Geologic Hazards
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Brief Communication: Meteorological and Climatological Conditions
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 3037–3043, 2018 https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-3037-2018 © Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Brief communication: Meteorological and climatological conditions associated with the 9 January 2018 post-fire debris flows in Montecito and Carpinteria, California, USA Nina S. Oakley1,2, Forest Cannon2, Robert Munroe3, Jeremy T. Lancaster4, David Gomberg3, and F. Martin Ralph2 1Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA 2Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA 3National Weather Service, Oxnard/Los Angeles, 520 N. Elevar St., Oxnard, CA 93030, USA 4California Geological Survey, 801 K St., Sacramento, CA 95814, USA Correspondence: Nina S. Oakley ([email protected]) Received: 20 June 2018 – Discussion started: 26 June 2018 Revised: 8 October 2018 – Accepted: 25 October 2018 – Published: 19 November 2018 Abstract. The Thomas Fire burned 114 078 ha in Santa rainfall intensity of 24 mm h−1 (USGS, 2018a; Fig. S1 in the Barbara and Ventura counties, southern California, during Supplement). December 2017–January 2018. On 9 January 2018, high- In the first significant rainfall event of the wet season on 9 intensity rainfall occurred over the Thomas Fire burn area January 2018, high-intensity rainfall occurred over the west- in the mountains above the communities of Montecito and ernmost portion of the Thomas Fire burn area between 11:30 Carpinteria, initiating multiple devastating debris flows. The and 12:00 UTC (03:30–04:00 LST). -
Wildfires from Space
Wildfires from Space More Lessons from the Sky Satellite Educators Association http://SatEd.org This is an adaptation of an original lesson plan developed and published on-line by Natasha Stavros at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The original problem set and all of its related links is available from this address: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/fired-up-over-math-studying-wildfires-from-space/ Please see the Acknowledgements section for historical contributions to the development of this lesson plan. This spotlight on the “Wildfires from Space” lesson plan was published in November 2016 in More Lessons from the Sky, a regular feature of the SEA Newsletter, and archived in the SEA Lesson Plan Library. Both the Newsletter and the Library are freely available on-line from the Satellite Educators Association (SEA) at this address: http://SatEd.org. Content, Internet links, and materials on the lesson plan's online Resources page revised and updated in October 2019. SEA Lesson Plan Library Improvement Program Did you use this lesson plan with students? If so, please share your experience to help us improve the lesson plan for future use. Just click the Feedback link at http://SatEd.org/library/about.htm and complete the short form on-line. Thank you. Teaching Notes Wildfires from Space Invitation Wildfire is a global reality, and with the onset of climate change, the number of yearly wildfires is increasing. The impacts range from the immediate and tangible to the delayed and less obvious. In this activity, students assess wildfires using remote sensing imagery. -
Fire and Water
Fire and Water: An Emerging Nexus in California << THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK >> A Report by the 2019 Water Education Foundation Water Leaders Water Education Foundation 2019 Water Leaders: Jonathan Abelson Erica Bishop Dominic Bruno Greg Bundesen Daniel Constable DeDe Cordell Andrew Garcia Jenifer Gee Cheyanne Harris Julia Hart Levi Johnson Kevin Kasberg Megan Maurino Danielle McPherson Maya Mouawad Tara Paul Geeta Persad Adriana Renteria Ivy Ridderbusch Gokce Sencan Melissa Sparks-Kranz Sarah Sugar Andrea Zimmer Acknowledgements and Thanks: The 2019 Water Leaders Class would like to thank the Water Education Foundation for providing us with this unique opportunity. We would also like to express our gratitude to each of the mentors that shared their invaluable time and insights. Finally, we would like to thank the supporters of the Water Education Foundation and the William R. Gianelli Water Leaders program. Without your generosity, this program would not be possible. Disclaimer: This report, and the opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Water Education Foundation (WEF) or its Board of Directors, the Water Leaders, or their employers. Cover photo credit: Ken James/California Department of Water Resources 1 Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. -
Original Draft CWPP
DRAFT CITY OF SANTA BARBARA May 2020 Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled material. Table of Contents SECTIONS Acronyms and Abbreviations ..........................................................................................................................................................v Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................................... vii 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Development Team ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Community Involvement ................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.3.1 Stakeholders ................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.2 Public Outreach and Engagement Plan ........................................................................................................ 4 1.3.3 Public Outreach Meetings ............................................................................................................................. -
Review of California Wildfire Evacuations from 2017 to 2019
REVIEW OF CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE EVACUATIONS FROM 2017 TO 2019 STEPHEN WONG, JACQUELYN BROADER, AND SUSAN SHAHEEN, PH.D. MARCH 2020 DOI: 10.7922/G2WW7FVK DOI: 10.7922/G29G5K2R Wong, Broader, Shaheen 2 Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. UC-ITS-2019-19-b N/A N/A 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Review of California Wildfire Evacuations from 2017 to 2019 March 2020 6. Performing Organization Code ITS-Berkeley 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report Stephen D. Wong (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3638-3651), No. Jacquelyn C. Broader (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3269-955X), N/A Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D. (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3350-856X) 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Institute of Transportation Studies, Berkeley N/A 109 McLaughlin Hall, MC1720 11. Contract or Grant No. Berkeley, CA 94720-1720 UC-ITS-2019-19 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period The University of California Institute of Transportation Studies Covered www.ucits.org Final Report 14. Sponsoring Agency Code UC ITS 15. Supplementary Notes DOI: 10.7922/G29G5K2R 16. Abstract Between 2017 and 2019, California experienced a series of devastating wildfires that together led over one million people to be ordered to evacuate. Due to the speed of many of these wildfires, residents across California found themselves in challenging evacuation situations, often at night and with little time to escape. These evacuations placed considerable stress on public resources and infrastructure for both transportation and sheltering. -
Baer Survey Specialist Report Format
Thomas Fire 2017-2018, Los Padres National Forest BAER Hydrology Report Resource Specialty: Hydrology Fire Name: Thomas Fires Month and Year: December 2017-January 2018 Author(s) Name and Home unit Name: Emily Fudge, Cleveland National Forest Objectives This assessment focused on evaluating possible post-fire hydrologic threats to potential values at risk for the Thomas Fire on the Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County, California. Hydrologic post-fire threats include post-fire flooding, slope instability, and bulking of flows from sediment and debris. Potential threats also include avulsion on depositional fans and catchment outlets due to bulked flows (rapid relocation of channel location); braiding of channels, scour, and channel migration. I. Potential Values at Risk Initial potential Values at Risk (VARs) identified for evaluation for the Thomas Fire are listed below. See VAR spreadsheet in the 2500-8 for detailed list of evaluated values at risk (VARs). During preliminary reconnaissance, it was recognized that whole communities, major highways and roads, and privately owned infrastructure downstream/slope of the Thomas Fire could be affected by post-fire effects. A State Watershed Emergency Response Team (WERT) was tasked with conducting an assessment of VARs on non-FS lands including all these areas. This BAER assessment focuses on VARs owned by the Forest Service or located on FS lands. An initial BAER assessment considered VARs in the Ojai and Wheeler Ridge areas so these areas are excluded from this report. This assessment does not include assessment of post-fire impacts within the Adams Canyon, Harmon Canyon, Arundell Barranca, or Lower Ventura River HUC 6 watersheds. -
Thomas Fire – After Action Review
Thomas Fire 12/04/2017 – 12/22/2017 City of Ventura Emergency Operations Center After Action Review INTRODUCTION On December 4, 2017, the Thomas Fire started north of the City of Santa Paula. Driven by intense Santa Ana winds, the fire reached the City of Ventura within hours and damaged or destroyed 686 structures. At the time of final containment, the Thomas Fire would be classified as the largest fire in recorded California history. To assist with response efforts, the City proclaimed a local state of emergency and activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Per the City’s Emergency Plan, the primary objective during the emergency was to provide for effective life safety measures, reduce property loss and protect the environment. As part of the EOC process, an After Action Review (AAR) began informally during activation and then formally commenced in June, 2018. During the Thomas Fire, over 140 persons served in the City of Ventura EOC. AARs focus on nationally established core capabilities (currently there are 32 core capabilities spanning 5 mission areas: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response and Recovery). After a disaster, jurisdictions in California are required by statute (California Code of Regulations, section 2900[q]) to prepare an AAR to identify areas of improvement and corrective actions for each identified deficiency. As a compliance document focusing on improvement, the AAR does not focus on the successes but rather those areas that need to be improved upon. While interviewing staff from each EOC section, many successes were identified and discussed. The AAR captures some of these successes as strengths, but does not go into detail about the many successes that were experienced during this fire. -
Cal Fire: Creek Fire Now the Largest Single Wildfire in California History
Cal Fire: Creek Fire now the largest single wildfire in California history By Joe Jacquez Visalia Times-Delta, Wednesday, September 23, 2020 The Creek Fire is now the largest single, non-complex wildfire in California history, according to an update from Cal Fire. The fire has burned 286,519 acres as of Monday night and is 32 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. The Creek Fire, which began Sept. 4, is located in Big Creek, Huntington Lake, Shaver Lake, Mammoth Pool and San Joaquin River Canyon. Creek Fire damage realized There were approximately 82 Madera County structures destroyed in the blaze. Six of those structures were homes, according to Commander Bill Ward. There are still more damage assessments to be made as evacuation orders are lifted and converted to warnings. Madera County sheriff's deputies notified the residents whose homes were lost in the fire. The Fresno County side of the fire sustained significantly more damage, according to Truax. "We are working with (Fresno County) to come up with away to get that information out," Incident Commander Nick Truax said. California wildfires:Firefighters battle more than 25 major blazes, Bobcat Fire grows Of the 4,900 structures under assessment, 30% have been validated using Fresno and Madera counties assessor records. Related: 'It's just too dangerous': Firefighters make slow progress assessing Creek Fire damage So far, damage inspection teams have counted more than 300 destroyed structures and 32 damaged structures. "These are the areas we can safely get to," Truax said. "There are a lot of areas that trees have fallen across the roads. -
Fuels, Fire Suppression, and the California Conundrum
Fuels, fire suppression, and the California conundrum Eric Knapp U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Redding, CA Bald and Eiler Fires - 2014; Photo: T. Erdody How did we get here? 2018: Most destructive wildfire (Camp Fire) Largest wildfire (Mendocino Complex) Most acres burned in modern CA history 2017: 2nd most destructive wildfire (Tubbs Fire) 2nd largest wildfire (Thomas Fire) Mediterranean climate = fire climate Redding, CA (Elev. 500 ft) 8 100 7 6 80 F) o 5 Wildfire season 4 60 3 Precipitation (in) 2 40 Ave Max.Temp. ( 1 0 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Precipitation Month Temperature • Very productive – grows fuel • Fuel critically dry every summer • Hot/dry = slow decomposition Fire activity through time Shasta-Trinity National Forest (W of Trinity Lake) 1750 1850 1897 Fire return interval 3 years 12 years No fire since 1897 Fuel limited fire regime | Ignition limited fire regime • Fire was historically a combination of indigenous burning and lightning ignitions • Aided travel, hunting, and improved the qualities of culturally important plants • Many early Euro-American settlers initially continued to burn • Forage for grazing animals • Lessened the danger from summer wildfires • Foresters advocated for Halls Flat, A. Wieslander, 1925 suppressing fire • “The virgin forest is certainly less than half stocked, chiefly as one result of centuries of repeated fires” – Show and Kotok 1925 • Believed keeping fire out would be cheaper than treating fuels with fire Burney area, A. Wieslander, 1925 Change in structural variability (trees > 4 in.) 1929 2008 Methods of Cutting Study – Stanislaus National Forest Lack of fire also changed non-forests A. -
WRF Simulation of Downslope Wind Events in Coastal Santa Barbara County
UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara Previously Published Works Title WRF simulation of downslope wind events in coastal Santa Barbara County Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8h89t6zv Journal ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH, 191 ISSN 0169-8095 Authors Cannon, Forest Carvalho, Leila MV Jones, Charles et al. Publication Date 2017-07-15 DOI 10.1016/j.atmosres.2017.03.010 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Atmospheric Research 191 (2017) 57–73 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Atmospheric Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/atmosres WRF simulation of downslope wind events in coastal Santa Barbara County Forest Cannon a,b,⁎, Leila M.V. Carvalho a,b, Charles Jones a,b,ToddHallc,DavidGombergc, John Dumas c, Mark Jackson c a Department of Geography, University of California Santa Barbara, USA b Earth Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, USA c National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, Los Angeles/Oxnard Weather Forecast Office, USA article info abstract Article history: The National Weather Service (NWS) considers frequent gusty downslope winds, accompanied by rapid Received 13 June 2016 warming and decreased relative humidity, among the most significant weather events affecting southern Califor- Received in revised form 6 March 2017 nia coastal areas in the vicinity of Santa Barbara (SB). These extreme conditions, commonly known as “sun- Accepted 9 March 2017 downers”, have affected the evolution of all major wildfires that impacted SB in recent years. Sundowners Available online 10 March 2017 greatly increase fire, aviation and maritime navigation hazards and are thus a priority for regional forecasting. -
2013 Rim Fire Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Summary
United States Department of Agriculture 2013 Rim Fire Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Summary Forest Pacific Southwest R5-MR-060 April 2015 Service Region 2013 Rim Fire Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Summary Shelly Crook, Carol Ewell, Becky Estes, Frankie Romero, Lynn Goolsby and Neil Sugihara USDA Forest Service Dec. 1, 2014 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................. 5 Conditions Leading to August 17 ......................................................................5 Chronology of the Rim Fire ..............................................................................8 Sidebar 1. Fight fire with fire ................................................................... 12 Ecological Setting Prior to the Rim Fire .........................................................13 Fire History and Fire Return Interval Departure (FRID) ................................15 Severity patterns within the Rim Fire ..............................................................17 Fuel Treatments ......................................................................................... 20 Fuel Treatment Objectives ...............................................................................20 Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Monitoring (FTEM) .........................................20 Fuel Treatment Effectiveness Case Studies ............................................ 23 Combined Mechanical and Prescribed Fire Treatment....................................25 Combined Mechanical and -
Wildfire Resilience Insurance
WILDFIRE RESILIENCE INSURANCE: Quantifying the Risk Reduction of Ecological Forestry with Insurance WILDFIRE RESILIENCE INSURANCE: Quantifying the Risk Reduction of Ecological Forestry with Insurance Authors Willis Towers Watson The Nature Conservancy Nidia Martínez Dave Jones Simon Young Sarah Heard Desmond Carroll Bradley Franklin David Williams Ed Smith Jamie Pollard Dan Porter Martin Christopher Felicity Carus This project and paper were funded in part through an Innovative Finance in National Forests Grant (IFNF) from the United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities, with funding from the United States Forest Service (USFS). The United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc. (the “Endowment”) is a not-for-profit corporation that works collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. We want to thank and acknowledge Placer County and the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) for their leadership and partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the US Forest Service on the French Meadows ecological forest project and their assistance with the Wildfire Resilience Insurance Project and this paper. We would like in particular to acknowledge the assistance of Peter Cheney, Risk and Safety Manager, PCWA and Marie L.E. Davis, PG, Consultant to PCWA. Cover photo: Increasing severity of wildfires in California results in more deaths, injuries, and destruction of