# 2025 California Wildfire Season Has Begun **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2025, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707 "2025-01-08T02:14:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/141 "2025-01-11T19:41:55Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > These don’t look underground to me: I didnt say all the lines were underground, in fact I remarked earlier that SCE and PG&E are lagging on it. However- IF the power lines are underground, no need to turn off power. Yes, the power was cut off in areas that had the old type of power lines. > [@wguy123](#): > > My wife and I feel this way. Where can we go to survive all the climate change catastrophes coming? The moon? > [@Alessan](#): > > When Tokyo burned down in WW2, they eventually rebuilt the city out much more durable, much less flammable materials - concrete and cinderblock rather than wood and paper. I wonder what they’ll do in L.A. They learned from the Oakland fire some decades ago, and that type of woos shake roof has been banned. My roof- for example- is concrete. > [@snowthx](#): > > It isnt that these houses and building are composed of particularly flammable material, it’s just that they were faced with an unusual combination of flame and high wind. While most homes in CA these days are built with wood frames, the exterior may be stucco and tile roof, which are pretty resistant to flames. Right. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/142 "2025-01-11T20:07:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@wguy123](#): > > > > Where can we go to survive all the climate change catastrophes coming? > > The moon? At least when when your habitat (full of lotsa oxygen) catches fire, what suffering you experience will be brief. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/143 "2025-01-11T20:16:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They learned from the Oakland fire some decades ago, and that type of woos shake roof has been banned. My roof- for example- is concrete. My neighborhood nearly got hit by the Painted Cave fire in 1990. New roofs couldn’t be shake for a while at that point and nearly all of the grandfathered ones were pretty quickly replaced after that including my future home. When I moved in in 1993, there were only a very few left. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/144 "2025-01-11T20:24:14Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > My wife and I feel this way. Where can we go to survive all the climate change catastrophes coming? Parts of the Great Lakes region have a better outlook than the nation as a whole. If you really want to do a deep dive, [American Resiliency](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLINPjJxJIfNQk4aEKJ3m8WbJHdQ7Zh3u4&si=lA0sct7kGKv63Ij1) is a good resource. You have to overlook the occasional moments of Evangelical witnessing if that isn’t your thing but she’s a devoted climate change realist, and while not an expert on climate modeling has done a good job integrating and interpreting projections, especially from the [Fifth National Climate Assessment](https://www.globalchange.gov/our-work/fifth-national-climate-assessment) which was paid for by US tax dollars but which government agencies have been legislative prohibited by Congress to promote. I’d start with Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota if you are interested in climate change-resistant regions, but with a caution that even there the story isn’t “no impact”, and I suspect that the 5th NCAR has underestimated the impact of increased precipitation and the natural disasters and agricultural impacts resulting from it. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/145 "2025-01-11T20:30:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They learned from the Oakland fire some decades ago, and that type of woos shake roof has been banned. My roof- for example- is concrete. Wasn’t it the 1982 Anaheim firestorm that ended the use of shake roofs in Southern California? Since that day, shake roofs have had the same reputation as Ford Pintos in OC and LA. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/146 "2025-01-12T00:31:49Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Wasn’t it the 1982 Anaheim firestorm that ended the use of shake roofs in Southern California? Since that day, shake roofs have had the same reputation as Ford Pintos in OC and LA. Could be that also. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/147 "2025-01-12T01:04:58Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Since that day, shake roofs have had the same reputation as Ford Pintos in OC and LA. Many years ago, I lived in a house with a shake roof (in the relatively fire resistant Finger Lakes NY, though not right where I live now.) The roof was leaking; the landlord (a winery, I worked there) wouldn’t do anything else to the house, but they did fix the roof. (If you’re only going to do one thing to an old house with a leaky roof, that’s the thing to do; because, if you don’t, the whole thing is gonna fall down.) They pulled all those old cedar shakes off the roof, replaced them with asphalt shingles, and left the shakes in a pile. We heated the house with a wood stove. We looked at those old shakes, and decided they looked like good kindling. They made absolutely excellent kindling. When we saw what good kindling they made, we became very glad that they weren’t on the roof any longer. – I think later shake roofs may have been treated with some form of fireproofing. I’d still strongly recommend making your roof out of something else. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/148 "2025-01-12T06:55:17Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > **A Crazy Map Of 250,000 Swimming Pools Reveals Los Angeles County’s Inequality** > > [https://www.fastcompany.com/3058868/a-crazy-map-of-250000-swimming-pools-reveals-los-angeles-countys-inequality](https://www.fastcompany.com/3058868/a-crazy-map-of-250000-swimming-pools-reveals-los-angeles-countys-inequality) I looked at the Palisades area and there are a lot of big houses on small lots. No swimming pools and a lot of tall privacy foliage between houses. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/149 "2025-01-12T07:07:09Z")
They were small houses on small lots at first. Over the decades they were replaced with McMansions. My sister’s neighborhood in Manhattan Beach is similar. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/150 "2025-01-12T12:48:37Z")
I think - in this case - the **Mc** in “McMansions” is uncalled for… ;o) ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/151 "2025-01-12T17:27:44Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Or being overrun by the glaciers. No glaciers here. We have had a few snowflakes so far this winter, though. Wildfires, mudslides, earthquakes – it constantly amazes me that people actually _want_ to live in California. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/152 "2025-01-12T18:17:56Z")
I grew up in SoCal. In my 22 years there we had 1 earthquake that damaged anything anywhere. And that damage was 50 miles from me. Fires were small and rare. What we did not have was snow, hurricanes, dangerous wildlife, nor overcrowding. No lightning, tornadoes, nor noxious insects either. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/153 "2025-01-12T18:19:55Z")
Big state. Lots of innovation, jobs, beautiful coasts/mountains/forests/deserts. Pick of your weather. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/154 "2025-01-12T18:54:12Z")
The Kenneth Fire (Calabasas/Simi) is reported to be 100% contained. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/155 "2025-01-12T19:31:38Z")
The winds are going to pick up again Monday through Wednesday: > Forecasters warn that this upcoming round of strong winds from Monday to early Wednesday can rival the initial event that allowed the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst Fires to rapidly spread, with gusts to 60-80 mph possible across the cities of Ventura and Santa Clarita. > **[Intense Santa Ana winds to resume early this week around Los Angeles](https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-forecasts/intense-santa-ana-winds-to-resume-early-this-week-around-los-angeles/1732922)** > > Forecasters warn that another blustery setup can develop from Monday to Wednesday across parts of Southern California, providing little relief for those battling the ongoing blazes. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/156 "2025-01-13T03:07:33Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > The winds are going to pick up again Monday through Wednesday: Peaking on Tuesday. Until these fires I didn’t realize the Santa Ana Winds moved East to West. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/157 "2025-01-13T04:09:05Z")
They blow very hot air from the dessert into the cost and make the temperature 20 degrees or more higher than normal. Santa Barbara has a weird geography and they have to be blowing just right to have a big effect on us. When it happens on occasion we get a thing called sundowners where it keeps getting hotter and hotter until early evening and it gets to approaching 110 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/158 "2025-01-13T05:31:19Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I think later shake roofs may have been treated with some form of fireproofing. Which washes off in repeated rains. California has learned this. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/159 "2025-01-13T06:28:15Z")
Realizing where you are, is your home in any danger? Quite some years ago I had an aunt and an uncle who lived in California and at one point were packed and ready to evacuate but luckily didn’t end up having to get out. It was a close thing though. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707/160 "2025-01-13T15:23:23Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Wildfires, mudslides, earthquakes – it constantly amazes me that people actually _want_ to live in California. I say the same thing about Florida, the gulf coast and the Carolinas with the hurricanes, the midwest with the tornadoes, the Great Lakes area and the northeast with the snow, etc., etc. No place is immune from the occasional natural disaster, and California is huge, with many areas at low risk of any headline-grabbing catastrophe. The climate, economy, and variety of lifestyles readily available here makes life out here pretty good, but expensive. People _want_ to live here, believe it or not - it’s not the most populous state for nothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-california-wildfire-season-has-begun/1012707.md?page=9)