sand fire? what is it and where are you?

V.

It's in the city of Santa Clarita, but the fire is basically across the valley from where I am. It would need to cross the 14 freeway to get close to my place.

Has the air show started yet?

Not visible from here unless I break out the binoculars. But last night I could see the flames on the mountain.

Well, what I mean was all the weird firefighting aircraft and swarms of helicopters flying over your house on their way to the fire. But I expect if it climbs the back sides of those hills, you will see the flames at night.

They must be approaching the fire from a different angle, because we've had none of the water-dropping planes or helicopters flying over our place.

Wow, is your home in danger?

The air has to be thick with smoke.

The smoke depends on which way the wind blows. Right now there's a slight smokey smell and some ash fall, but the main smoke cloud is blowing away from us. If the wind shifts, it could get very unpleasant.

Hoping you and yours, as well as the house, all stay safe.

Wait....sand can burn???

if there is enough grass in it.

And the non-Californians wonder how we deal with the earthquakes! I always tell people the earthquakes are nothing - it's the fact that the state catches fire like clockwork every summer. Sorry it popped up so close to you this time... we had a close call here too the other day. The hill near our house caught fire on the side toward I-80. Hoping the wind keeps blowing the other way!

I miss the earthquakes. At this point buildings have to be up to code so you just ride them out. The fires, not so much. California spends so much time stopping a naturally occurring and vegetatively necessary event that when it all goes it's bigger than ever. Flames that stretch across 8 to 10 lane freeways. The places where the fires are kept to a minimum for decades on end see no seedlings at all or none living past their first few years because the old growth hasn't burned out to make space for them. Add in invasives and man-made watering and growth and you've got nightmares building up til someone smokes a cigarette nearby or throws a single beer bottle on the side of the road.

Yyyyyup. I live in one of the driest, grassiest parts of NorCal, so here it's not a matter of preventing fires - it is literally, physically impossible and everyone knows it. We just do our best to prevent deliberate firesetting and egregious carelessness; the place is still more or less constantly on fire for at least six months out of the year. There are always patches of blackened land and recovering land - they just move around as the years go by...

Used to live in Valencia... before it became Santa Clarita. But I do know where that area is, Hope you stay safe and it doesn't come your way.

Be safe dear, I had friends in that area, know it well.
I moved to Texas 7 years ago.
They set fire to shit here too.

Bunners

Good luck, friend! I've been watching the news on that fire and the Soberanes fire up by Carmel. I live right in between in Paso Robles and I can see smoke from both directions, though more from up north since the prevailing wind is from that direction.
The Sand fire seems well on it's way to being a record breaker too. What a disaster!

The Sand fire is right in my old stomping grounds too. I used to grow pot up in Placerita Canyon back in the 60s, so I know that area well. I lived in Van Nuys then.

Yep. California is flammable.

Meh... nothing exciting ever happens where I live.

Count your blessings.

Wishing you all safe & well.

Only thing I miss about the 'fires in Cali was seeing the aircraft.

Stay safe.

What IS a sand fire??

One that started on SAND Canyon Road. They tend to name fires here on their place of origin.

So like Santa Ana?

Thank God the wind was blowing away from you! Your fortunately avoided the horrific ashfall the covered half the San FURnando valley on Saturday. Stay safe Roz!