Too f'n hot

[lukethedrifter]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/fire-ari ... -120-homes

YARNELL, Ariz. (AP) — Gusty, hot winds blew an Arizona blaze out of control Sunday in a forest northwest of Phoenix, overtaking and killing 19 members of an elite fire crew in the deadliest wildfire involving firefighters in the U.S. for at least 30 years.

The "hotshot" firefighters were forced to deploy their fire shelters — tent-like structures meant to shield firefighters from flames and heat — when they were caught near the central Arizona town of Yarnell, state forestry spokesman Art Morrison told The Associated Press.

[expletive].

[planet planet]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/fire-ari ... -120-homes

YARNELL, Ariz. (AP) — Gusty, hot winds blew an Arizona blaze out of control Sunday in a forest northwest of Phoenix, overtaking and killing 19 members of an elite fire crew in the deadliest wildfire involving firefighters in the U.S. for at least 30 years.

The "hotshot" firefighters were forced to deploy their fire shelters — tent-like structures meant to shield firefighters from flames and heat — when they were caught near the central Arizona town of Yarnell, state forestry spokesman Art Morrison told The Associated Press.

[expletive].

So tragic. Luke, can you explain what the conditions must have been like/what happened to cause these mass casualties?

[Jocephus]

terrible to hear that.


over here we are actually having a decent summer so far and this week *should* be great (mid/high 80s max). we've definitely had some 100's but not too many...several mid to upper 90s which aren't fun but are better than 100's. fully expect it to get worse in july/august but it seems the last few years even june was a scorcher.

what irritates me most, and it's a first world problem, but i live in a duplex on the top floor and the a/c unit is in the attic and cannot keep up with how hot it gets when its like 95 and up and thus it ends up running pretty much from 3:30 to 10 without stopping. blows out cold air but just doesn't stop. ah well.

stay cool ( i hate summer)

[KyCardinalFan]

Stifling. The best thing about summer is spending time outside. If it's like what you guys are describing, that can't happen.

The best thing about summer is when it's over and it becomes fall, when pennant races, MLB playoffs, and college football happens.

++

Although I would add NFL.

[thrill]

That area is a bad one for fires. It's high enough elevation that scrub trees and brush grow thick, but not high enough that it gets enough moisture. It's just pure tinder this time of year. Add on near record temperatures and it was a hellish weekend for those hotshots before the casualties. Yesterday was supposed to be 110+ again in Phoenix, but the haze from the fires made it top out at around 106.

We've had campfire bans for a month now up north and dust storm warnings are coming through daily. Monsoon season can't get here soon enough.

[jim]

It was 75-80 with rain showers and cloud cover that provided excellent trout fishing in the 60 degree water in Southwest Wisconsin all weekend.

You guys sure do [expletive] alot about the weather. It's wonderful.

[JackofDiamonds]

It was 75-80 with rain showers and cloud cover that provided excellent trout fishing in the 60 degree water in Southwest Wisconsin all weekend.

You guys sure do [expletive] alot about the weather. It's wonderful.

I think the ultimate jim post would have to be about different pooping options depending on the weather based on where you are fishing and the type of beer (six packs only!) you've had. Oh, and the Cardinals.

[jim]

Are you asking me if I ever crap outside when I fish? The answer is yes, it happens, and I always have an ample supply of toilet paper wrapped in a protective plastic bag in my vest because I hate using leaves.

[KyCardinalFan]

You guys sure do [expletive] alot about the weather. It's wonderful.

Says the guy who starts an annual thread about the weather running roughly from October to April.

[lukethedrifter]

So tragic. Luke, can you explain what the conditions must have been like/what happened to cause these mass casualties?

Don't know too many details. It's really dangerous work and those reflective blankets are not much help. Really only if the fire blows right over you.
It's very different work from what I do.
Basically, they are trying to remove the fuel from the fire by cutting down trees, removing brush, etc in a line to contain the fire. Always do so leaving an escape route. Someone on a high point a ways away keeping an eye out for changing conditions. I'll need to read up to see if what happened is known but something like a sudden change of wind direction or gusts blowing up the fire. Minimal time to dig a ditch and deploy the fire blanket. and if the fire hangs over you for any time at all, you're [expletive]. They were [expletive].
Man, I can't imagine how the surviving lookout feels right now.