California Wildfires running thread

[Twirling Time]

In a pinch, I don't see why using seawater to fight the fires would be out of bounds. For all I know they might be doing it now as Canadian Super Scoopers are being employed. You obviously wouldn't do it to fight individual house fires, but in areas of mashive open vegetation.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

In a pinch, I don't see why using seawater to fight the fires would be out of bounds. For all I know they might be doing it now as Canadian Super Scoopers are being employed. You obviously wouldn't do it to fight individual house fires, but in areas of mashive open vegetation.

My understanding is it would pretty much destroy the equipment.

 

[Spartan Squad]

In a pinch, I don't see why using seawater to fight the fires would be out of bounds. For all I know they might be doing it now as Canadian Super Scoopers are being employed. You obviously wouldn't do it to fight individual house fires, but in areas of mashive open vegetation.

The problem is two fold and it both comes down to salt. First, you need to make sure your equipment can handle salt water without degrading. Second, you risk over salting the land which means things have a hard time growing back.

They are using the Canadian tanker to get ocean water, so they're ok with the latter to a point. I bet it's the former that is really the issue.

 

[DanOregon]

I was wondering why the US needs to import a plane like that given the fire situation here, but I'm guessing outside of Tahoe, Crater Lake, Havasu and Flathead in Montana and the Columbia River, there is a lack of large enough bodies of water for that thing to "scoop" and get back up in time.

 

[Spartan Squad]

I was wondering why the US needs to import a plane like that given the fire situation here, but I'm guessing outside of Tahoe, Crater Lake, Havasu and Flathead in Montana and the Columbia River, there is a lack of large enough bodies of water for that thing to "scoop" and get back up in time.

And those planes are expensive AF

 

[DanOregon]

$30m. Compared to the damages fires cause and the cost of firecrews? It would pay for itself in one fire season.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

We don't expensive planes in this country anymore unless it can bomb someplace or gouge customers.

 

[Spartan Squad]

$30m. Compared to the damages fires cause and the cost of firecrews? It would pay for itself in one fire season.

You're not wrong, but you'd still be paying your regular response and the cost to maintain and man the plane.

 

[Batman]

Santa Monica PD arrests what appears to be a burglary crew that was tracking targets on an evacuation app.

 

[DanOregon]

Interesting note, there isn't that much of a difference between a looting charge and a burglary charge in California. Seems like looting should have an "amplifier" since you are taking away first responder resources from an emergency situation. Though I imagine DAs will throw the book at looters in this case.

 

[Starman]

Shocking!!


"There will be strings attached": GOP Sen. says Los Angeles wildfire aid won't be "blank check"

https://www.salon.com/2025/01/12/th...ldfire-aid-wont-be-blank-check/?in_brief=true

 

[DanOregon]

Imagine if California enacted a law barring people from rebuilding in some of these areas due to the risk, similar to building in a flood plain. I'm sure there would be outrage.

And I'm really looking forward to seeing how the disaster relief package for the fire is crafted. Probably a few amendments that will only give money to agencies that don't have DEI programs or even recycling

At some point the GOP will realize that so many people in America hold them to such low standards, their attempts at shock at outrage really don't do the trick any more.