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| Yosemite is beginning spring pile burning today Posted: 17 Mar 2009 11:42 AM PDT Wawona Road (Hwy 41) and Foresta Pile Burning March 17, 2009 Current status: Yosemite fire managers will be conducting roadside burn projects near the communities of Wawona and Foresta beginning today. The Wawona area project continues the burning that began last fall, with approximately 3 miles of piles left to burn. It is near Alder Creek, approximately 4 miles north of Wawona. Fire Managers estimate this project could take one to two weeks to complete. The Wawona Road portion was first piled in 2004, and this project will finish the back-log of piles in the area. The Foresta area pile burning is part of the fuel thinning project aimed at increasing the defensible space around the community. It is estimated this project will be completed by the end of the week. "Firestorm", a contracted hand crew, will be assisting Yosemite firefighters in Foresta. Fire Managers are taking advantage of winter precipitation and good atmospheric air dispersion to conduct the burn projects. Snow is still present in some area of the piles. These piles consist of down and dead forest material (limbs, brush, etc...). Pile burning is a cost effective method of removing burnable biomass from the forest floor. One hundred to 200 piles are burned on average each day. Each 100 piles roughly equal 1 acre in area. The primary objective for both of these projects is defensible space. Pile burning benefits: The benefits of pile burning include opening scenic vistas along road corridors. It affords motorists greater safety by eliminating obstructive vegetation along highway curves. Burning piles are low intensity fires that open the tree canopy, allowing the sun to penetrate to the forest floor. Pile burning also provides aesthetically pleasing results of being able to "see through the forest". When weather conditions are favorable, lower temperatures and higher humidity's, combined with good air dispersal, pile burning is a relative quick way to restore fire dependent forest systems and reduce effects of catastrophic wildfire to Wildland Urban Interface areas. Both of these projects will create firebreaks that can be utilized for future prescribed and suppression fires. Fire Managers plan these kinds of fire treatments, in the off season with minimal staff and while the ground is relatively wet from the winter snows. Although piles are extremely labor intensive, this is the most effective means to remove tons of bio-mass. As in any fire situation, safety is the first objective. If the surrounding litter and duff is not completely dry, pile fire will creep and broadcast into snags, trees and brush creating larger fires that must be suppressed. For additional information please contact:
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| Happy St. Paddy's day - Erin Go Bragh Posted: 17 Mar 2009 11:01 AM PDT Ireland Forever: The meaning of Erin Go Bragh
Erin Go Bragh 0r Erin Go Bragh is an Irish Gaelic expression The meaning of Erin Go Bragh derives from a Gaelic saying to pledge allegiance to Ireland. It's meaning is Ireland Forever. However, when translated, Erin Go Bragh can take other similar meanings:
'Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!' May the luck of the Irish be there with you.  |
| San Diego: SDGE power line wildfires - Public hearings Posted: 17 Mar 2009 09:31 AM PDT SAN DIEGO -- The California Public Utilities Commission was scheduled to hold two public hearings in San Diego Tuesday to discuss how to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires in Santa Ana winds. On Friday, the San Diego Gas & Electric Co. sent the commission a 40-page report acknowledging that SDG&E electric systems have started 167 fires since Aug. 9. 2003, according to The North County Times. Most of the 167 fires were small, but the larger ones included the Witch Creek, Guejito and Rice fires in October 2007. Combined, the three fires burned more than 200,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,300 North County homes and killed two people. The commission is considering ordering all of the state's major investor-owned utilities to take measures to reduce the chance that power lines will slap each other in strong winds and create sparks. Such measures could include restricting the number of wires strung from poles and establishing a minimum distance between parallel wires, the Times reported. Last fall, SDG&E suggested it shut off power in the backcountry during high winds. Residents opposed the idea because they could be without power for prolonged periods.The commission is scheduled to take up the idea next month during meetings in Alpine and Valley Center. Tuesday's public hearings, which will focus on a more general discussion, are scheduled to begin at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Al Bahr Shrine Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road. Source: 10news.com - Link  |
| Controlled burn: San Diego County - Pine valley - 95 acres Posted: 17 Mar 2009 01:56 PM PDT About 95 acres are scheduled to burn in Pine Valley from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday March 17, 2009 Smoke: This burn will generate significant smoke over East San Diego County, according to Cal Fire. "This project will reduce the fuel loading in the area and provide another means of defensible space for the community," according to Cal Fire Capt. Nick Schuler.  |
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