Summer Weather

[Robert]

The latest update on our Northern California fires.

The good news is that the Butte Fire has not grown much and we are safe.

Sadly a terrible tragedy is unfolding. A new fire on the other side of the Sacramento Valley is ravaging communities. The "Valley Fire" in Lake and Napa counties has grown from about 50 acres to 50,000 acres in 30 hours or so. Sadly, a large but still partly unknown part of the town of Middletown, California has been completely leveled by the fire. 100's of homes are already known to have been completely burned to the ground in the central part of town. In addition, apartments, businesses, and many other structures have been lost. The firefighters battled not only the flames but the lack of reinforcements, windy conditions, and the lack and loss of water as the fire hydrants went dry as they battled the flames in downtown Middletown.

This fire has 0% containment, and is about as out-of-control as a fire can get. Many are still at risk of losing their homes. This fire is moving so quickly that many have only minutes (in some cases seconds) to evacuate as trees explode into flames next to their homes.

We have to pray that another fire of this nature does not erupt in the next few days. Firefighting resources are spread to the limit. I am not sure how much more can be endured. I am a native Californian (60 years) and have never seen anything like this in Northern California.

Tonight will be another night of dense smoke and ash. This is nothing compared to the loses of others - for some everything except their lives.

[Maggi Young]

We have seen some footage of the fire in Middletown on TV here - just a horrendous inferno. Amazing  to me  that people are managing to escape at all - and what heroes the firefighters are. 

[David Nicholson]

Blowing very hard here today and heavy rain due later. Remnants of tropical storm Henri so they say, so JohnW probably had the worst of it.

[johnw]

Blowing very hard here today and heavy rain due later. Remnants of tropical storm Henri so they say, so JohnW probably had the worst of it.

Passed south of here David, whether or not all the showery weather was from Henri I can't say but we're back in the steam bath weather again.  It barely grazed St. John's on the way to you.  Hope you needed the rain, friend in Charminster says she didn't!

john

[David Nicholson]

I didn't either John, quite the reverse!

[Robert]

We have seen some footage of the fire in Middletown on TV here - just a horrendous inferno. Amazing  to me  that people are managing to escape at all - and what heroes the firefighters are. 

Maggi,

I am glad that folks can "see" what is going on here. It is somewhat hard to believe unless you see it. Well over 400 homes have already been destroyed by the Valley Fire. The Butte Fire is not far from the farm. When they get it out I will go check on the situation first hand. Right now everyone except the firefighters needs to stay away.

The Valley Fire is now at 50,000 acres, with 0% containment. They are having more difficulties with the wind in that area. Here the winds are still calm, however this is the 5th day of dense smoke. The good news is that we could get some rain today and more rain on Wednesday. We will pray that this pans out.

[johnstephen29]

Here in my part of Lincolnshire a thunderstorm has sitting over us for the last hour or so, lots of thunder and lightning and the rain is hammering it down. If that wasn't bad enough the twins are complaining that they can't have the TV on . This doesn't compare to what Robert and his neighbours are going through over in California, stay safe mate.

[Robert]

Very good news here. It is raining!

The count has now started  - One elderly person could not escape the fire and burned to death, 4 or so folks are missing, and between the 2 fires well over 500 homes have been destroyed. 1,300 people have no place to live and are staying in tents. Needless to say the homes that did not burn have no electricity. Now there is also the danger of burnt trees falling, many of them quite tall.

If all goes right the worst of the fire damage is over.

[Matt T]

Hi Robert. Glad to hear that the situation should now be improving. I've just seen some footage of the fires from a couple of days ago and it is truly terrifying. So sad to hear of those who have lost their homes and those who are lost, but it's testament to the hard work of the emergency services that most people were kept safe. Property can be rebuilt/replaced, lives cannot. Stay safe.

[Matt T]

For folk who are concerned (I have friends in N.California) this is a useful webpage, which helps to understand the situation: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zp8nK_5H0MFQ.kzTmU5XK-qJQ

[Robert]

Hi Matt,

We are getting a bit of rain and the smoke has cleared. Wednesday more rain is forecast. 15 October is the average date for the beginning of our rainy season, so getting rain now is very early. Given the situation here, the rain and much cooler temperatures are welcome. It looks like we might be back to 32 C temperatures in about a week, but by then the fires might be out or at least well under control. I am hoping this is the end of the fire season for this year.