I have been hearing on a couple of media outlets about the destruction of the Valley and Butte wildfires in California. As I write this, I understand from the CAL FIRE active fire list webpage that the Valley Fire has burned 61,000 acres and is at 5 percent containment. The links from the CAL FIRE active fire list for more information on each fire were not working as I write this, perhaps their website is overloaded with requests.
The Butte Fire has burned 71,063 acres and is at 30 percent containment. Hundreds of residences have been destroyed and firefighters have been injured.
At this point the only thing that I can say beyond what I have written is that words escape me. I feel that anything beyond offering thoughts and prayers to all fighting and affected by these fires is wholly inadequate.
Should you want more information on these fires, Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has been doing his usual excellant job reporting on the fires: Valley Fire, four firefighters burned on the Valley Fire, and the Butte Fire.
Stay safe everyone!
I have blogged about aerial wildland firefighting since 2009. I am not a firefighter and am not a pilot, just an interested bystander who wants to learn more and share what I learn here. Join me here as I blog on the aircraft and the pilots who fight wildland fires from the air in support of crews on the ground. I also blog on concerns affecting fire crews on the ground as well as other aviation and meteorology issues. Learn what it takes to do jobs that are staffed by the best of the best.
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