The power of wind and fire

[jhoyt]

You've probably heard about the wildfire that destroyed over 30 houses on the edge of Reno. Here are a couple newspaper photo galleries of the fire. According to people there, at times the fire spread at 25-30 mph, and shot flames 100 feet in the air. I actually had to go into the fire area to emergency close a stuck garage door, and it was just surreal.

It's unbelievable what a wind-driven fire can do. But firefighters estimate they saved over 4,000 houses! That's an amazing feat, but not hyperbole in the least bit. The wind was blowing steady over 25 mph, with 75 mph gusts. It could have been much worse.

http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=J7&Dato=20111118&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=1118004&Ref=PH

 

[jhoyt]

A little more information has come out--evidently it was a "perfect storm" situation; the fire started in the middle of the night, steep rugged terrain, locked gated communities, and nearly 100 mph wind! At times there wasn't anything the firefighters could do except get out of the way of the fire. Unbelievable.

 

[Doc Zinger]

Just goes to show you can think things are ok or maybe alitlle off and then all of a sudden you're in a world of s**t! Seems like we're not in as much control of things as we like to think.

Hope the affected will/can get the help they will need to put their lives back together. Looks like Reno got lucky it wasn't worse. Big thanks should be given to the fire crews.