Summer (2020) is here and so are the wildfires - what you should be aware of

[SMAlset]

A number of wildfires (some likely caused by fireworks over 4th of July) have started cropping up in California and elsewhere in the western/southwestern states. For the latest info on where they are check out the CAL FIRE website. Their Cal Fire Map and Incident Information section will keep you informed.

Welcome to CAL FIRE

If you have a Model S or Model X, remember you can filter out the smoke by using your Bioweapon Defense setting on your car. Models 3 and Y do not have the same level of HEPA filtration or setting, so remember to go to Recirculate and turn up your fan speed. I'd say it doesn't hurt to have a N95 mask kept in your car during fire season to filter out the small particulate matter, except now with covid if you don't already have one you probably won't be able to find one unlike last fire season.

People traveling 101 near 152 (near Gilroy) may detect smoke from the Crews Fire that started Sunday 7/5 around 3pm. It's a bit east of the Gilroy Superchargers and northwest of the Hollister (Casa de Fruita) Superchargers on 152. 1,000 Acres and no containment as of apx. 7pm tonight. The winds are currently blowing away from the Gilroy Superchargers but reports were that the fire is heading in the 152 direction.

Here's a photo from north of the fire near 101 in Morgan Hill looking south towards Gilroy. At 4pm it was only 150 acres. There is an ongoing wildfire in Morgan Hill just east of the Morgan Hill Superchargers at 101. It's in Henry Coe State Park area on the other side of Anderson Lake and reported as 70% contained.

Crews Fire/near Gilroy, 101

 

[SMAlset]

New fire to report, Patterson fire, Described by CAL FIRE as Hwy 580 and Patterson Pass Rd, west of Tracy. 40 acres now. Might be affecting travel along 580.

 

[SMAlset]

New fire to report, Patterson fire, Described by CAL FIRE as Hwy 580 and Patterson Pass Rd, west of Tracy. 40 acres now. Might be affecting travel along 580.

View attachment 561358

Appears tonight that Patterson Fire has been extinguished as I'm not seeing it listed at all now.

The Crews Fire however is only 20% contained as of tonight's reporting and grown to 5400 acres. Expect smoky skies in the area.



Anyone driving through the area to comment on how close to 152 it is?

 

[ecarfan]

There will almost certainly be many PG&E “Public Safety Power Shutoffs” this fire season. See Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)

I am prepared. If you order a Powerwall today you might be able to get it installed in the fall.

 

[SMAlset]

People driving 101 between Gilroy and the south SF Bay area North of San Martin and Morgan Hill (SuperCharger) will be noticing the strong smoke odor from the Crews Fire this Sunday morning (101 and 152 near the Gilroy and Hollister Superchargers). CalFire has knocked it down to 96% as of this morning but the wind pattern has changed today and now the smell of smoke is very pronouced north of there. From the Wunderground map of the area with the Windstream layer turned on it looks like 152 into Los Banos and Route 5 are likely still experiencing the smoke smell as well.

 

[SMAlset]

Hope people will continue to use this thread this Summer/Fall to report areas of our State experiencing wildfire conditions that can affect drivers.

 

[mociaf9]

CalFire has knocked it down to 96% as of this morning

Just FYI if you aren't already aware, the "% contained" of a wild fire isn't describing how much of the fire is extinguished or that it will soon be put out. It's strictly about how much of the perimeter has had a control line completed around it.

Containment | NWCG

 

[aesculus]

Just FYI if you aren't already aware, the "% contained" of a wild fire isn't describing how much of the fire is extinguished or that it will soon be put out. It's strictly about how much of the perimeter has had a control line completed around it.

Containment | NWCG

And for CalFire that generally means a bulldozer line.

 

[SMAlset]

Not my area but saw that the Apple Fire near Cherry Vallley and Beaumont, in Southern California (Riverside County east of Interstate 10) was pretty bad and around 8000 people are under evacuation orders. Last I saw it was 0% containment.

Apple Fire near Cherry Valley, California spreads closer to Oak Glen - Wildfire Today

 

[SMAlset]

I think the Gov. said on the noon news there were 37 major “complex” (several fires treated as one) wildfires raging across Calif now thanks to the lightning strikes and extremely hot weather State wise.

For Air Quality status here’s the AirNow website page set to California info.
State AQI | AirNow.gov

 

[SMAlset]

Lightning wildfires all over the State now as you guys know. I shared some info on the Energy forum (we're due to have our 2nd day of solar/PW install done tomorrow ) that's fire related so thought I'd link to the post there for simplicity sake. If you are following the news on the fires, the link and that thread has some good maps and info on PG&E power area.

PG&E rolling blackouts during heatwave (Aug 14 2020 —> ?)

 

[SMAlset]

Right now Hwy 152 (Pacheco Pass) from 101 to Dinosaur Point at the San Luis Reservoir is in the Evacuation Zone. 101 nearer San Jose (85 and Silver Creek Valley Country Club) is close to be in the Evac zone and the Coyote Creek Golf Course on 101 is bordering the Warning zone. If the fire head west towards 101 or south towards 152 all traffic along those corridors will be impacted going north/south and east/west.

 

[SMAlset]

JUST A HEADS UP FOR Anyone having to travel 101 south of San Jose, letting you know CAL FIRE has just extended the Evacuation area for a good part of 101 going towards San Jose from about Cochrane Road in Morgan Hill (yes, there's a Supercharger there that is very close now to the Evac and Evac warning sections. Some of the homes you see on the east side of Target are in the warning area now and the homes up on the Lake Anderson Ridge have been instructed to evacuate NOW. Here's the map I'm seeing now from CAL FIRE.