(June 19, 2017 at 4:13 pm)LastPoet Wrote:

(June 19, 2017 at 12:41 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: I've been following this on the news. Really awful.

A lot of people don't understand quite how fast a wildfire can move. I've seen them move upwards of 30 mph (50kmh). I could see one trapping cars on a winding road.

You, Poca, and families stay safe.

A couple of those b52s loaded with water would help. Scorching heat and hot winds and hard terrain...

And now CAL FIRE has a few DC-10's (or at least access to them. They've been sent to serve temporarily with Fire Rescue NSW as well). Some company in Colorado Springs has a 747 now. Gotta send all those resources out there. 

My thoughts are with you all. California's about to have some big problems, too, with massive heat, but we're kind of used to this.

Fires are coming under control. Slowly. Out of precaution some villages were evacuated. The intense heatwave isn't helping.

There was a report of a firefighting aircraft crashing, but the authorities reported all aircraft are accounted for and fighting.

disturbing to contemplate but in at least one of the vehicular tunnel fires I recall the cars motors would quit working from the low O2 concentration from the fire consuming it, but the drivers and passengers were not yet overcome

I'd fear some/most/all those folks in Portugal who drove into the fire crossing their escape routes expected to come out the other side but their vehicles conked out well before that happened.

(June 20, 2017 at 2:31 pm)c172 Wrote:

(June 19, 2017 at 4:13 pm)LastPoet Wrote: A couple of those b52s loaded with water would help. Scorching heat and hot winds and hard terrain...

And now CAL FIRE has a few DC-10's (or at least access to them. They've been sent to serve temporarily with Fire Rescue NSW as well). Some company in Colorado Springs has a 747 now. Gotta send all those resources out there. 

My thoughts are with you all. California's about to have some big problems, too, with massive heat, but we're kind of used to this.

We are also used to the fire season, but this blaze was so fast it got ugly real fast. When it started, last saturday, I saw the dry T-storm. Random bolts hitting and gusts of hot wind. With 40 C at 6 pm, the wind felt warm in my face.

Yeah we hear it on the news about california every year too. As an ex volunteer firefighter I know how hard is it to tackle the flames. Its a relief when we are "bombed" with water from above.

It came under control. Temperatures dropped and that helped people. Now the pointing of fingers begin in the political scene. While politicians jerkoff there is a good team of investigators, scouring the place.

Perhaps we can learn from the tragedy and avoid this tragedy from happening again. Again a shout out to those guys that fought the beast. Now they are scouring the grounds to kill any remnants of fire. They did a good job.

I read a theory that they are considering arson?

Sorry, I didn't even see this thread until now Glad it's under control now and glad you're safe LP There's nothing more horrific than fires and we are having similar feelings about the Grenfell tower fire in London. It's just horrible thinking about what people have gone through in either case

(June 24, 2017 at 9:36 am)SteelCurtain Wrote: I read a theory that they are considering arson?

Its a long shot. Arsons happen but the starting point of the fire is remote with hard access by foot. Arsonists are rather lazy. Lightning when there is no rain is very dangerous. When they are wet, the rain puts them out immediattely. That with high temperature, unnatended woodland it was a tragedy.

The investigators are on scene now. Doing their stuff. Comm towers were downed by the fire, but we had SIRESP vans or mobile comm that seems to have failed.

Bah political pointing of fingers. Let investigators work.

We the people help. Firemen had to revert excess of food and mantiments, solidarity bank accounts were started, even by the banks for the victims. Now its time to heal. Damn. Even the portuguese artists are throwing a concert to revert to them. Good.

Took a while to find an English speaking survivor:

That's some scary shit!

The fire, not the english.