More than 900 firefighters continue to battle Powerhouse fire
Source: LA Times
More than 900 firefighters on Saturday continued to battle the 3,600 acre Powerhouse fire in the Angeles National Forest and Santa Clarita area on what officials said was the hottest day of the week.
The wildfire is only 15% contained, and firefighters are working with hot, dry conditions that could hamper their efforts, said Nathan Judy of the U.S. Forest Service.
Todays the hottest day of the week, well have more favorable weather coming in tomorrow, said Judy, adding that officials will have a better idea about when theyll reach full containment once they get through Saturday.
Temperatures in the fire zone were topping 100 degrees, with relative humidity down in the single digits. Its going to be very hot and dry with not a whole lot of wind, said National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Sukup in Oxnard.
Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-more-than-900-firefighters-battle-powerhouse-fire-20130601,0,2588615.story
SunSeeker
(51,787 posts)I don't know how they can fight fires in 100 degree weather with hot winds blasting at them while wearing heavy coats. I am amazed we can find 1 person like that, let alone 900.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Left Coast2020
(2,397 posts)The smoke alone is deadly. And you have to worry about staying hydrated.
SunSeeker
(51,787 posts)Good thing there's people like you out there!!
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)I just washed my car after 7 months or more, and now I have ash on my car. I guess I'm lucky that's all I have to worry or bitch about. I saw that fire Friday when it was still small. The huge smoke clouds gave the Antelope Valley shade in some areas.
olddots
(10,237 posts)thirty miles from the fires. This is serious .
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Per local 10pm news just now. Earlier erratic winds have now shifted to westerly. Current temp in Castaic now 84, but higher in fire area.
USFS provides updates, but they can be infrequent (and their latest doesn't reflect the newest info reported by news media): http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3399/
Cha
(297,935 posts)Please let them put the fire out without anyone getting hurt bad.
thanks alp
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)--Local CBS2 reporter on 11pm news. He reports fire now surrounding Lake Hughes/Lake Elizabeth area.
"Flames continue to move at a blistering pace to the northwest." CBS reports more than 1,000 homes now threatened.
Nathan Judy of the USFS just told CBS that the original projection of containment by midnight Wednesday is going to be pushed pack. It won't be contained by then.
tofuandbeer
(1,314 posts)I suspect another very warm day tomorrow. The humidity is up, so hopefully that will pull some moisture up that way.
A big nod to those the firefighters!!!
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)No danger for me, as I'm 14 miles due West of the fire and there's a big ridgeline and some small lakes in between.
Latest reports on local news say at least 5 homes now destroyed, possibly many more.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)The Powerhouse Fire grew to 5,561 acres in northern Los Angeles County on a hot and windy Saturday, burning structures and prompting evacuations in rugged areas between the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.
At least five homes have burned in the blaze, said Los Angeles County Fire spokesman Keith Mora.
About 1,000 structures were threatened in the burn area, he said.
Three firefighters have been injured, and 960 firefighters, assisted by planes and helicopters, were expected to keep up the aerial and ground assault against flames on Saturday. The blaze was 20 percent contained, said John Wagner of the U.S. Forest Service.
...
Story and video:
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Powerhouse-Fire-Chars-3660-Acres-Santa-Clarita-209783801.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_LABrand
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)KABC-7 just gave a live update from the scene.
Right now there is a huge blanket of smoke over the entire area.
maddezmom
(135,060 posts)Stay safe.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)I took these about an hour ago from my location in the Antelope Valley, 14 miles due West of the fire.
Looking to the West, toward the fire. Notice how the ridgeline disappears in the haze toward the right. (This is a digital telephoto shot, so the ridge is not quite as close as it appears.)
Looking East, away from the fire.
Both CBS2 and KTLA5 today aired dramatic fire footage from last night and this morning.
maddezmom
(135,060 posts)Also saw there is another raging wild fire in NM.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/02/wildfires-california-mexico-evacuation/2381805/
fizzgig
(24,146 posts)it's scary when they do that. looks like it may be cooler tomorrow, but the winds are also supposed to be up.
i have always had the utmost respect for firefighters, but i respect them all the more after our monster fire last summer. i've suited up and gone through the burn building before, but i can't imagine what it's like to be in full gear in 100 degree heat fighting a raging fire.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Live news footage at 4:30pm showed a hot spot two miles away from the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve; an hour later it was in the Reserve.
byeya
(2,842 posts)lower temperatures, but a rise in humidity is something firefighters also welcome.
If a forest fire generates enough heat, the radiant heat can start material burning hundreds of yards away from the fire. It's not just wind borne flaming embers and brands you have to watch out for. Firefighters have to be very careful about not getting trapped between fire fronts and although they now carry expandable fire shelters with them, they don't won't to be in a position of having their lives depend upon them.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)SCVDem
(5,103 posts)Yep! That's Santa Clarita and we are in the news yet again.
In the morning you can see a defined mushroom but later those pics tell the story.
We joke about shake and bake but really don't need the shake part.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)--Photo by Art Barron, CBS2 News Los Angeles