Wildfires

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Right now in my State there are multiple locations that are burning some in control and some out of control. There has been property loss but so far no people. We have had 112 temps for a few days and it was 113 today and over 25+ days over 100 degrees, the winds are increasing to 15-30mph and the humidity has been around 11 percent.

As I type this they are showing people in sad attempts at bugging out. As folks who are into being prepared this is the time to make a list, review your procedures, decide what is going and what is important. I dont care if its your wedding album or your parents passed down heirloom or your gun collection, decide now and figure out how it fits in the car, truck, trailer. Make sure you have fuel in the car and it is ready, air up the trailer tires and check the hook ups, maybe even hook it up and leave it.

Look at how you would fight it and decide where the FPL (Final Protective Line) is. That FPL, when it is reached EVERYONE leaves. You leave the hoses/sprinklers running and fire a shot into the above ground pool as you drive away. That FPL needs to be before you can see flames, yes i know you can see miles n miles so what, that stuff can travel 60mph can you? You decide because the .Gov is too busy to tell you. Consider the smoke and how you will breathe and dont forget it shuts down roads before the fire gets there.

Lastly throw a prayer this way for them as well as the firefighters who are mostly volunteer and are battling heat injuries too.

[Karen]

The news just said 25 homes have been destroyed so far just in Luther.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

The news just said 25 homes have been destroyed so far just in Luther.

set intentionally, witnesses got a look but didnt give chase instead went back and warned the residents. Sickning, and this is suppossedly pre-paw behavior :(

[Cimarron]

The count is up to 65 homes destroyed and 12 different wild fires in OK.
Ok asked for out of state help but help isn't coming due to other states dealing with the same problem. There's fires In Ark. Texas and Kansas and others are on high heat alert.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/04/13115739-oklahomas-plea-for-help-falls-on-deaf-ears-as-wildfires-burn-out-of-control?lite

[Matt In Oklahoma]

This has made me take hard look at my location. For wildfires it is less than optimal. The winds most likely willl be from the south. I have one road in, from the south. Not good.
Last night i went and had a look and my neighbor is gonna be PO'd but if I cross his property I only have to push down one fence between him and someone else then drive across there place to get to another road going east. Going west I would have to push down/cut 3 fences to get to a pasture that has a dirt road leading to a main road as an escape route but this route would only allow for vehicles and no trailers as they would et hung up in the terrain.
I fought a wildfire and saved my last place with hoses, friends and my well because we has an escape route and our power lines came in from the north. This one may not allow me to do so as our power comes in from the south as well and bugging out appears to be my only option.

[JUSTIFIED]

Right now in my State there are multiple locations that are burning some in control and some out of control. There has been property loss but so far no people. We have had 112 temps for a few days and it was 113 today and over 25+ days over 100 degrees, the winds are increasing to 15-30mph and the humidity has been around 11 percent.

As I type this they are showing people in sad attempts at bugging out. As folks who are into being prepared this is the time to make a list, review your procedures, decide what is going and what is important. I dont care if its your wedding album or your parents passed down heirloom or your gun collection, decide now and figure out how it fits in the car, truck, trailer. Make sure you have fuel in the car and it is ready, air up the trailer tires and check the hook ups, maybe even hook it up and leave it.

Look at how you would fight it and decide where the FPL (Final Protective Line) is. That FPL, when it is reached EVERYONE leaves. You leave the hoses/sprinklers running and fire a shot into the above ground pool as you drive away. That FPL needs to be before you can see flames, yes i know you can see miles n miles so what, that stuff can travel 60mph can you? You decide because the .Gov is too busy to tell you. Consider the smoke and how you will breathe and dont forget it shuts down roads before the fire gets there.

Lastly throw a prayer this way for them as well as the firefighters who are mostly volunteer and are battling heat injuries too.

Good idea. It makes all the difference to be ready for anything...natural disaster, terrorist attack, etc....We've got a list for quick bug out.

[EX121]

Another option is to see if your local Forest Service or that type of agency has information on the Firewise program. The program basically explains how to get your property prepared to resist a fire. One of the reasons we moved back into town was just one way in and out through the forest.
There is a big wildfire burning north of us but luckly on the other side of the Columbia River.
Good luck to all in OK.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Another option is to see if your local Forest Service or that type of agency has information on the Firewise program. The program basically explains how to get your property prepared to resist a fire. One of the reasons we moved back into town was just one way in and out through the forest. There is a big wildfire burning north of us but luckly on the other side of the Columbia River.
Good luck to all in OK.

Thats a good idea, forgot about them. They have good stuff they push out in Eastern and far Western Oklahoma

[Grand58742]

Kind of got a close up of one minor fire yesterday at work. An area between I240 and 74th was on fire adjacent to the base. Lucky enough a couple of concerned citizens attempted to put it out (used floor mats from their car, you use what you have) before OKC FD showed up. It could have jumped 74th onto base where the grass hasn't been cut back yet (by the old GM plant) and would have been real ugly, real fast. Small area, about 75 feet by 50 feet, but still a concern. Firemen said it was probably someone tossing a cigarette out the window.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Lucky enough a couple of concerned citizens attempted to put it out (used floor mats from their car, you use what you have) before OKC FD showed up.

Yep back in the days of old when folks had mud flaps on their pickups we bolted them to shovel handles to beat down the grass fire lines and every able body would come out and help and them that couldnt carried water and such to them that was. Aint so no more, most want .Gov to take care of them while they wring their hands for the reporters, glad to see some folks still get involved. They sure stopped something and saved some already stressed resources by that small act

[Grand58742]

I didn't realize they had automobiles around when you were growing up. :D

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Another option is to see if your local Forest Service or that type of agency has information on the Firewise program. The program basically explains how to get your property prepared to resist a fire. One of the reasons we moved back into town was just one way in and out through the forest.There is a big wildfire burning north of us but luckly on the other side of the Columbia River. Good luck to you all as well
Good luck to all in OK.

The resource Ex121 wisely suggested.

http://www.forestry.ok.gov/firewise

The local resource checklist

http://www.forestry.ok.gov/Websites/forestry/images/RSGActionGuideOklahomaBooklet_091511.pdf

use this to make your own personalized list and to discuss it with your family

One thing that was brought up was that yesterday they cut power to the town/area which means if you are on well you cant keep water on unless you have an alternate source that can be quickly hooked up to continue. It doesnt appear that was the case unfortunatley.

[SeldomSeenSlim]

Last year I was surrounded by fire. A major fire to the northeast, another to the west and small ones all around. There was ash flying 40+ miles off of one of them from the Huachuca mountains OVER the Mule mountains and down into the valley. The day the first big fire took off I got ready to leave. It was still miles away and no threat, but that can change fast.

I don't even worry about the house. If the fire wants it there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. Most folks who get into trouble in those things are the hapless people spraying down their roof with a garden hose. They stay way too long in a useless attempt to try and save something that really doesn't matter anyway.

[JUSTIFIED]

Keep your eyes open Okies! Fires all over the state! A handful of towns have been evacuated. Looks like the winds are coming up and still no rain!

[WiseOwl]

Yall be safe out there and stay ready. Sending thoughts and prayers yalls way.
Guess I am going to have to do a rain dance and see if these t-storms will blow west.