California Fires: Everyone ok?

[Pink Partridge]

These images and videos are absolutely horrific. I hope all of our California friends are safe.

 

[tvguy]

My son, DIL and Granddaughters live 10 miles from the Sylmar fire. So far they are fine. A bit frustrating trying to monitor on CNN and MSNBC as they are cutting away to do interviews with people remembering President Jimmy Carter. Nothing against President Carter, but I think the fire should be wall to wall coverage at this point. Mind you, I speak as someone who worked in the industry for 46 years. And it was my experience that there was an East Coast bias in network news coverage decisions. "just another California fire" probably was uttered this morning in some news coverage editorial meeting at the networks.

 

[Marrila]

My son, DIL and Granddaughters live 10 miles from the Sylmar fire. So far they are fine. A bit frustrating trying to monitor on CNN and MSNBC as they are cutting away to do interviews with people remembering President Jimmy Carter. Nothing against President Carter, but I think the fire should be wall to wall coverage at this point. Mind you, I speak as someone who worked in the industry for 46 years. And it was my experience that there was an East Coast bias in network news coverage decisions. "just another California fire" probably was uttered this morning in some news coverage editorial meeting at the networks.

Well, MSNBC and CNN cover stories everywhere. I'm sure they care, by the way. The fires are a big story as is the death of a president.

Maybe you should try using YouTube for live network coverage in Cali near or fairly near their area. Their search can be very helpful in finding multiple options.

 

[Pink Partridge]

My son, DIL and Granddaughters live 10 miles from the Sylmar fire. So far they are fine.

How scary! I hope they remain safe.

 

[slo]

My son, DIL and Granddaughters live 10 miles from the Sylmar fire. So far they are fine. A bit frustrating trying to monitor on CNN and MSNBC as they are cutting away to do interviews with people remembering President Jimmy Carter. Nothing against President Carter, but I think the fire should be wall to wall coverage at this point. Mind you, I speak as someone who worked in the industry for 46 years. And it was my experience that there was an East Coast bias in network news coverage decisions. "just another California fire" probably was uttered this morning in some news coverage editorial meeting at the networks.

Oh my…..you must be a nervous wreck. I’m sorry to hear this.
So many prayers for your son and his family to be safe during this horrible fire.
Thank goodness for cell phones and video chats so you can check on them.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

They need to start prescribed burns again to reduce the fuel from these events. California forest / brushy areas have been poorly managed for a good while now.

 

[cabanafrau]

My son, DIL and Granddaughters live 10 miles from the Sylmar fire. So far they are fine. A bit frustrating trying to monitor on CNN and MSNBC as they are cutting away to do interviews with people remembering President Jimmy Carter. Nothing against President Carter, but I think the fire should be wall to wall coverage at this point. Mind you, I speak as someone who worked in the industry for 46 years. And it was my experience that there was an East Coast bias in network news coverage decisions. "just another California fire" probably was uttered this morning in some news coverage editorial meeting at the networks.

I pray the situation works out well for your son, and for all of those impacted overall.

Living in the middle my whole life I've felt many times the neglect of not living near either coast in media coverage. I can imagine the frustration of feeling like that in such a stressful situation. Fortunately there are other options to try out in today's new media landscape, so I hope you're able to get good updates easily somehow.

 

[tvguy]

I pray the situation works out well for your son, and for all of those impacted overall.

Living in the middle my whole life I've felt many times the neglect of not living near either coast in media coverage. I can imagine the frustration of feeling like that in such a stressful situation. Fortunately there are other options to try out in today's new media landscape, so I hope you're able to get good updates easily somehow.

Yes, there are other sources, but soooo many of them are of questionable integrity.

 

[tvguy]

Well, MSNBC and CNN cover stories everywhere. I'm sure they care, by the way. The fires are a big story as is the death of a president.

Maybe you should try using YouTube for live network coverage in Cali near or fairly near their area. Their search can be very helpful in finding multiple options.

My issue is, I shouldn't have to work to find coverage of what is the biggest story in the nation today. As I mentioned, my issue with sources like YouTube is not knowing the reliability of the source.

 

[Marrila]

My issue is, I shouldn't have to work to find coverage of what is the biggest story in the nation today. As I mentioned, my issue with sources like YouTube is not knowing the reliability of the source.

NBCLA, KTLA and KCAL are all currently broadcasting live on YouTube.
I hope one or more channels will be of some help to you. It looks like they are continuously broadcasting news and updates on the fire. It should be much more information than you will be able to get from MSNBC and CNN.

 

[BrianL]

NBCLA, KTLA and KCAL are all currently broadcasting live on YouTube tube.
I hope one or more channels will be of some help to you.

Yes, I would assume the local channels would have more coverage than the national outlets.

I do hope everyone stays safe - it looks absolutely horrible.

 

[ClaraOswald]

For long term.....we really need to do something about climate change.

 

[gottalovepluto]

They need to start prescribed burns again to reduce the fuel from these events. California forest have been poorly managed for a good while now.

Despite this story going around CA still does prescribed burns- it just doesn’t do enough. US Forrest service did stop all prescribed burns back in Oct saying they were stretched too thin this year to manage the fires if they lost prescribed containment.

There is plenty of blame for all government agencies in this nightmare.

 

[tvguy]

NBCLA, KTLA and KCAL are all currently broadcasting live on YouTube.
I hope one or more channels will be of some help to you. It looks like they are continuously broadcasting news and updates on the fire. It should be much more information than you will be able to get from MSNBC and CNN.

Yes, we have been watching KCAL. I know several of the reporters there.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Our climate is changing, but I am not sure mankind has much effect on the cyclical changing of our climate. No amount of green new deal in America will make up for the pollution that China & India produce.

However, man has indeed had a colossal effect on us not doing the proper things to manage our forests lands due to burdensome regulations. If we cut fire-lanes and perform prescribed burns the size of these wildfires will come down, guaranteed. In the past, we did those things.

 

[jujubiee4]

NBCLA, KTLA and KCAL are all currently broadcasting live on YouTube.
I hope one or more channels will be of some help to you. It looks like they are continuously broadcasting news and updates on the fire. It should be much more information than you will be able to get from MSNBC and CNN.

I have to agree. The local channels will have all the coverage rather than National.

I actually opened my Peacock app and they are even showing the coverage locally as I never knew they
carried local channels.

 

[Genie+]

I’d be interested to see the data on previous record of ‘burns’ that made 1932 through 2009 fire impact to CA so much smaller.

I’ve been living in my area for over 20 years and never had fires threaten us until recently. One 2 years ago that bordered less than 2 miles from our home, and one a few months ago on the NJ/NY border burning on the other side of town. Plus in between had a month of Canada smoke and yellow/orange haze which was a new for me as well. Sure there were plenty of fires but they were either much smaller or further away.

It would help if I knew what we were supposed to be doing here in New Jersey. I live deep in the woods. My really big concern is the NJ Pine Barrens! That would be a disaster. But it seems like there’s something we should be doing?

https://www.fema.gov/doc/about/regions/regionii/3-risk-8c-nj-wildfire.doc#:~:text=This Forest community is one,per acre in some locales.

A hazard is what burns! The New Jersey Pinelands is a fire adapted forest community that takes advantage of wildfire to reproduce. This Forest community is one of the most hazardous wildland fuel types in the nation. The Pinelands are classified as Fuel Model B of the National Fire Danger Rating System with California chaparral and a number of other high hazard types. Fuel loadings exceed twenty tons per acre in some locales. This has been equated to having an inch of gasoline covering all of south and central New Jersey. Pinelands fires burn extremely hot and spread rapidly. Crown fires are fairly common, spreading from treetop to treetop, as is long range spotting where flying embers start new fires in advance of the main fire.

 

[cabanafrau]

In these types of stories CNN and the other national channels often rely on the local coverage anyway. If you can catch enough of the locals on YouTube you might be able to get a good amount of coverage.

As far as climate change one thing I absolutely believe is hurting is loss of tree canopy and the cooling effect it provides. I know just our metro area seems to have lost quite a bit of trees over the last 15 years and in my own neighborhood the change in the last five to seven is pretty surprising. Extend that out across the country and then consider all the rain forest lost in SA over the past 25 years and I definitely believe it's likely having a global impact.

Now is that part of the current wildfire problem? I have no idea. That is above my paygrade for sure.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Dad and I are fine about an hour from Disneyland. No fire here thank God. We have had very strong winds with a couple power outages. Please stay safe everyone! Extra hug to all.

 

[VandVsmama]

My son, DIL and Granddaughters live 10 miles from the Sylmar fire. So far they are fine. A bit frustrating trying to monitor on CNN and MSNBC as they are cutting away to do interviews with people remembering President Jimmy Carter. Nothing against President Carter, but I think the fire should be wall to wall coverage at this point. Mind you, I speak as someone who worked in the industry for 46 years. And it was my experience that there was an East Coast bias in network news coverage decisions. "just another California fire" probably was uttered this morning in some news coverage editorial meeting at the networks.

Do a Google search for LA news stations and watch their coverage directly on their websites or on their Youtube channels. KTLA, for example.