The fire watch cameras are a fantastic resource for monitoring burning conditions. Watching many of the fires over this past weekend we are beginning to transition from mostly white smoke with some brown to brown and dark smoke. Acreages are rising on many fires, so things are drying out. Drainages and medium fuels are not stoping or slowing fires. If anyone has live fuel moistures it would be helpful to post them.
The point is we are transitioning into much higher burning conditions so stay safe out there
Poison Oak around the Motherlode is turning red…
California Buckeye is dropping its leaves.
These are both indicators that the live fuels have tipped over and are no longer heat sinks.
The dead fuels have been ready to go since March.
Any dead component on live fuels, which there is a lot of left over from the drought- will carry fire and act to diminish any moisture left in the live portion of the plant.
We have had a lot of wind this year, but thankfully the overnight temps have been on the cooler side, allowing for some recovery.
It has been a long time since we had a lightning outbreak in the foothills and the Bay Area… 2008 and 2003 respectively…
An Article today from the Bay Area News Group interviewing the San Jose State Weather folks stated live chamise was at 72% July 1 above Los Gatos (west side of SCU). That is really low for for July 1. At 72% the live fuels are added fuel during the day, but by the end of the month critical levels (low 60ies to high 50ies) will be reached and the chaparral will more closely burn like dead fuels rather than live fuels.
North of Fresno CA drought ranges from moderate to severe, North of I-80 is the most drought stricken. With a warm dry and at times windy airmass that was around most of June and July so far fuels have dried faster than normal. This weather pattern has also resulted in less fog intrusion in the coastal drainages.
With the dryer fuel beds the three big fire behavior measurements, ROS, FLI and Heat per Unite Area will be significantly higher than only weeks ago. When planning safety mitigations, Objectives, Tactics and strategies be certain you are mindful of the dry conditions.
