The Fire Thread

Winter Solstice ride on Black Star should be doable.

 

Hey, some good news! Evacuation orders lifted for communities affected by the El Dorado Fire!
Still under warning, but residents can go back home!!!

https://twitter.com/SanBernardinoNF/status/1309247325898813440

 

WoooHooo!

 

According to the news, the Bobcat Fire is now 114K acres and 61% contained.

I was planning on a Cherry/Verdugo local ride this morning but it's too smoky here.

 

We have a dense fogbank here this morning and I assume that it's the same elsewhere, the closer you get to the ocean. Visibility in my area is less than 1/8 mile.

I've been trying to get out in the mornings to ride but my go-to AQI app has shown unhealthful air for days in a row now every morning with a trend of slightly improving air quality as the day progresses.

So, this morning, I figured that the fog was a welcome feature. How can toxic particulates (from smoke) remain suspended with heavy water molecules present (fog)? I pulled up PurpleAir to check the AQI and was shocked to see that the reported level in my area was 100+! WHAT?!!

I decided to go AQI app shopping. I checked three others to compare results. Two of the three gave current readings of 70+ppm. The other matched PurpleAir's reading of low 100s. So I looked a little deeper into the apps with the low readings and it turns out that they give a general reading over a broad area AND the readings are not regularly updated. PurpleAir and the other app with similar readings to PurpleAir's, update every minute of less AND there can be many reporting stations in a given area, such as mine.

So, it's PurpleAir who I will continue to rely on. I don't care for the readings it's giving me lately but at least I faith in them. Credit goes to @Faust29 for turning me on to this app.

 

Have you tried AQMD?

 

Yes, too generalized. Readings covers a broad area and are not site specific accurate.

 

Not from I've seen. Different regional maps and a good breakdown on PM 2.5, PM 10, ozone, CO, NO2.

 

If you haven't seen the map on PurpleAir, I urge you to check it out. Precision at it's finest.

 

So I've heard you guys mention Purple Air but have never been on the site. Just out of curiosity, what number is your limit? Considering most of us live in SoCal, it's not like air quality is an important factor on where we choose to live. I do see that Prescott has averages in the 20's and low 30's

 

"101-150: Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects if they are exposed for 24 hours. The general public is not likely to be affected." Why is Snakes trippin' about 100?

 

If I can work in it then I can ride in it.

 

Spoken like a true Chinese National..

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80ish.

Above that, I can see the smoke/particles against the Verdugos. So it's also a visual gauge thing for me.

 

Because I am in the "sensitive" group. It should be obvious by all of the girly-man whining I do around here.

In truth, I have sensitive lungs/bronchial tubes. Borderline asthmatic. I have an inhaler but I've never needed it.

 

Oh okay. I ask because I see that my area of Oceanside has a 7 day average of 76 yet I don't see or feel anything out the ordinary compared to the last 50+ years I've lived in SoCal.

 

AQMD seems pretty broad and runs high. For instance I'm in area 35, which stretches out like a big triangle. Right now it says 169 (WTF!) one hour average:
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=dd4a15deed8647edacb14f140ca83d05




Purple air shows a 10 minute average, and in that same area goes from 110 in Colton to 60 in Yucaipa. I'm right between those two in Redlands with 90-95 depending on which station.
https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/m/i/mAQI/a10/cC0#11.21/34.0376/-117.1596



The AQMD one seems really high, I wouldn't want to be outside in that. The Purple Air one seems about right if I was going to guesstimate. I just came in from outside, and blue skies, so???

 

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Oh Sh!t dude, seems serious! I have a SnakeBite kit but have never needed it. Well "almost" needed it for @hill^billy that one time.
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I can't take credit for the PurpleAir recommendation. I was told by a good source that a certain space agency uses it.

 

I’ve heard stories about somebody getting a chopper ride outah there...

 

Up close and personal like in El Dorado:

 

That is sad.

 

More crappy air quality here again this morning, slightly worse than it's been. The NE winds are blowing it right to me. I've put my bikes away for the time being.

 

I keep telling myself this is the natural way for the Southwest renew itself, but all those folks and pines that were lost aren't coming back in my lifetime.

 

All I can smell around here is smoke.

 

climate change.

the small creek crossings in carbon canyon telegraph are no longer there.. maybe a few days in winter after rains... 10 plus years ago.. they were there about 4 months out of the year...

the creek above the dam at Santiago oaks .. after chutes and closer to Irvine park are again no longer there..
I remember crossing the creek thigh deep once with bikes over the head..
when was the last time you even saw water at either crossing?

all local...

Been to Alaska recently? driving into the interior from Sitka.. so many beautiful waterfalls along the highway.. no sign. no name .. no nothing... and did not see any snow in July. Local old guy in shop.. yeah those waterfalls along the highway are all new... still unnamed..

But the worst example off all? My desert tortoise, at least 30 years old goes into hibernation for 6 months from Nov to April... 2 years ago.. it was 100 degrees for a week in January.. he/she (Ms B B) comes out of her cave/box and starts eating grass/dandelions.. umm. this aint good.. when it got cold again.. she/he went back in.. come April .. she just didn't seem right... in June .. took a 3 day nap..
Daughter 2, "daddy.. Ms B B is not moving."
Me. "Oh she's fine.. she's a turtle."
4th day.. "Daddy, Ms B B is still not moving."
yeah, we buried her after Daughter made a small funeral headstone.
(Ms BB has been living at our yard for at least 30 years.. going through two ownership changes since 1980's)

 

Would you believe there are still doorknobs that still don't believe?

 

Looks like it's all cleared out for 5000 new homes stacked on top of one another.

 

That was prevalent in Greece a few years ago. The simplest site preparation has always been the original method, circa Homo Erectus.

If it makes you feel any better, the plan for 5,000 dwelling units is likely to include a transit hub, schools, mixed-use, active parkland, and 400’ tall towers so that it can all be done on less than 50 acres. No parking though...the point is to coerce people out of passenger vehicles.