There have been a lot of fires breaking out in southern California recently. About 500,000 people had to evacuate there homes. I talked to my uncle the other day who live is Sacramento, and he said they had to pack up and vacate because the fires were getting to close. It is just getting to hot and to dry these days.

I live in Sacramento but nothing wrong in my area, I live in Granite Bay bunch of rich folk so I dunno.

rich people obviously don't have to evactuate because their homes are fire proof.
I live in L.A., it seems like everything around us is burning but we are untouched with awesome weather

The smoke doesn't bother you Rankor and Ares? I'd imagine it would be quite thick...

I hate fireproof rich people houses... lol. That fire is still going on though?! That's intense.

An estimated 950,000 people have sought refuge from the fires in shelters, hotels and at friends' homes. Among the evacuees are more than 4,000 military personnel from area bases. More than 20 fires have scorched 400,000-plus acres from the Mexican border to northern Los Angeles County and inland into the San Bernardino Mountains since the weekend. Almost 1,500 homes have been destroyed.

Firefighters received help from Mexico, the state and federal governments and even inmates from California's prisons. About 7,000 firefighters were battling the blazes, including 2,300 inmates from California's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

That's intense. My uncle has lived there ever since I was born and said nothing of the sort has happened before that he can recall. Now they have to move out and evacuate and if there home is destroyed then what? I doubt the government will replace it.

They say it's water that comes out of the planes, but isn't it red? Sometimes they drop sand or red clay don't they?

Sacramento? Isn't that the northern 1/3 of the state? And not to be a jerk, but if your uncle's house burns down I am sorry, but isn't that what insurance is for and not the government? I know I have insurance on my house for all kinds of stuff and certainly don't expect the government to come to my rescue if something happens.

I hope he is safe and all his property is unscathed. The weather should get a bit better soon..

@ Phallock, i don't think its possible to get your house insured against wildfires down in the endangered california areas.
@zerokool, yeah, the planes often drop red water which is usually fire retardant, its used to stop the flames from advancing rather than put them out.
@itsjustme if i wouldnt have heard of the fires on the news, i wouldn't have known they existed. I live in the santa monica hills, and we've been completely fire and smoke free the entire time.

as he said its fire retardant you can see pics of it on fire retardant - Google Image Search

My husbands second job is with Brainard Helicopters,and he is Forestry Certified to fight fires. California will not hire out of state fire fighting services. When viewed at night,you can see multiple vortecies of flame tornadoes,these conditions often also create their own micro weather conditions.

Rankor - You can get insurance to cover against wildfires but just like wind insuance in FL its rather expensive so a lot go without.

Phallock - At least someone on this forum has the will to fend for themselves. These days it seems more and more people are just looking for a handout. Katrina should have been the wake up call to EVERYONE that the goverment can not be trusted to put your life back together in the event of a major cataclysym.

Happily my aunt and uncle have moved from CA and now live in FL so at least I don't have to worry about family being in danger now when I hear about these massive forest fires.

Also, there should be a poll on here for people to vote on what they think cause the fires: The enviromentalists keeping fire fighters from doing preventive forest maitanence OR global warming due to Al Gore flying around in private jets.

Well I live in California. Use to live in Oakland now Stockton. Maybe we are just kids, but nobody is making it a big deal here. My heart goes out to all the people though.

How many people other than Al Gore use private jets? And how are private jets the source for taking out ozone? What about industries that release massive amounts of production smog? Paper mills for example, oil refineries, ect.

@ Obs ,I live in Florida,and as Phallock stated,this is what insurance is for.After wind and rain damage from huricanes,it is still mainly our responsibility to repair.
I think Al Gore has less to do with the fires than weather ,wind,and arsonists.
Fire Fighters are reporting at least 4 fires were deliberately set,according to CNN.


I will make your poll.
@ Zero Dude I could not find those 2 threads to sticky,try making 2 new ones and I will tag those ok?(yes I know...off topic)

Al Gore...Global Warming...Hypocrit...there's humor there. Not only there but also in how quickly some cali officals moved to politicize the wildfires.

Global Warming: The Other Side

Pam - Where is the enviromentalists failing to allow forestry experts to do preventive maintanence to keep the likelyhood of wildfires down? If I have to go googleing for the articles about it I can.

True,I will amend it,and I personally feel it is a valid point. The officials politicizing it,is a nasty,fact of life.Especially this close to elections. They will ALWAYS find a way to use any catastrophy to some political advantage.... >.<