The Marshall Fire: One year later

[@wiretamer5710]

As an Australian living in a VERY fire prone area of the world, was amazed that the human tole of this fire was so low. One of the things I dread about in suburban environments is people getting trapped in the cars as they flee at the last minute. But the roads in these videos are wide and the housing estates relatively new, so large falling trees blocking roads does not seem to have been an issue. The typical houses shown in the videos burning, were often two story wooden building with complex roof profiles and verandas. They are just designed to catch embers. And of course large windows are great for daily living, but are a fatal weakness for houses in fire. Once the heat brakes the glass, the embers are free to enter and the entire house is usually gone within 30 minutes. Designing houses to resist fire is a complex business, but low profile and underground in the way to go. Wire mesh to prevent embers getting under houses and jammed into eves, is a must. The smoother you make the outer surface of the house, the better. Another thing is vegetation. Clear properties is not the way to go for ember attack. Fire resistant trees and shrubs catch embers. The last thing you want is an unobstructed hail of embers hitting your house like a blow torch. Vegetation around your home is NOT generally the cause of house destruction. Australian native pants and trees are infamous for their flammable oils, but it is RARE for trees around our house to be burnt. It is normal to find a house burnt to the ground surrounded by a garden that is intact. Buildings and cars are destroyed y ember attack, but the plants and trees all around survive. Its a radical idea, but rebuilding a home can take three directions: ignore the risks and rebuild what you had. Build a fire RESISTANT fortress, that may not be to your liking as a home, or build a ‘disposable’ home that you expect to loose, and build a fire resistant bunker, to preserve your valuables. The trick is, its not to save you. You leave, but important things MAY survive in the bunker. Its a lifestyle choice. A bunker can double as an office den, or a root cellar. Big topic!

[@reginaphalange7959]

I doubt there was much thought about fire mitigation when those neighborhoods were built. People who live in the mountains are a lot more mindful. I just don't think anyone ever imagined anything like this. I live in the area and was in total shock. There is a lot of rebuilding going on now, and I really hope they keep fire safety in mind. If the Marshall fire didn't teach them that, then I honestly don't know what will.

[@humanbeingscanb2evil]

Does Australia allow burn offs to get rid of the flu build up? In nz our forestry use to use all parts of the tree which helped keep the land clear but a bureaucrat by the name of Jacinda Ardern and her leftie do gooders came in and said only the main part of tree could be worth anything and used so forestry left the rest and then when nz north is east coast had those huge storms all that dry untouched wood that forestry could no longer use come down the rivers with the floods,it was a huge mess,hopefully the locals cleaned it up and are using it for firewood or something but then again nz is becoming a nanny state,oh nanny government wipe my arse. Anyway shit it worse when city Slickers with bullshit phds in indoctrination get involved with out of city things,lol,it’s just a pure fact. The indoctrinated government in holland are getting rid of their farmers,same in Ireland,billgates is now the largest farmland owner in America but he ain’t farming the land because he believes in fake meat( wonder what man made bullshit cancer causing crap will be in that) whities stopped doing burn offs but ppl like the American Indians and even the aboriginals in aussie knew burn offs were good but white man (and woman ) come along and go we don’t want burn offs cause it looks ugly and the smoke etc. yes burn offs can be dangerous but that’s where you have to time it right and have appliances ready waiting to kick into gear at the sign of a good breeze,wind is always the worse thing for fires,it pushes the fire along and even worse it can push embers along starting new fires miles ahead of the main fire,so windy days is a big hell no for burn offs. We have to get back to those basics so the really bad fires can’t happen. Backburns into fires can also safe land and protect houses,it takes away the fires flu but again you need to be careful hopefully the original fire will suck the back burn fire towards it but again it’s a risk in windy conditions,but if the main raging fire is coming up the hill towards your home ,then they may as well try something cause throwing water on it ain’t stopping it,we are a flea on an elephants arse when it comes to Mother Nature. Fires die when winds stop feeding it Or when the flu runs out Or when Mother Earth rains or snows. So keep the dry undergrowth brush and dry grasses cleaned up,less flu,less super fires.

[@anneteller3128]

3:04 This guy in the video says in Colorado they are accustomed to forest fires all the time but this one was different. That is what the people in California said about their last fire. I notice 3 things different about the Colorado fire compared with the fire that just happened in Hawaii. In Colorado, first thing was sheriff's department was on it checking locations of downed wires and smoke and then sheriff's department worked hard to evacuate people even knocking on doors. Also, there was an emergency warning that went out over cell phones while they still had cell phone service. Second, in Colorado, the fire department was on it right away fighting the fire and trying to contain it, and third, the roads were more generous and there was more than one way out for most people. All three of these were missing in Lahaina fire that so many people died in. They didn't receive the emergency warning while their cell phones still worked, by the time most tried to get out, there was only one road available to get off the island and traffic stopped by abandoned cars; the fire department wasn't on top of it from the start. Most Lahaina videos don't show any first responders knocking on doors and trying to get people out of harm's way. They were truly sitting ducks, and I imagine the body count will be much higher. Even Californians who also have fires all the time, said this last fire in Paradise, CA was very strange the way it burned houses to white ashes but left all the green trees in the neighborhoods standing, and other oddities. If this is evil doers coordinating these fires, maybe they chose Lahaina because there is really only one way in and out and they knew the body count would be higher. I once read that the first time may be a coincidence, the second time may be unfortunate, but the third time is a trend. And, now we have had 3 unusual fires in 3 different US States in less than 2 years. I say we have a trend on our hands. Add to this the Canadian fires whose smoke blew down into the US and it makes you wonder.

[@EastmanEditing]

Thanks for mentioning that it's normal for trees/plants to not be burnt. Seems the majority of people are still having a really hard time with that even though it happens all over the world and even with smaller fires that don't make the news. Brush/grass fires are particularly prone to this because they are low to the ground fires propelled only by wind. Forest fires in the middle of a mountain can hop tree to tree even without wind (though wind is still obviously a factor, it just isn't as necessary) because the trees are so close together and pine trees are simply more fire prone because of their thin branches and pine needles hold less moisture than lush leaves do. The ground is covered in dead, dry pine needles too which is also much easier to burn than lush green grass or plain dirt/sand. Homes, even ones built in the mountains tend to have other vegetation surrounding their homes such as grass, shrubs, flowers, etc...unlike many of the mountains in CO & CA which are bare aside from tall skinny pine trees. Point being, yes. It is strange how mother nature and fires work. It never won't be eerie and evil looking. Fire is just about the most sickening thing on earth. And just like tornadoes can destroy a home and leave the neighbor's untouched, it will never "make sense" or be fair. And as many forest fires as there are, it's still very rare for cities to be hit. That is why everyone thought the site was "so weird" because even Californians and Coloradans mostly have never seen neighborhoods destroyed. It is a sight to behold, speaking from first hand experience.

[@mariknutson7307]

I am so glad that you have pointed out that the vegetation is not generally the cause of the house destruction. I live in the Pacific Northwest and the Firewise (Regional fire prevention) group is recommending that everyone clear tress and shrubs from around the houses in the rural forested areas. Insurance companies are now notifying us with new policies that require we do that or they reserve the right to come in and remove brush and trees at our expense, and also to deny coverage. The recommendation may be valid for fire ecosystems in E. Washington, but make zero sense on the West side. My trees and shrubs create a microenvironment of cool shade, and removing them would create a heat island that would encourage my house to burn. I am a member of the King County Rural Forest Commission and I keep trying to address this and I am ignored by King County officials, who proceed to endorse clearing and grading for fire prevention. Not even recognizing that 100' clearance, which some idiot recommended (I know personally- we got our forestry degrees together and he is an idiot) who was hired by Firewise to provide guidance), will do nothing to stop a fire during high winds. The fires in Oregon jumped the Columbia River where it is a mile wide. No logic or common sense in these policies. My former co-student has a E WA mindset- he lived there and doesn't understand ecology. And now the entire region is following his recommendation. The Lahaina fire was indiscriminate regarding vegetation- I analyzed it yesterday in ArcPro. The fire seemed to behave like a tornado and hit and miss. It also didn't matter the age of the house, the type of construction, or the type of roof. Cleared veg or not, or who owned the houses. I cross checked burned and unburned with ownership and construction, and vegetation, and saw no significant variable.

[@AndrewJames-dv2wy]

I lost everything and I’m 21 in college , lesson for people be grateful for what you have I’m tired of people not .

[@lauraharrington6424]

Thank you for saving the pups!!

[@Cherytatime]

As a survivor of a disaster that wreck my house back in 2000, I hope people realize that saving yourself or having your family surviving that disaster is the most important thing rather than prioritizing your house.

[@PolybagPat]

Have a friend in Superior, on the east side, near Hodgson-Harris reservoir who’s house was luckily spared. Although it did get close, the whole apartment complex luckily stayed untouched. Was on FaceTime with him that morning when he decided to head to the store. Little did he know it had already started, he wasn’t able to return to his house for 5 days after due to the road closures and utilities being turned off. I unfortunately haven’t visited since due to work, but it’s so saddening seeing what happened to Superior, especially downtown and all the new construction and housing. The new hotel I planned to stay at unfortunately burned down as well.

[@reginaphalange7959]

I live about halfway between where the Marshall fire started and the Middle Fork location. That was one terrifying day. The area was a tinder box and the wind was insane. My whole building was shaking and I could hear objects hitting it. I watched the coverage online most of that day and night, hoping the forecast snow would come soon. I can't even put into words what it's like to see familiar neighborhoods burning down just a few miles away, wondering about people you know and worrying that a tiny spark could set your own place on fire at any moment.

[@carriesullivan8234]

My condolences. I'm a springs native. Moved to Oregon in the late 90's we have had so much pain and displacement from wild fires here recently. We feel your pain. 😢

[@reginaphalange7959]

@@carriesullivan8234 Thank you, I appreciate that. I have relatives in California also, and we share horror stories. We all feel your pain as well. 😥

[@badmonkey2222]

Why do you build your home in a known burn area?

[@reginaphalange7959]

@@badmonkey2222Don't know... why don't you ask someone who has?

[@WowCoolHorse]

@@badmonkey2222 I highly doubt this person built their own home, but even if they did, an event like this is highly unlikely.

[@jackburgess9482]

Fires like this is also hard on the firefighters fighting them, all the training they've had, people expecting them to save them and their property from the fire, which they do most of the time. Then a fire like this comes along and takes everything in it's path and there's nothing the firefighters can do to stop it!! As a 35 year Wildland Firefighter I know first hand how discouraging it is to lose even one structure, but to lose so many take a toll on the fire crews, they feel like they've let the citizens they swore to protect down.

[@mattreynolds612]

And literally a foot of snow a day later. Just so unfortunate.

[@hisimagenme]

I grew up in Colorado. I'm 53. I lived anywhere from S Denver, Thornton, Arvada, Lafayette, Del Camino to Firestone CO. There were droughts just as bad, but no sparks, winds but no sparks, that's why it had never happened before, God watched over and this time He let the sparks fly, so people would become people again. That's what these tragedies do, they turn hermitizing, me me me, people into sacrificial connecting people. He let's us remember every once and a while, and He protects far more people than we deserve. No one learns from this stuff... it's always the same - God gets no mention and yet everyone cried out His name, everyone, no matter what they say they believe, in the end "oh God, Jesus, dear Lord" those words come from every set of lips. Not "oh budda, sweet. Mohammed!" But God, Jesus... wake up people. Could it happen again, in another town or city anywhere, yep. Should it have happened far more often, yep. Will anyone learn? Well if history is the teacher, you already know the answer. Likely your either rationalizing or mocking this as you read, or... maybe... just maybe... you're thinking. Thinking about it... don't let this moment go if that's you. Turn towards this God, seek Him like you've never sought anything in your life, and be saved, from more than fires, floods, tornadoes, terrible tragedies, but from self absorbed blind living. You'll stop believing everything the TV crew says and start really knowing the truth. This was very sad, no just because of the fire and its cost, but because people will go on without ever really knowing why these things happen.

[@zore8401]

My house was a victim in that fire In superior, it was the scariest moments of my life as I was trapping in my home with no car

[@TheRealMetro20]

My best friend was actually lived in Boulder Colorado and I was sooooo scared when the fire was going on

[@derekvandyke5132]

I think homes in forested communities need fire proof shelters in all homes that would save many lives

[@LUNITICWILL]

I remember what I was doing that day. taking a load of steel product from Longmont down to I think it was the Ridgegate apartments across from the Ridgegate RTD station. I saw the start of the fire about 11:30am or so while I was on I-25. on my way back, the smoke was THICKER and once I got back to the shop, I found out what had happened

[@DougGrinbergs]

Just first 75 seconds hard to watch for this fire evacuee☹️ Will try to watch the rest some other time

[@aprilsmith3683]

When you said that it was December I was appalled... Words mean little... What does one say... 🇿🇦 May this Just speechless...

[@DougGrinbergs]

Living through this fire - some 30,000 evacuating en masse, mostly east - has caused me to rethink the role of autonomous vehicles and TaaS - transportation as a service. Can't imagine evacuating with just small backpack on my bicycle ☹️

[@dastrnad]

Good point. A car isn’t necessary. Until it is!

[@Wherethewindblows524]

Team work 🙏💙🙏💙🙏 thank u and looks frightening

[@HYD_Eagle]

Sad sad day

[@kevaflores1476]

I would get my dogs! End of story!

[@sarahgreenslade1219]

And me I'm glad I don't have deal with wildfires in the UK 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@MurrayPeeps]

How the eff does this not have 20 million views?

[@BraselGtag]

I went to Colorado at the time im still scared of this experience.

[@kurotsuki7427]

Ive seen fires like this, hight, hot, fast. Fortunantly for me when i saw these they were racing up hills and mountains away from the few houses in the area. But if people had lived up there they wouldn't have had time to get away.

[@badmonkey2222]

I have zero sympathy for people that build these homes and don't burn areas and forested areas that naturally burn in cycles, and then went to act like it's a surprise that it happened. That woman in the blue dress talking about this and that and acting like it was a complete shock that it happened there, young lady there right in the middle over the area that is burned over and over for centuries!!! Get it through your head it doesn't happen everywhere but it does happen in forested areas that naturally burn and that are supposed to be naturally burn!!!

[@Wyzerwizardness79]

Powerlessness😢

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

Someone should tell that woman crock pots are for lol. What a strange thing to worry about. Literally one of the only things meant to be left on all day with no one home.

[@pvtread5207]

Insurance is such a freaking scam

[@julieannspas518]

DEW

[@beavis4170]

FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! Heheheheheheheheh....

[@briankistner4331]

@Beavis What a asshole your are!! Don't think you'd be laughing if you had been there. Hell, I'm in Ft. Collins but had lived in the area the first 28 years of my life. That was a stressful day watching the fire move East so damn fast.

[@sarahgreenslade1219]

People lost there homes and possessions