Wildfire Threatens Water and Power To San Francisco

Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "Retuers reports that firefighters are battling to gain control of a fast-moving wildfire raging on the edge of Yosemite National Park that is threatening power and water supplies to San Francisco, about 200 miles to the west. 'We are making progress but unfortunately the steep terrain definitely has posed a major challenge,' says Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 'Today we're continuing to see warm weather that could allow this fire to continue to grow very rapidly as it has over the last several days.' California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency, warning that the fire had damaged the electrical infrastructure serving the city, and forced the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to shut down power lines. The blaze in the western Sierra Nevada Mountains is now the fastest-moving of 50 large wildfires raging across the drought-parched U.S. West that have strained resources and prompted fire managers to open talks with Pentagon commanders and Canadian officials about possible reinforcements. Firefighters have been hampered by a lack of moisture from the sky and on the ground. 'The wind today is going to be better for firefighting, but we are still dealing with bone dry grass and brush,' says Tina Rose, spokeswoman for the multi-agency incident command. 'This fire is very dynamic.'"

Comments

Re:Not to worry,

[girlintraining]

Rain is in the forcast for the area, it should put out the fire just before the mud-slides start.

One is forced to wonder what compels people to live on a slab of land that is destined to roll into the ocean, that the Mexicans quickly gave up any claim to because they felt it was worthless, regularly tries to kill people who live there with fire, mud, water, earthquakes, and tsunamis... I mean, when the land itself is saying "Go away" so loudly, why aren't you listening? o_O

But what would I know; I live in one of the "flyover" states that never makes the news... all we have here is low unemployment rates, a solid socioeconomic base, good education, and a decided lack of regular natural catastrophes. The only catastrophe in recent memory out here was when Ohio was declared to be crucial to the Presidential campaign and the poor bastards had to hide in bunkers away from their TVs and phones for a month. We sent generators and bottled water. And snuggies. That's totally a thing up here... but beyond that, nothing of interest happens.

Maybe they like the excitement of nearly dying every year... Californians always did strike me as a bit... weird.