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California fires
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California fires

by Kathy Barnhart

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted September 7, 2013281 views6 comments
After two years of drought in California, forest fires have raged and the fire season isn't over until the first good rains, probably late in October or mid-November. I was in Big Sur today and saw part of the mountain on fire across from Nepenthe Restaurant.Soon firetrucks raced down Highway 1, then planes began dumping retardant, and a helicopter followed. I happened to have my telephoto lens on and could catch much of the action. Fortunately after about an hour, the fire was contained. And fortunately, the wind wasn't blowing.Hats off to all the firefighters in our dry, warm, tinder box of a state.

Canon 5d, M3, IS01250, f/5,6, hand held, 1/1600, 180mm.

Thanks for any comments or critiques.

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on September 7, 2013 at 12:11 PM
The Environmental PJ category is very unique in that the post in this gallery always seem to have a 'Good News / Bad News' theme and this outstanding image you have posted Kathy is a great example of that. The bad news is obviously the wild fire situation that is happening. The good news, you were prepared to capture the action in such fine fashion and the brave fire fighters who were able to contain the situation.
Well done to all . . . :toast:
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 7, 2013 at 1:18 PM
Great documentation here!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on September 8, 2013 at 7:39 AM
IMHO you have captured the action very well, tells the story in one image. Thanks for sharing, and lets hope for rain sooner than later.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Carl Battreall on September 8, 2013 at 3:52 PM
Nice action shot of a current event. Sure looks dry there.
Registered on August 29, 2007, 24 Posts, 222 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on September 11, 2013 at 5:30 PM
Excellent action shot here, Kathy.......congrats on the EP / WP for this week in the EPJ gallery........ :toast:
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 6, 2013 at 11:56 AM
Considering the terrain, they were lucky to get this put out. I don't know the answer to fire control other than prayer and quick reaction. But the obvious cause of increasingly hazardous fire danger, along with drought, is fire protection. The more we protect from fire, for any reason, the more combustible materials gather on the forest floor. The drought exacerbates that, both by drying the duff out and by preventing decomposition.

This fire is burning low and "cool" at the time of this picture, as evidenced by the white smoke. It is also backing. You would know if it were getting dangerous, both by the "crowning" out and the darkness of the smoke. The fire would be heading and moving at a rapid clip, with incomplete combustion the cause of the black smoke.
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments