Author Topic: Wildfire News 2022 (Read 129821 times)

EQC · « **Reply #100 on:** Jun 16, 22, 12:53:03 PM »

Does anybody by chance have additional info, or even just background knowledge on our local electrical system, that might help predict how today's power outage will unfold?

The original email I got indicated 8am-8pm, to replace/repair fire-related damege.

This morning, I heard some areas of town lost power around 7:40AM. My wife had heard the outages might be staged, one area of town at a time. We still had power until about 9:00AM, and I don't think power came back on for the 7:40AM folks, so I suspect that "staging" idea was incorrect.

Emails I'm getting today from SCE say: "Outage Reason: analyzing problem" and the estimated end-time has shifted from 10:00PM earlier today, to now 11:00PM.

lwt42 · « **Reply #101 on:** Jun 16, 22, 01:36:44 PM »

lwt42 · « **Reply #102 on:** Jun 16, 22, 01:40:36 PM »

Quote from: EQC on Jun 16, 22, 12:53:03 PM

The original email I got indicated 8am-8pm, to replace/repair fire-related damege.

This morning, I heard some areas of town lost power around 7:40AM. My wife had heard the outages might be staged, one area of town at a time. We still had power until about 9:00AM, and I don't think power came back on for the 7:40AM folks, so I suspect that "staging" idea was incorrect.

Power went off about 8:30 here. I expect they turned everything off in stages to prevent a surge.

Just got a text that says we're off until 11:00pm.

It seems like the damaged equipment would be in the fire area, not anywhere in town.

lwt42 · « **Reply #103 on:** Jun 16, 22, 01:52:14 PM »

In the past, if there has been an outage of more than 8 hours, the cell towers all went down.

I don't know if there are enough cellular folks with the right stuff to prevent that, but we'll find out around 4:00pm.

tcaarabians · « **Reply #104 on:** Jun 16, 22, 02:18:39 PM »

EQC - I use this SCE outage map. They do keep it updated. Looks like a target of 11pm now. Click on the icons for the info:
https://www.sce.com/outage-center/check-outage-status

tcaarabians · « **Reply #105 on:** Jun 16, 22, 03:56:00 PM »

Latest inciweb update. Of note in the fuels section, is mention of illegal dumping with possible hazardous material.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8151/

Joe Schmoe · « **Reply #106 on:** Jun 16, 22, 05:40:54 PM »

Quote from: jek134 on Jun 16, 22, 09:30:33 AM

Do we let nature take its course? Too soon?

This is what angers me about these fires, and the decisions calfire makes. Those trees aren't coming back. The climate has changed - trees like those pine trees and the joshua trees that 50+ years ago started growing at the edges of where they used to be able to exist wont grow back. So, once it was mostly clear that the town wasn't in danger it was angering to see the water dropping helicopters leave at the exact minute of sunset, while there was still light. Same thing with the bobcat fire where they threw their hands up and said they couldn't fly because of the inversion layer...which is ALWAYS present, and the fire destroyed miles of pristine forest.

Much of our local forest is a relic of the past, a awesome museum of artifacts, and neither the forest service nor calfire are funded or are capable of tending to it.

tt2468 · « **Reply #107 on:** Jun 16, 22, 05:42:34 PM »

Quote from: EQC on Jun 16, 22, 12:53:03 PM

Does anybody by chance have additional info, or even just background knowledge on our local electrical system, that might help predict how today's power outage will unfold?

The original email I got indicated 8am-8pm, to replace/repair fire-related damege.

This morning, I heard some areas of town lost power around 7:40AM. My wife had heard the outages might be staged, one area of town at a time. We still had power until about 9:00AM, and I don't think power came back on for the 7:40AM folks, so I suspect that "staging" idea was incorrect.

Emails I'm getting today from SCE say: "Outage Reason: analyzing problem" and the estimated end-time has shifted from 10:00PM earlier today, to now 11:00PM.

I went and drove by the 2 earlier today out of curiosity for what the utility companies were doing. SCE has a massive pole replacement operation going on over there. They were all along every pole working on them, including an impressively large crane lifting new poles in. Needless to say, they are definitely getting some work done there. Their original outage announcement mentioned helicopters too, presumably for the poles that are up on the hills.

Tom · « **Reply #108 on:** Jun 16, 22, 07:32:06 PM »

Lone pine canyon is open, has been for 2 days. According to posts no structures were lost. Hwy 2 was closed all day for repair work on power lines. Was open last nite from about 7PM until this morning. Is still closed at this time. Check Google maps as it gives a pretty up to date on closures.

tt2468 · « **Reply #109 on:** Jun 16, 22, 09:01:28 PM »

I was able to drive through there at about 1:30PM. There was one spot that they had it closed down to a single lane because of the crane.

Lepo · « **Reply #110 on:** Jun 16, 22, 09:01:39 PM »

tt2468 · « **Reply #111 on:** Jun 16, 22, 09:02:58 PM »

Oooh that sounds like it would make for a nice weekend event. And most of the area that needs it is the flat area too.

Deadhead · « **Reply #112 on:** Jun 17, 22, 06:45:10 AM »

Quote from: EQC on Jun 16, 22, 12:53:03 PM

Does anybody by chance have additional info, or even just background knowledge on our local electrical system, that might help predict how today's power outage will unfold?

The original email I got indicated 8am-8pm, to replace/repair fire-related damege.

This morning, I heard some areas of town lost power around 7:40AM. My wife had heard the outages might be staged, one area of town at a time. We still had power until about 9:00AM, and I don't think power came back on for the 7:40AM folks, so I suspect that "staging" idea was incorrect.

Emails I'm getting today from SCE say: "Outage Reason: analyzing problem" and the estimated end-time has shifted from 10:00PM earlier today, to now 11:00PM.

24 hours is a little long for a planned outage. 10pm, then 11, then midnight,then 2am, then 630am but still no power? How can their eta be so far off?

EQC · « **Reply #113 on:** Jun 17, 22, 07:06:37 AM »

Thank you everybody for the info and replies.

Getting pretty worried now about food in the fridge and the day's plans...SCE updated their outage website at 6:33 am to say that the estimated restoration is "not available."

Small blessing though: cell service and data access is still working at our place....

Lepo · « **Reply #114 on:** Jun 17, 22, 07:22:58 AM »

Quote from: EQC on Jun 17, 22, 07:06:37 AM

Thank you everybody for the info and replies.

Getting pretty worried now about food in the fridge and the day's plans...SCE updated their outage website at 6:33 am to say that the estimated restoration is "not available."

Small blessing though: cell service and data access is still working at our place....

I think over 24 hours is probably pushing it for the food in the fridge/freezer with no power. Also depends on how much you opened it.

I have a small digital outdoor thermometer that we put in the camper fridge so we know the temp inside without having to open it. Wish I would have thought to do that for this outage.

tt2468 · « **Reply #115 on:** Jun 17, 22, 07:35:25 AM »

Just went up and down the 2 again to check on SCE's progress. Looks like they had to stop at some point. The only poles left to replace are the ones on the hills that require the helicopters, so I suppose that makes sense. Here's a few pictures of the poles in need of replacing: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uHyfo619RgCd7CwX8

EDIT: Also, here's a tweet of mine from yesterday with pictures of them working on other poles: https://twitter.com/tt2468m8/status/1537668592971288576

tcaarabians · « **Reply #116 on:** Jun 17, 22, 07:37:34 AM »

EQC - Some things in your fridge will be ok. The freezer contents are toast.

EQC · « **Reply #117 on:** Jun 17, 22, 08:28:50 AM »

SCE's outage site now estimates 3:00pm.

Just did a quick check of the fridge/freezer: food in freezer is still rock hard and ice cubes in the door are frozen still. Fridge stuff seems cold, but probably worth inspecting sensitive items once power is on.

We tend to over-stuff our fridge and freezer, so a lot of cold mass in there, and we have minimized opening it, which probably helped keep it all cold.

Fingers crossed power is back on by 3:00pm or earlier!

EQC · « **Reply #118 on:** Jun 17, 22, 08:59:25 AM »

Hot diggity! Power just came on for us at the East end of town!

sagespirit · « **Reply #119 on:** Jun 17, 22, 02:09:10 PM »

It is fascinating to me, how varied the information and experience of our residents is in a situation like this, depending on where one lives, etc.
I'm at Robin and Spruce. When I left the village Sunday, afternoon we had no internet, cell, or power and I was advised to evac. Kept up with the situation as much as possible from down the hill. Very difficult when the Forum and communication sources are down. When I returned yesterday, around 3:30pm, knowing the power had been out here since 8, I was advised to it would come on at 8, later changed to 11pm, so as much repair work as possible could be done. As it turned out the power was out overnight till just before 9 this morning for me. My gas had remained on.
The overnight outage was no problem for me: plenty of lanterns, candles and food not requiring refrigeration. I am deeply appreciative of the amazing work of the utility providers, esp. SCE and UIA since it was, and is, very windy and difficult environmental conditions. They worked through it to do the best they could to provide our services. Those with generators had their own power source. I could hear their humming around me. I admit is is not comforting knowing another start could happen at any time.
As to food safety, if the power returned within 12 hours of the initial outage on Sunday, and then was shut off for 24 hours yesterday, all is well here. I've only opened my fridge 2x for a peek since returning home. My ice and all other contents of the freezer are hard as a rock.
A shout out to Cheryl (tcarrabians) for all the info and updates she provided at this site. Thank you Cheryl.
It takes 100 years just for a Joshua Tree to reach maturity. They live well over 500 years w/the oldest recorded 1000 years old. It broke my heart in the video to see the fire consuming same.
Yes, reforesting is what we need. In the Andes, after the devastating fires, they came up with the strategy of sending out teams of dogs with seed sacks to reforest. Fab effort. The dogs can cover about 20 miles/day. We could easily do that here. There are options.
Seeing as this is only June, I fear this is going to be a long, hot, perilous, exhausting summer.
Thanks for this Forum and all who are providing lifesaving services, and valuable info and support. sagespirit