last night

that I would bet they are all arson fires.

[Earth_First]

3. Time to raise the Terra Alert...

RED TEAM GO! RED TEAM GO!

[bahrbearian]

2. Is the Groper over there on Tax payer expense?

[Emboldened Chimp]

4. Probably

Why spend your own dime when you can dip into the public's pocket?

[necso]

5. Very early start to a potentially very bad fire season here in CA.

I for one am glad to have the Obergruppenfuehrer as far away as possible. (Or is that Obergropingfuehrer?)

For those of you interested in the fire danger, throughout the winter we have had an unusual pattern of strong highs (numerous records set) alternating with the usual lows. Even now the weather is changing again and it has been more than normally windy for days. During highs and especially during high winds, the fire dangers are greatest. As we are in the middle of a long term drought and there is little fuel moisture, should the pattern of strong highs and higher than normal winds continue, we could be facing real trouble here --- to dwarf last years problems. Last year was slightly wetter than usual and the cool, wet weather stayed longer than normal (the wild flowers lingered for weeks instead of days --- it was spectacular). (Although this also allowed a lot of grass to grow in places where it usually does not --- and it is still a problem this year.) It was also humid for much of the summer, lowering fire risk. When more normal weather set in, things exploded.

It is already hot and dry this year and there are those winds.

[bif]

6. Oh, I thought this was about the Calgary Flames

n/t