@FirePhotoGirl is a professional photographer who documents and reports on emergency incidents, concentrating on fires, usually in Southern California. This video is from the first night of the Camp Fire, which virtually wiped out the town of Paradise in Northern California last fall. Her handle is the same on both Twitter and Instagram.
Massive pyrocumulus cloud over Australian bushfire produces hundreds of lightning strikes
Extreme heat on Friday in Victoria, Australia combined with strong winds and low humidity caused a bushfire 10 km (6 miles) north of Timbarra to grow from 300 hectares (740 acres) to approximately 10,522 hectares (26,000 acres). Lighting ignited the fire on January 16 and in an odd twist, extreme fire behavior Friday created hundreds of lightning strikes around a massive pyrocumulus cloud that rose to 38,000 feet while igniting additional fires.
The temperature at the top of the cloud was -55°C (-67°F) according to the Victoria Bureau of Meteorology.
Large bushfire in #EastGippsland producing a huge plume of smoke this afternoon stretching over eastern Bass Strait. Check out the satellite picture at https://t.co/9md40P2b4k pic.twitter.com/5ceZV5nf0T
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) January 25, 2019
Friday evening the weather changed substantially, bringing in cool, moist air that slowed the spread of the fire. Officials say due to the size and difficult topography, it will be weeks before it can be completely contained.
Firefighter shutdown stories — Chapter 4
This is the fourth in a series of articles in which we let firefighters and other land management agency employees associated with wildland fire describe in their own words how the partial shutdown of the federal government that began December 22 is affecting them. They all requested to remain anonymous.
Chapter 4, below, has been lightly edited.
“My Fire Management Officer has contacted all of his subordinates, giving us advice on how to apply for unemployment insurance. In all my years of working, I have never had to do that. Sorta makes one feel useless and to an extent worthless. I’m ready, willing, and want to work, but because of the shutdown, I can’t.
“The worst part of this shutdown is not knowing. I guess that’s true about everything in life and our job, but THIS unknowing seems worse. We have no control over the situation. Pawns in a f’ing chess game amongst babies.
“There is no way that unemployment insurance would cover my now grownup costs with the kids, etc. The savings that we do have, is dwindling, the house and land that we were going to be getting this spring, well that dream is gone.
“Each day my wife looks at me and without having to say it anymore, I get the “how much longer” look. She wants me to find another job, with a state agency or even private. The problem with private is, they aren’t full time. Problem with a state agency — I’m starting over, new retirement new (better or worse?) health coverage.
“Tension over not bringing in money is causing us to argue a little more each day, purchases have come to a stop, but we still have to buy food, diapers, and clothes because even though we have no money coming in, our two kids still get hungry, they still have their needs as they grow.
“I don’t want to change jobs, I don’t want to move. But, how much longer can I continue to say that?”
Chapter 5 will be published January 26. All of the shutdown stories can all be found at the tag “shutdown stories.”
Federal firefighters describe how the shutdown affects them — Chapter 3
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Federal firefighters describe how the shutdown affects them — Chapter 3 
During the partial government shutdown approximately half of the 10,000 wildland firefighters that work for the U.S. Forest Service are being forced to work for no pay. The other 5,000 are furloughed and not working — they are also not being paid. An unknown number are in similar situations that work for the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs — all within the Department of the Interior.
After the partial government shutdown is over, they will be paid as authorized in legislation passed last week, whether they worked during the shutdown or not. But until then, the five land management agencies in the Departments of Agriculture and Interior are limping along day to day with skeleton staffing unable to spend any funds that have not already been appropriated. It remains to be seen how the agencies will react under these conditions to a large wildland fire or other emergency that requires the quick, efficient, and possibly long-term mobilization of large numbers of firefighters to protect lives and property.
This is the third in a series of articles in which we let firefighters and other land management agency employees associated with wildland fire describe in their own words how the partial government shutdown that began December 22 is affecting them. They all requested to remain anonymous.
Chapter 3, below, is from a U.S. Forest Service employee and has been lightly edited.
“Being without a paycheck is a huge problem — we are looking at our budget and cutting back on numerous items. I made reservations and flights to be at an upcoming meeting that I can’t cancel without huge losses.
“Our contractors have done everything they can and are now being laid off. They will never get paid back. This has huge impacts to all of the work we do.
“I am getting offers for interviews and potential job offers daily.
“My staff is running out of money to cover food and gas. I am taking out payroll furlough loans to keep afloat. My bank isn’t sure if they will do anymore furlough loans after this next one. If they stop, then I have to sign up for unemployment. Department of the Interior employees were called back to sign another 30-day furlough letter. None of the US Forest Service staff that I know have been asked to do so yet. My Supervisor says they are trying to figure out how to contact all of us. Crappy planning in USFS, as compared to DOI. My supervisor mentioned they are looking at calling back more staff – unpaid work. Apparently there is pressure to put fire efforts back to work… like training and planning.
“There are now three types of furloughed employees… exempt (essential), partially exempt (partially essential) and unexempt (not essential). I have no idea, nor have seen any documentation on what partially exempt means. Either way all of us are not getting paid.
“Needless to say so many of us are demoralized, feeling worthless, and we are hostages to this crap. Trump says nothing in his speech and clearly doesn’t care how much he hurts people. His tweet was insulting. He is a bully and doing anything he can to get his way.”
Chapters 4 and 5 will be published January 25 and 26. All of the shutdown stories can all be found at the tag “shutdown stories.”
Erin Brockovich concerned about PG&E’s bankruptcy plan after wildfires
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized3 Comments on Erin Brockovich concerned about PG&E’s bankruptcy plan after wildfires The company could be facing more than $30 billion in potential damages after wildfires in 2017 and 2018
Erin Brockovich battled Pacific Gas and Electric over ground water contamination in the 1990s, an effort that led to the Julia Roberts film named after her — Erin Brockovich. Now she is concerned about PG&E’s announced plan to declare bankruptcy, which may limit the company’s liability in their role for possibly starting the Camp Fire last year and many others in 2017.
PG&E has said they can’t afford to pay the estimated $30 billion in potential damages from the fires. The Camp fire destroyed about 14,000 homes and killed at least 86 people. CAL FIRE is looking closely at hardware that may have failed on a 100-year old high-voltage tower, possibly igniting the fire. A second possible point of ignition near other PG&E equipment is also being examined.
CAL FIRE investigators determined that the company’s electrical distribution system caused at least 17 of the major fires in Northern California in 2017, destroying thousands of homes.
Ms. Brockovich appeared at a press conference in Sacramento Tuesday. Below is an excerpt from KWBE:
“We should all be beyond frustrated,” Brockovich said during the press conference. “Every one of us should be good and mad. And it is time for the state to get to work. They need to show us their true leadership in holding this company accountable and making these communities whole again.”
She also alleged that the utility company is solvent and that it’s simply shucking its responsibilities.
“How are we going to stand by and just hurl 40,000 citizens, who have been harmed — not to mention the state of California — into chaos? Because Pacific Gas and Electric once again doesn’t want to be held accountable or pay for the damages they have caused,” Brockovich said.
In a response, a spokesperson for the utility company told ABC News that the company still had “work to do” and said that it remained “focused on supporting [families impacted by the wildfires] through the recovery and rebuilding process.”
Suspects accused of starting Lake Christine Fire with tracer rounds plead not guilty
The fire that started July 3, 2018 near Basalt, Colorado burned 12,588 acres and three homes
The two people charged with starting the Lake Christine Fire pleaded not guilty during a court appearance. Investigators said the fire that started July 3, 2018 was ignited by tracer rounds used at a shooting range by Allison Marcus, 22, and Richard Miller, 23. Shortly after the fire ignited Marcus and Miller were cooperative and talked with law enforcement officials.
The fire burned 12,588 acres and three homes near Basalt and El Jebel 15 air miles southeast of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
The date of the trials for the suspects is uncertain, but they could be scheduled for May or June.
Tracer rounds are incendiary ammunition. They have a substance that burns when fired, making the trajectory of the bullet visible during daylight, but especially noticeable at night. Tracer ammunition is banned in many areas, including the area where the Lake Christine Fire started.
Miller and Marcus have been charged with fourth-degree arson.
