More than 150 structures destroyed, 27,000 people evacuated in raging Ventura wildfire

[Dashinka 24,793]

Certainly feel bad for everyone out in CA impacted by this.  Kudos to the firefighters doing everything they can to save property and prevent loss of life.

 

1/5 SLIDES © David McNew/Reuters 

Downtown is darkened by a power outage with smoke rising in the distance as strong winds push the Thomas Fire across thousands of acres on Dec. 5 in Santa Paula, California. 

(Slideshow by photo services)

A fast-moving, wind-fueled wildfire swept into the city of Ventura early Tuesday, burning 31,000 acres, destroying homes and forcing 27,000 people to evacuate.

About 150 structures — including at least one large apartment complex — were consumed by flames, and many more were threatened as the fire crept about a quarter-mile away from City Hall.

Engulfed in flames, the Hawaiian Village Apartments collapsed about 4 a.m. Water gushed down North Laurel Street as firefighters worked to put out the flaming complex and residents watched with their cameras and cellphones out. The sound of propane tanks bursting filled the air.

Hundreds of firefighters working through the night tried to prevent the blaze from spreading, block by block, as they were confronted by wind gusts of up to 50 mph. One firefighter was injured, though it’s unclear how.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/more-than-150-structures-destroyed-27000-people-evacuated-in-raging-ventura-wildfire/ar-BBGeO8E?OCID=ansmsnnews11

Edited December 5, 2017 by Bill & Katya

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

 There is nothing scarier than looking at a wind driven wall of flames coming at you.   I have had a house fire before and that seems like a small thing compared to how powerless these make you feel. 

[Dashinka 24,793]

51 minutes ago, NigeriaorBust said:

 There is nothing scarier than looking at a wind driven wall of flames coming at you.   I have had a house fire before and that seems like a small thing compared to how powerless these make you feel. 

I know what you mean.  I have fought some wildfires in my days as a firefighter, but nothing like the scale of these in CA.  It can be very scary.

[TBoneTX 46,120]

Given all the marvelous technological progress in so many areas during the past century, I'm mystified how and why firemen remain limited to relying upon puny water-hoses and small amounts of chemicals dropped from airplanes.

[Dashinka 24,793]

Just now, TBoneTX said:

Given all the marvelous technological progress in so many areas during the past century, I'm mystified how and why firemen remain limited to relying upon puny water-hoses and small amounts of chemicals dropped from airplanes.

Mother Nature can be very unforgiving, but it still all comes down to “put the wet stuff on the red stuff”.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

  Some of the stuff they drop is almost red colored.  At least in the mountains it is a combo of water and seeds wrapped in a coating that protects them from the immediate fire.  Kills the current issue while getting plants to cut down the mud slide when the winter rains come.

[TBoneTX 46,120]

True, but I wonder why no one has invented (to make something up) machines that can shoot entire walls of water onto the red stuff, or some other seemingly more effective/effectual method.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I'm in West LA, about 65 miles south of the fire. I am in my air conditioned office and my eyes are killing me, and I'm coughing every so often. Our cars are covered in ash. It's even worse in Santa Monica. Everything stinks of the fire. My thoughts are with all those up in Ventura County, a part of the world I dearly love.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

“Is this a sign of the times?  Is hell-fire being visited upon California because they allow marriage at any age?”

[TBoneTX 46,120]

Sorry, Maven dear.  Prayers.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

22 hours ago, elmcitymaven said:

I'm in West LA, about 65 miles south of the fire. I am in my air conditioned office and my eyes are killing me, and I'm coughing every so often. Our cars are covered in ash. It's even worse in Santa Monica. Everything stinks of the fire. My thoughts are with all those up in Ventura County, a part of the world I dearly love.

Luckily I am in Pasadena so everything is west of me right now. But I just drove up the Angeles Pass and it was crazy to look over and see the smoke coming Sylmar. I hope you don't have to drive on the 405 today due to that fire that sprung up this morning. 

[charmander 692]

We have family in Ventura. One of them posted a picture from his driveway where the flames were not too far ahead; yet they were not given any evacuation orders yet.

 

People on twitter mention +40mph winds; this is gonna be hard to put out. Stay safe CA people.

[Dashinka 24,793]

35 minutes ago, charmander said:

We have family in Ventura. One of them posted a picture from his driveway where the flames were not too far ahead; yet they were not given any evacuation orders yet.

 

People on twitter mention +40mph winds; this is gonna be hard to put out. Stay safe CA people.

Not sure I would be waiting for a government bureaucrat to give the order.  I certainly hope your family is and remains safe.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

I remember when I lived in the area as a kid.  We had a really high-pressure faucet on the house and would have to spray down the house and garage every so often as fires crept up on us.  This current one is a huge deal.  Stay safe out there peeps!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

So.... now I'm in an advisory evacuation area, as there's a fire burning near the Getty Center in Brentwood, about 3.5 miles from me. The whole office smells like s'mores and the sky is the most bizarre shades of green and grey and brown. I'm out of here if it gets closer. Houses are burning in Bel Air.