Fire!

[pipistrelle]

The blaze broke out on the building’s copper roof during renovations, and police said it was too early to say what caused it.

My first thought is roofers, which is too often the case. Flammable materials.

[RTH10260]

another overpass gone ...

Large Tanker Fire Prompts Closure of I-95 in Norwalk

Storyful
Thu, May 2, 2024 at 8:14 PM GMT+2

A petroleum truck crashed and ignited a large fire under an overpass on Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut, on Thursday morning, May 2, prompting the closure of both northbound and southbound lanes of the freeway, officials said.

The crash also involved a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer truck, Governor Ned Lamont told a press conference.

The fuel truck was carrying 8,500 gallons of petroleum, fire officials said.

Scott Hill, chief engineer for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, said the blaze caused damage to the bridge above it.

According to ABC 7 NY and Fox 61, fire officials said the bridge sustained extensive damage and would be demolished within the next 48 hours.

Lamont urged travelers to avoid the Norwalk area as the freeway shutdown was causing “horrendous” traffic jams.




https://www.yahoo.com/news/large-tanker ... 18043.html

(original: Storyful)

[johnpcapitalist]

another overpass gone ...

Large Tanker Fire Prompts Closure of I-95 in Norwalk

Storyful
Thu, May 2, 2024 at 8:14 PM GMT+2

A petroleum truck crashed and ignited a large fire under an overpass on Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut, on Thursday morning, May 2, prompting the closure of both northbound and southbound lanes of the freeway, officials said.

According to ABC 7 NY and Fox 61, fire officials said the bridge sustained extensive damage and would be demolished within the next 48 hours.

Lamont urged travelers to avoid the Norwalk area as the freeway shutdown was causing “horrendous” traffic jams.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/large-tanker ... 18043.html

(original: Storyful)

I got caught up in this mess on my way to a doctor's appointment yesterday afternoon. My partner called me to warn me, but there was no way around the massive gridlock -- the doctor's office is right in the middle of the chaos.

This was a study in the downside of GPS in action: there's a relatively straightforward detour on about one mile of major surface streets around the mess, but because Norwalk is an older New England town, those major roads are all one lane and there are a lot of traffic lights involved. Thus, the obvious detour that the GPS suggests quickly gridlocked as bad as I-95 itself.

When that happens, Google Maps quickly starts plotting out alternate routes. It started taking people on secondary surface streets through the compact downtown area, which features narrow streets and some tight hairpin-like turns. Unfortunately, some trucking companies don't provide their drivers with commercial GPS's with a database that will route drivers away from turns they can't make. So the secondary streets through downtown quickly also gridlocked as trucks were backing and filling to get through a couple of the turns.

I don't know where the Norwalk PD was in all of this. Norwalk has a decent sized police force (90,000 population) and they're usually on top of things like this, but I didn't see evidence of any attempt to expedite traffic by overriding traffic signals, etc. Literally zero police presence. For a significant cataclysm with regional implications, if they were overwhelmed with other stuff, I would have expected that they might call in either the State Police or mutual aid from other local departments. The long-term, popular mayor of Norwalk was formerly the police chief, so this was doubly surprising.

[Volkonski]

Wildfire in Canada forces thousands to evacuate as smoke causes dangerous air quality

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wildfire-c ... r-quality/

Thousands of residents from a Canadian town are being urged to evacuate amid a fast-growing wildfire that has resulted in poor air quality and reduced visibility.

The blaze in northeastern British Columbia started Friday and almost doubled in size by the following day, reaching about 4,200 acres. BC Wildfire Service maps showed the fire burning just a few miles west of Fort Nelson's city limits. Fort Nelson is located in the far northeastern corner of British Columbia, about 995 miles from Vancouver. Fort Nelson and the Fort Nelson Indian Reserve have a combined population of about 3,000.

The wildfire smoke coming from British Columbia is causing widespread poor air quality and reduced visibility, a Sunday alert said.

Online footage shared by locals from the Fort Nelson wildfire showed thick plumes of smoke rising high into the sky, with houses in the foreground. In some photos, haze seemed to cover wide areas.

The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nation issued a joint statement warning people choosing to stay that "emergency medical services are not available, nor are groceries or other amenities."

[MN-Skeptic]

There's an air quality alert for Minnesota today from those wildfires. The wind will be blowing the smoke down from the north during the day.

[zekeb]

There's an air quality alert for Minnesota today from those wildfires. The wind will be blowing the smoke down from the north during the day.

Smoke advisory for my location tomorrow.

[AndyinPA]

I read those fires are just picking up from where they ended last year.

[RTH10260]

Against foreign incursion, just build a wall

[MN-Skeptic]

After a high of 87° today, it's cooled down to 68° by 11pm. Unfortunately, the air quality in the Twin Cities is horrible from the Canadian wildfires. Check out the government's Fire and Smoke map site. It takes a few moments to load, so be patient. Then you can search for a city.

[Kendra]

Glad my commute didn't include I405 this morning. Yikes!

https://komonews.com/news/local/renton- ... ent-auburn#

RENTON, Wash. — A semi-truck fire caused by a hit-and-run fully blocked all northbound Interstate 405 lanes near Northeast Park Drive/State Route 900 in Renton Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred shortly after 6 a.m., when an older green Honda Civic reportedly cut off the semi driver near milepost 5, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson.

"What we determined was there was a green, older Honda Civic that caused the semi to strike the barrier, which consequently caught on fire," Johnson said. "Initially, the driver — what we didn’t know — got out of the vehicle and separated himself, so when the fire department was there putting the fire out, they assumed the driver was still inside. Thankfully, we found the driver. We’re still looking for that green Honda Civic."

Johnson said on X at 6:37 a.m. that it was a fatal incident, but at 6:53 a.m. said the "driver was spoken to and there were no others in truck so this is NOT a fatality." The semi-truck was carrying "some kind of concrete product," Johnson said.

Photos: https://komonews.com/news/local/gallery ... rn?photo=1

[Maybenaut]

Glad my commute didn't include I405 this morning. Yikes!

"What we determined was there was a green, older Honda Civic that caused the semi to strike the barrier, which consequently caught on fire," Johnson said. "Initially, the driver — what we didn’t know — got out of the vehicle and separated himself, so when the fire department was there putting the fire out, they assumed the driver was still inside. Thankfully, we found the driver. We’re still looking for that green Honda Civic."

So, it was the barrier that caught on fire as a consequence of being stricken by the truck?

[Kendra]

Glad my commute didn't include I405 this morning. Yikes!

"What we determined was there was a green, older Honda Civic that caused the semi to strike the barrier, which consequently caught on fire," Johnson said. "Initially, the driver — what we didn’t know — got out of the vehicle and separated himself, so when the fire department was there putting the fire out, they assumed the driver was still inside. Thankfully, we found the driver. We’re still looking for that green Honda Civic."

So, it was the barrier that caught on fire as a consequence of being stricken by the truck?

Good point, that went over my head.

[Shizzle Popped]

I loved Seattle but the traffic could be horrific on a good day and there aren't many good options for detours when something like this happens. Ugh.

[Kendra]

I loved Seattle but the traffic could be horrific on a good day and there aren't many good options for detours when something like this happens. Ugh.

No lie. I am so glad I live south of this. Man, the week when the Chinese President was visiting here during the Obama admin, 'cause once the motorcade was getting underway they shut down the route. His last day was a trip from the Microsoft Campus (eastside) to a church or school or whatever it was in Tacoma area (Pierce County) on a Friday afternoon was a mess. I was watching the traffic cams, once it was clear he was on his way to Tacoma mid-afternoon, I bailed work and got home in time and then watched the gridlock on the DOT website. It was bad.

[Foggy]

Off Topic

I'm coming to Seattle for a few days next month.

[Volkonski]

California firefighters battle wind-driven wildfire east of San Francisco

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/02/g-s1-242 ... isco-tracy

California firefighters aided by aircraft battled a wind-driven wildfire burning Saturday in an area straddling the San Francisco Bay Area and central California, authorities said.

The Corral Fire began burning Saturday near the city of Tracy, 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of San Francisco, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the city of Livermore, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

Dark plumes of smoke traveled high into the sky over the fire area comprised mostly of grassy hills, where strong winds were expected to continue overnight.

Late Saturday, Cal Fire updated the size of the fire to 15.6 square miles (40.4 square kilometers) with 13% contained, which increased from an earlier report of 13.7 square miles (35.4 square kilometers).

Interstate 580, which connects the San Francisco Bay Area to San Joaquin County in central California, was closed in both directions from Corral Hollow Road to Interstate 5 due to the lack of visibility from the smoke, the California Department of Transportation said in a statement.

Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit Chief Baraka Carter said two fire workers were injured, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services issued an evacuation order, pinpointing the wildfire in an area east of Interstate 580. Residents between Corral Hollow Road and Tracy Boulevard were ordered to leave their homes, with residents south of Tracy Boulevard told to be prepared for evacuation.

[Volkonski]

Crews still working to contain North Port brush fire

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/06/02/c ... rush-fire/

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Fire crews continued to work Sunday morning to contain a brush fire in North Port near Sultan Avenue and Lown Street. The fire began last night just after 5 p.m., quickly spreading to eventually cover more than 75 acres of forest.

Multiple homes were evacuated as the fire spread, but as of this morning, no injuries have been reported, and nearby residents say that no homes have been severely damaged.

As of 7:30 a.m., crews continued to patrol the area to find and put out any small fires that may still be burning in the area, but the fire is otherwise under control. There is no immediate threat to the public at this time.

Northbound lanes of I-75 were briefly closed yesterday evening in North Port due to smoke, with traffic being diverted off the interstate at Toledo Blade Boulevard. All lanes were reopened by 8 p.m.

[RTH10260]

Wildfire smoke prematurely killed over 50,000 Californians in a decade – study
Exposure to toxic particles also led to $432bn in health expenses between 2008 and 2018

Dani Anguiano
Fri 7 Jun 2024 20.26 CEST

More than 50,000 people have died prematurely in California over a decade due to exposure to toxic particles in wildfire smoke, according to a new study.

Wildfires create smoke containing PM2.5, tiny particles roughly one-thirtieth of a human hair that can embed themselves deep in the lungs and enter the bloodstream. The particles have been linked to numerous health conditions and premature death. Previous research has found that the wildfire smoke is exposing millions of people in the US to the harmful pollutant.

In a study published in Science Advances this week, researchers used a new epidemiological model to examine the impacts of wildfire PM2.5 exposure between 2008-2018: a period that includes some of the state’s most destructive and deadly fire seasons. There were at least 52,480 premature deaths attributed to exposure to the inhalable particulate matter from wildfires, and at least $432bn in health expenses associated with the exposure, according to the study.

The research is the first to quantify the long-term impacts of chronic exposure to PM2.5 specifically from wildfires, rather than other sources, and has important implications for California, said Rachel Connolly, an author of the study. The results suggest that wildfires are responsible for more deaths and greater economic impacts than previous studies have indicated.

“The findings are really a call to action for forest management and climate change mitigation,” said Connolly, who is the project director at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and also works within the Fielding School of Public Health.

Researchers are only just starting to grasp the impacts of PM2.5 exposure on human health, but the particles can reduce lung function and worsen existing health conditions, including respiratory problems and heart disease.

Particulate matter from wildfires can be more harmful to human health than from other sources, the study reports, and is associated with respiratory illnesses and increased hospitalizations. Other studies have linked exposure to wildfire smoke to increased risks of heart attacks and premature births.




https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/art ... moke-study

[Volkonski]

Evacuations ordered in New Mexico village after fast-moving wildfire grows rapidly
Residents of Ruidoso were told to immediately leave because of the South Fork Fire, which was discovered Monday morning west of the town.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ev ... rcna157651

Firefighters increase containment of 15,600-acre Post Fire in LA and Ventura counties
The Post Fire in the Gorman area was affecting air quality as winds push smoke south into parts of Los Angeles.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/cali ... n/3439164/

[RTH10260]

Gateway Energy Storage System Fire: Otay Mesa, CA

StacheD Training
19 Jun 2024

The Gateway Energy Storage System in Otay Mesa, California, experienced a catastrophic fire when its batteries went into thermal runaway. Firefighters were on the scene for 15 days, battling to contain the blaze. Learn about the incident, the risks involved, and what this means for the energy storage industry.

[raison de arizona]

Deadly battery plant fire highlights risks for South Korea's migrant workers

HWASEONG, South Korea, June 25 (Reuters) - In tears, Chae Sung-bum rushed to a battery factory on the outskirts of South Korea's capital on Tuesday hoping to find the body of his daughter, or at least the necklace that would identify her, after a deadly blaze there killed her and 22 other workers.

"My daughter used to say batteries are dangerous, dangerous," Chae said, adding that she called several days ago and talked about another fire at her factory.

He said his daughter, a Chinese national, was 39 and due to be married within a few months.

Most of the victims are yet to be identified because of the intensity of Monday's blaze and explosions.

Seventeen of those who died were Chinese, and one was Laotian. Most of them were temporary workers at the plant packing lithium batteries, run by a South Korea-based company, Aricell.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 024-06-25/

[raison de arizona]

[RTH10260]

Stanford University burn control experiment could help ecosystem, cut fire risk in years to come

ABC7 News Bay Area
6 Jul 2024

Known as the BurnBot, the unit works like a rolling furnace, scorching the ground with a precision that's keeping the controlled burn safe and potentially providing new clues for researchers

article at https://abc7news.com/post/stanford-univ ... /15029103/

[RTH10260]

Brazil

Devastation as world’s biggest wetland burns: ‘those that cannot run don’t stand a chance’
Blackened trees, dead animals and scorched earth – early wildfires have already devastated Brazil’s Pantanal and local people worry they may lose the battle to save them

Harriet Barber in Corumbá
Tue 9 Jul 2024 09.00 CEST

Perched atop blackened trees, howler monkeys survey the ashes around them. A flock of rheas treads, disoriented, in search of water. The skeletons of alligators lie lifeless and charred.

The Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland and one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, is on fire. Huge stretches of land resemble the aftermath of a battle, with thick green shrubbery now a carpet of white ash, and chunks of debris falling from the sky.

More than 760,000 hectares (1.8m acres) have already burned across the Brazilian Pantanal in 2024, as fires surge to the highest levels since 2020, the worst year on record. From January to July, blazes increased by 1,500% compared with the same period last year, according to the country’s Institute for Space Research.


https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... l-pantanal

The Pantanal is a natural region encompassing the world's largest tropical wetland area, and the world's largest flooded grasslands. It is located mostly within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but it extends into Mato Grosso and portions of Bolivia and Paraguay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantanal

[bill_g]

Fresh tower site fire pron from UC San Diego and PG&E.

UCSanDiego richardson 202407242024.jpg (295.47 KiB) Viewed 1332 times

UCSanDiego richardson 202407242019.jpg (351.33 KiB) Viewed 1332 times