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This isn't getting much coverage on national media, so thought I would post a bit about it here:

Another terrible California fire tragedy (the "Kincade" fire) is raging here in Northern California, with wind gusts to 93 mph (note: wind speed of a Category 1 hurricane is 74 - 94 mph, so the wind speeds observed on this fire are nearly at Category 2).

Wind speeds of this velocity turn fire into a virtual blow torch.

This area is not "forested" (meaning tall trees) but typical dry (in summer) native California grasslands and (highly flammable) native California Chaparral shrublands.

At last count, 180,000 people are under evacuation order and are on the move, including residents of an area of one large city (Santa Rosa), and a number of small, wine-producing towns (Geyersville, Healdsburg, Guerneville, Windsor - with likely more to come) and one town right on the ocean (Bodega Bay). Much of the area where the fire started had already had their power cut off by PG&E (the electric power utility here).

What this means is that there was no telephone service, and no cell phone service in much of the area where the fire began. The only way many people became aware of the fire was by looking up and seeing either smoke in the sky or, in many cases, the approaching flames.

This is rapidly becoming one of the largest evacuations due to fire in California history - if not the largest. The unbelievably devastating Camp Fire in Paradise of last year may have just been a warm up for the new normal here.

It is possible - and this is a current major worry - that the fire will not be stopped until it burns from where it started (in California's wine country) all the way to the pacific ocean - a distance of around 50 miles. Mandatory evacuation orders in place from the current location of the fire all the way to the sea.

The threat of new major fires starting here in Northern California is a current, constant, threat. The threat of fire will not be over until the annual rains come. Currently, there is no rain in the forecast for Northern California. At all. Warm to hot temperatures are expected to continue across the northern part of the state.

Kincade Fire information:

https://www.ktvu.com/news/largest-evacuation-number-of-evacuees-double-in-sonoma-county-as-winds-clock-in-at-93-mph

Incident map showing evacuation area:

https://sonomacounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2cb4401e1fc0494dbf9d9e22aa794617

This fire is about 100 miles from where I live.

Anne

Update:

New fire closes Interstate 80 in both directions near Vallejo, Ca.

https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/two-grass-fires-burning-in-vallejo-i-80-closed/

This new fire began about 9:30 a.m. pacific time this morning - about an hour ago. My best friend and her husband live in Vallejo, near the hills. They are packing up to evacuate.

Anne

It is such a sad situation. I hope everyone heeds the warnings and gets out quickly. The problem with waiting for an official evacuation warning is that everyone leaves at once and then there are major traffic jams getting out.
The worst part of the Camp Fire was the huge loss of life there.

We are still dealing with the smoke from the dump south of here. They say it could be another 2 weeks before the fire is completely out. The dump is the size of 40 football fields and it is now the soil that is burning.

The Tick fire burned over 4600 acres which doesn't sound like alot but it is a very populated area so many homes and neighborhoods affected. 9 homes burned and no injuries or deaths, so that is a big positive. It seems to be under control at this point with many evacuees being allowed to go back home.

OMG I have friends down there.....this picture was just posted as the fire just jumped the Carquinez straits

We are experiencing gusty winds. I'm home keeping an eye on things. We have power for two reasons, our city has a natural gas fired electrical plant of its own and we have most of city with underground utilities.
Stay safe everyone.
Velda

Just talked to my son in Napa. No smoke in Napa because wind is blowing other direction and there is a mountain range between Napa and Sonoma. Vallejo is about 20 miles from them.

One of the high schools lost power today due to a tree falling on electrical lines, so it will be closed tomorrow. Also closed the some of the schools for tomorrow, notably the American Canyon schools, which are close to Vallejo, and have their power shut off. Rest of schools open.

Electricity was turned off preemptively in my area in Dublin, Alameda County, at 8:24 last night. My Abby cried all last night because our room was too dark! Silly girl. I’m wholly unprepared even knowing the electricity would be turned off. I need to get some way to charge my phone for the next time. I do have a battery radio, but had nothing to read to keep busy. There’s a pretty large shopping center very near me with stores like Starbuck’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Old Navy, several restaurants and movies plus more. All closed EXCEPT Barnes & Noble. Went in: lights off and had to use my phone flashlight to read titles. Found a book and they were only accepting cash. So I hope I’m set for the duration. I do resolve to be better prepared for the next time.
Sandi

Two million California residents without power, 180,000 ordered to evacuate.

https://www.npr.org/2019/10/27/773844324/2-million-californians-without-power-and-180-000-ordered-to-evacuate-amid-wildfi

I have a friend there. She's been trying to talk her husband into moving back to Illinois but he says that'll only happen if their house burns down. She's ready to go. I just hope they (and the many others) stay safe.

And I've been reading about this quite a bit.

Because I am afraid of tripping in the dark, especially if I am camping without electricity. (I don't do it very often, but I try to be prepared anyway.)

I have several stick on LED lights that sense movement. You just stick them on a wall, and they turn on when you walk past. Good for safety. The ones I bought are not available anymore, but there are several on this page: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=battery+moti ... nb_sb_noss

A couple of those mini-reading lights you clip onto books would be nice. I also have a bag full of the $1 flashlights that Walmart sells. There are some that clip on a belt and others that are on a headband. I give them to grandkids so they won't abscond with my good flashlights!!

And I just ordered a set of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S5 ... UTF8&psc=1

no words but oh my!!!
sheila

I heard loud bangs outside, but though it was neighbors. Later realized it might be dead branches off my drought damaged redwood. Tree is covered in green, but still some limbs that died during drought which are too high for anyone to climb a fragile redwood to cut. I waited for a brief lull, ran out and moved my PT down next to the van , out of the way of tree branches, which were landing on the wheel chair ramp which is aluminum so made quite a noise as they hit. I got back in safely and waited out the wind inside where it's safe. Long day listing to fire reports. Had some leftover ribs for supper and had a roast in slow cooker which will feed us until time to make our chili for halloween!
Velda

Being prepared for a wild fire is not for the faint of heart or spirit for sure.

I smiled about having something to read. I have the opposite issue. I had a Psychology professor in college that told me that his 80 something year old, favorite professor told him to always have a stack of books to read in the corner of his desk. He might never get to all of them but he would always be thinking he could read them all if he lived forever..... I use our public library when ever I am home and for many years they have maintained the carts of books that they pull from the shelves, 25 cents each or a bag full for a dollar. The librarian usually laugh when they see me and tell me that I need to stop and look at the carts..... Over the years I have accumulated a large crateful of what I refer to as my "possibles", just in case books. I always grab a couple before I head off on a long RV trip or wander through the titles when I finish up a library or "bought book" just haven't made it back to the library yet. I will never read through all these titles but I won't be caught in a snow storm here at the house without a warm dog, a warm blanket and a good book. LOL

The fires up north are devastating! Now there is a new large fire in Los Angeles! The Santa Ann winds have returned with a vengeance. I guess on Wednesday the winds throughout CA will be at an unprecedented fury! Not good news at all! Everyone needs to be ready to run in the red zone (high wind warning) areas.

I have several of the stick on lights. There is one that looks like a regular light switch that is really bright. I use them at home and in my trailer. You just never know when you might need that light. There are so many options out there now for those kinds of lights and they don't cost too much.

I always have a stack of books next to my bed (and some on my bed next to me).

Hoping everyone stays alert and safe!

I thought this a good article. And my thanks to all the firefighters who battle these and all fires.
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/1023 ... ks-kincade