Was just woken at 11:30 our mountain is burning and has gotten worse.
- Thread starter Oldmanmopar
- Start date
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Wow! May sound generic, but "STay Safe "!
I don't have fecesbook, but usually the linked post opens, not this time. Prayers that folks are spared any serious losses, if Ya' gotta roll, be ready & bolt....We've lost enough Members already, peace..
not much sleep tonight
Its right down the road and blowing toward our location but has to travel at least a mile to get to Danielsville.
I went to see what the danger is. In our little town we are on the other side of the road along the mountain so I should be out of danger. Its the farms that worry me. Noticed the wind is picking up.
While driving I saw Deer and a Bear running across the roads. Lots of smoke outside I am sure the Coyotes and big cats will be coming down tomorrow.
I never saw so much fire equipment and young volunteers. We were told to clear all flammable debri around our buildings such as leaves. Due to the terrain they cannot reach most of the fire by foot . Air support will start in the morning if the wind allows.
I do not see any danger for my place but in such a small community we are all like family. I pray for all the animals. Yesterday we had several bush fires in the other direction. Fire fighters are exhausted. Many are coming in from all over surrounding counties.
I went to see what the danger is. In our little town we are on the other side of the road along the mountain so I should be out of danger. Its the farms that worry me. Noticed the wind is picking up.
While driving I saw Deer and a Bear running across the roads. Lots of smoke outside I am sure the Coyotes and big cats will be coming down tomorrow.
I never saw so much fire equipment and young volunteers. We were told to clear all flammable debri around our buildings such as leaves. Due to the terrain they cannot reach most of the fire by foot . Air support will start in the morning if the wind allows.
I do not see any danger for my place but in such a small community we are all like family. I pray for all the animals. Yesterday we had several bush fires in the other direction. Fire fighters are exhausted. Many are coming in from all over surrounding counties.
Wide awake and view of the mountain is out my front window. Several houses between me and the Mountain if it keeps blowing east .
Mr. Sinister
Devastation Manager
Stay safe and smart Steve.
Dartnut
Don't hate me because i'm beautiful
Good luck and stay safe...
Prayers for safety and rain!!
Jeremiah (jd)
Well-Known Member
I guess even "yins" aren't safe from West Coast style wild fires. Sorry you folks are having to go through that.
Hopefully you don't end up like us, having to keep a type 3 fire engine in the yard..
Any idea what started the fire?
What is the weather forecast?
Hopefully you don't end up like us, having to keep a type 3 fire engine in the yard..
Any idea what started the fire?
What is the weather forecast?
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Strength and positive thoughts! Be safe and like said gather important paperwork and don't wait for last minute.
Dangit man. Steve, yall stay safe up there.
sorry to see that, Hope and pray everyone is safe and they get it under control before it damages homes and farms. We under drought conditions and no burn orders here in Alabama but have small chances of rain in forecast.
2017 Tubbs fire (Santa Rosa, California) got within a couple miles of my house. I packed the car that night with papers, clothes and my 5 year old son's artwork. I threw moving blankets on my Barracuda and was out soaking all the trees and the yard and house from about midnight to 4am.
What I learned was that probably wouldn't have been enough. After the fire and during the next week or so, I went and bought sprinklers and some hoses and valve splitters for myself and my neighbor's house. Hooked them up and set the sprinklers on our roofs.
I hope all is well with you, and if you are able some measures like I mentioned above are viable for not just you, but everyone who reads this. Fire and it's destruction are no joke. If you can mitigate problems before they become problems they may not even become problems.
Living wisely is it's own reward.
What I learned was that probably wouldn't have been enough. After the fire and during the next week or so, I went and bought sprinklers and some hoses and valve splitters for myself and my neighbor's house. Hooked them up and set the sprinklers on our roofs.
I hope all is well with you, and if you are able some measures like I mentioned above are viable for not just you, but everyone who reads this. Fire and it's destruction are no joke. If you can mitigate problems before they become problems they may not even become problems.
Living wisely is it's own reward.
Truly a frightening scenario and I pray that you and your family are safe.
I don’t think people know what a Type 3 is. I was a driver/pumper on several for a couple years. Did a couple years as a hotshot and helitak too. After moving back to my home state, Okla., and talking with local fire guys, they don’t even know.
The last photo is from the hilltop overlooking my fire station and also where we lived at a Forest Service housing unit. 17,000 acre Valley Fire, 2020. Notice the green trees in the middle of a nuked forest. We saved our own station and my residence.
My wife and kids were home at the time and drove off the mountain right as we were laying a backing fire. Another minute and they would have to shelter in place. As they were driving up the long driveway they saw a fire whirl (fire tornado) carrying a manzanita tree in the air. She later told me she had no clue my job was this dangerous. You don’t get it till you’re in it. True baptism by fire.
Cleveland National Forest Engine 340. This was my 340 daily driver.
My ‘cuda went through Hurricane Katrina and this fire.
@Oldmanmopar Best thing you can do is pick all the organic material from structures. Get a leaf blower, get a drip torch, and become well versed in how to operate those two things. It’s too late now for you to learn for this fire. There’s a lot of skill that goes into when and where to lay down a backing fire.
I have never seen a home saved by a homeowner with a water hose. It doesn’t happen. Sprinklers are a good idea but need to run around 24 hours. You have to flood the place for it to not burn. The superheated air, wind, and single digit relative humidity will dry everything in advance of the flaming front. Everything has to be saturated fully and even then the wind can blow embers INTO eaves and soffits, wood decks, and even vehicles and burn them down. If you hinge all your hopes on wetting things down with a piss hose and the power goes out you could be in the middle of a firefight and run out of water. Best thing to do with water is leave it for the firefighters.
Good luck OMM, once the air tankers show up you’ll be alright. Head on a swivel though.
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UPDATE. The fire is out of control. Over 200 fire fighters. They have been begging for support from the government. We were denied air tankers and national guard . People are devastated. They are dozing and plowing yards to try and make a fire break. Hot ashes are falling in the town of Palmerton on the other side of the mountain.
We were told to get any organic material out from around houses. That is what we were doing all day even though is isn't close YET!. Its a half mile west
A local Polaris dealer who we do machine work for donated all their UTV's to help get fire fighters in to the Appalachian trail. The owner told my son the fire was started by a camp fire on the trail. Biden has the National guard on stand by for the white house after the election. so they are not available for us.
Local people have been evacuated west of my house the fire is slowly coming east. Hoping for no wind. Our government sucks.
Thanks for sharing Steve continued well wishes for you guys! WTF is it with with no gov support?? 2 hurricanes and now this, from what I've read on here.
Be well!
Be well!
Prayers Steve for safety. And FJB.
LocuMob
Fluid Technician
Stay safe Steve.
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