Tornado Alley (PROG)

[DesertDrifter]

There is a little device that we used to carry that was kind of like a circular slide rule that has several inputs and then the outputs in terms of chains of spread per hour (a chain is 66 feet) and how much fire line and how many people it would take to contain it, given the fuel types, slope, wind, etc.

The fire wheel doesn't go as high as what happened in the Camp Fire. Most of the spread was not a flaming front, but embers spotting ahead with 40 mph winds in a veritable blowtorch.

The only good news is that the first responders recognized what was about to occur and got the evacuation in motion almost right when the fire started. Had they waited an hour to see if they could hook the fire which is typical for initial attack forces, the loss of life would have been in the 10's of thousands, and I am not exaggerating.

I seldom give Cal Fire credit for much of anything except expert polishing of their brass fire equipment, but they are doing a great job. In the past, the Forest Service managed most large fires, but this was mostly a state management team. They brought in the forces they needed, which they often fail to do due to rivalries, etc. as they are under major pressure normally to minimize costs. They are going all-out this time.