All the rain yall have had last two years it was pretty evident after the first spring there would be a disastrous fire. All the homeless people could have and should have been put to work keeping the growth down. No excuse for this. None.
All the rain?
We're deeply in drought, at least in SoCal. Our last solid rains were around two years+ ago (referring to a whole seasonal period of rains), when we had an El Niño condition. After that, we have dried up. We did get over an inch, a month ago or so. That was really nice. But, as evidenced, it didn't make any difference in the fires.
I live in the Santa Monica mountains east of the Woolsey Fire burn area. Been here forever and have thought this through many times. Santa Ana's blow southwest. There is vegetation fuel upslope and downwind from my home, factors in my favor. I have unregulated water lines in the front and rear of my home. There is enough water pressure to reach the tops of the trees behind my home. There is more than enough water pressure to soak my house and the dirt around my house. I'll take my chance.
I've weighed this out in my mind a million times. I'd likely do the same. I've got plenty of open area around me if things get too thick. I've got 1" lines to the rear of my property. I've also got 3/4" hose (far larger than the normal 5/8"), and 3/4" fire nozzle ends; sounds insignificant in size, but it is a huge difference.
My neighbor works for the water district, and has suggested numerous times that the water that we get is siphon feed from a nearby reservoir, and will continue to flow in fires (has in the past, and should do so again).
In 2007, there were intense fires here, and, the fire dep't chose to camp out in a field right across the street from me. Why? That is where the only fire hydrant in a quarter mile or more, and it is fed by the same siphon feed that I'm on. The bummer part of talking to my neighbor about the water feed arrangement,.... I found out that I have a 20" water main that crosss under my driveway, and it makes a right angle turn right there, and then heads to that hydrant (actually a bleeder valve).
So, yep, I'd likely stick it out, rather than to sit in a traffic jam, and risk being cooked in my car waiting for the traffic to move.
