Leroy N. Soetoro
2017-12-07 17:53:42 UTC
https://patch.com/california/sanclemente/s/gaz8q/santa-ana-wind-weve-
never-used-purple-before
LOS ANGELES, CA Several wildfires in southern California have already
forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and destroyed nearly
200 homes and buildings, but that figure is almost certain to grow as the
state braces for hurricane-force gusts. The region has experienced yellow
flag, orange flag, and red flag. But never purple flag. That is, until
now.
Santa Ana Winds returned Wednesday night with a vengeance after a day-long
lull that allowed firefighters to make progress against the blazes. Nearly
200,000 people were forced to evacuate in Los Angeles and Ventura
counties. Southern California hasn't seen Santa Ana winds this fierce in a
decade.
According to Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas, the
agency's "brush burning index," which rates the fire danger was at 296
"the highest number I've ever seen in my career." The normal threshold is
165.
The color-coded system showing the expected strength of the winds has
reached uncharted territory, pushing past red which means "high" into
the color that means "extreme."
The forecast for Thursday is purple, said Ken Pimlott, director at the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
"We've never used purple before," he said.
And the hard-fought progress of firefighters could be erased on Thursday.
"We're talking winds that can surface that can be 80 miles an hour,"
Pimlott said. "These will be winds that there will no ability to fight
fires."
Such winds can instantly turn a tiny fire into a large one, or carry
embers that spark new fires miles away.
Millions of cellphones buzzed loudly Tuesday night from San Diego to Santa
Barbara with a sound that usually means an Amber Alert, but this time
meant a rare weather warning for strong winds making extreme fire
dangerous.
Officials hope the electronic push will keep the whole region alert and
keep the death toll from the week's fires at zero.
The wilder winds could easily make new fires explode too, as one did
Wednesday in Los Angeles' exclusive Bel-Air section, where a fire consumed
multimillion-dollar houses that give the rich and famous sweeping views of
Los Angeles.
City News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A
Los Angeles County firefighter prepares to battle a hot spot on the "Creek
Fire" in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
--
Donald J. Trump, 304 electoral votes to 227, defeated compulsive liar in
denial Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 19th, 2016. The clown car
parade of the democrat party has run out of gas.
Congratulations President Trump. Thank you for ending the disaster of the
Obama presidency.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp.
ObamaCare is a total 100% failure and no lie that can be put forth by its
supporters can dispute that.
Obama jobs, the result of ObamaCare. 12-15 working hours a week at minimum
wage, no benefits and the primary revenue stream for ObamaCare. It can't
be funded with money people don't have, yet liberals lie about how great
it is.
Obama increased total debt from $10 trillion to $20 trillion in the eight
years he was in office, and sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood queer
liberal democrat donors.
never-used-purple-before
LOS ANGELES, CA Several wildfires in southern California have already
forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and destroyed nearly
200 homes and buildings, but that figure is almost certain to grow as the
state braces for hurricane-force gusts. The region has experienced yellow
flag, orange flag, and red flag. But never purple flag. That is, until
now.
Santa Ana Winds returned Wednesday night with a vengeance after a day-long
lull that allowed firefighters to make progress against the blazes. Nearly
200,000 people were forced to evacuate in Los Angeles and Ventura
counties. Southern California hasn't seen Santa Ana winds this fierce in a
decade.
According to Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas, the
agency's "brush burning index," which rates the fire danger was at 296
"the highest number I've ever seen in my career." The normal threshold is
165.
The color-coded system showing the expected strength of the winds has
reached uncharted territory, pushing past red which means "high" into
the color that means "extreme."
The forecast for Thursday is purple, said Ken Pimlott, director at the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
"We've never used purple before," he said.
And the hard-fought progress of firefighters could be erased on Thursday.
"We're talking winds that can surface that can be 80 miles an hour,"
Pimlott said. "These will be winds that there will no ability to fight
fires."
Such winds can instantly turn a tiny fire into a large one, or carry
embers that spark new fires miles away.
Millions of cellphones buzzed loudly Tuesday night from San Diego to Santa
Barbara with a sound that usually means an Amber Alert, but this time
meant a rare weather warning for strong winds making extreme fire
dangerous.
Officials hope the electronic push will keep the whole region alert and
keep the death toll from the week's fires at zero.
The wilder winds could easily make new fires explode too, as one did
Wednesday in Los Angeles' exclusive Bel-Air section, where a fire consumed
multimillion-dollar houses that give the rich and famous sweeping views of
Los Angeles.
City News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A
Los Angeles County firefighter prepares to battle a hot spot on the "Creek
Fire" in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
--
Donald J. Trump, 304 electoral votes to 227, defeated compulsive liar in
denial Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 19th, 2016. The clown car
parade of the democrat party has run out of gas.
Congratulations President Trump. Thank you for ending the disaster of the
Obama presidency.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp.
ObamaCare is a total 100% failure and no lie that can be put forth by its
supporters can dispute that.
Obama jobs, the result of ObamaCare. 12-15 working hours a week at minimum
wage, no benefits and the primary revenue stream for ObamaCare. It can't
be funded with money people don't have, yet liberals lie about how great
it is.
Obama increased total debt from $10 trillion to $20 trillion in the eight
years he was in office, and sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood queer
liberal democrat donors.