Latest news with #FlemmingBertelsen
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gifford Fire sent up a towering smoke plume on Tuesday. What happened?
After burning for more than a week, smoke from the Gifford Fire has become somewhat commonplace in San Luis Obispo County. But on Tuesday, a towering column of dark smoke dominated the sky, visible from around the county and prompting concerns from some that the fire — which reached upwards of 122,000 acres as it burned in the Garcia Wilderness on Tuesday morning — may be growing more quickly once again. Los Padres National Forest service representatives, however, said the changing smoke column wasn't cause for alarm. 'It's part of everyday fluctuation of the smoke column and fire intensity,' public information officer Flemming Bertelsen said Tuesday afternoon. 'You'll often see it ramping up and subsiding.' According to Bertelsen, it is normal for the smoke column to change day-to-day based off a number of variables like topography and wind patterns, as well as whatever is happening on the fire line. 'It's always changing,' he said. 'Strategic firing operation' helps cut off fire's forward progress The fire had burned 125,648 acres as of the latest update on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Los Padres National Forest. Containment remained at 33%. Later Tuesday, Gifford Fire officials said 'favorable weather conditions, manageable fire behavior and the full readiness of fire crews provided the ideal circumstances to begin a strategic firing operation today.' During that operation, ground crews ignited vegetation along established and reinforced containment lines around the border of the Garcia Wilderness. Helicopters also assisted in the more steep and inaccessible areas along the Garcia Ridge, a Gifford Fire representative wrote in an email to The Tribune. 'This action was taken to stop the fire's forward progress,' the representative said, noting that that was likely part of the reason for increased smoke around San Luis Obispo County on Tuesday. Officials anticipate having the firing operation done by Wednesday. How is air quality in SLO County during Gifford Fire? Meanwhile on Tuesday, the county's Air Pollution Control District said it was actively monitoring potential impacts of smoke from the fire. The agency said in a news release it expected SLO County skies to 'be hazy' with fine particulate concentrations and ozone 'higher than normal as long as the fire remains active.' It also warned for the potential for high levels of ash. Due to 'continued northwesterly flow aloft,' air quality was actually expected to be good across most of the county, the release said. Impacts were instead expected to be limited mostly to the southeastern portion of SLO County in the area of the Carrizo Plain and Cuyama. Those areas should expect an increase in smoke in the afternoon before clearing out overnight, the agency said. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
California wildfire scorches 83,000 acres and threatens hundreds of structures
A huge wildfire tearing through California's Los Padres national forest is threatening hundreds of homes and structures, after injuring at least three people in the days before. The Gifford fire has already scorched nearly 84,000 acres (34,000 hectares) in coastal Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, north of Los Angeles, and was still burning out of control on Tuesday evening, according to fire officials. It is 9% contained. It is now the largest fire in California this year so far, overtaking the Madre fire, which burned 80,779 acres last month, also in San Luis Obispo county. A motorist was hospitalized with burn injuries after getting out of his vehicle and being overrun by flames, said Flemming Bertelsen, a spokesperson for the US Forest Service. Two contract employees assisting firefighters were also hurt when their all-terrain vehicle overturned. The blaze is threatening more than 800 structures and has forced the closure of the highway in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people in Santa Barbara county. Evacuation orders were in effect in parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Ranchers evacuated cattle as aircraft made water drops on the encroaching flames. The blaze grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted on Friday along State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield. 'That gave us multiple fronts, and the flames started fanning out in many directions,' Bertelsen said. 'The fire is gobbling up chaparral and brushland and running up very steep slopes.' More than 1,900 personnel are battling the blaze. Firefighters made great progress on the west, north and east flanks of the fire and significant efforts were made to ensure structure protection on the south end, officials said in an update on Monday evening. Officials said they expected more helicopters to be able to deliver significant water drops on Tuesday with a drone doing reconnaissance. But officials cautioned dangerous conditions were ahead. A warming and drying trend was expected from Wednesday through the weekend, with temperatures up to 90F to 100F (32C to 38C) on Thursday and Friday. The drought and heat were expected to increase fire behavior, officials said. The National Weather Service's Los Angeles office has warned that the fire is generating considerable smoke, with smoke expected to move toward the south and east. A large smoke column formed as the blaze burned through steep terrain, Capt Scott Safechuck, a spokesperson with the Santa Barbara county fire department, told the Associated Press: 'A lot of it's in really inaccessible areas where even bulldozers can't even get into.' The causes of the fire are under investigation.
The Guardian
06-08-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
California wildfire scorches 83,000 acres and threatens hundreds of structures
A huge wildfire tearing through California's Los Padres national forest is threatening hundreds of homes and structures, after injuring at least three people in the days before. The Gifford fire has already scorched nearly 84,000 acres (34,000 hectares) in coastal Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, north of Los Angeles, and was still burning out of control on Tuesday evening, according to fire officials. It is 9% contained. It is now the largest fire in California this year so far, overtaking the Madre fire, which burned 80,779 acres last month, also in San Luis Obispo county. A motorist was hospitalized with burn injuries after getting out of his vehicle and being overrun by flames, said Flemming Bertelsen, a spokesperson for the US Forest Service. Two contract employees assisting firefighters were also hurt when their all-terrain vehicle overturned. The blaze is threatening more than 800 structures and has forced the closure of the highway in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people in Santa Barbara county. Evacuation orders were in effect in parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Ranchers evacuated cattle as aircraft made water drops on the encroaching flames. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@ In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at The blaze grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted on Friday along State Route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield. 'That gave us multiple fronts, and the flames started fanning out in many directions,' Bertelsen said. 'The fire is gobbling up chaparral and brushland and running up very steep slopes.' More than 1,900 personnel are battling the blaze. Firefighters made great progress on the west, north and east flanks of the fire and significant efforts were made to ensure structure protection on the south end, officials said in an update on Monday evening. Officials said they expected more helicopters to be able to deliver significant water drops on Tuesday with a drone doing reconnaissance. But officials cautioned dangerous conditions were ahead. A warming and drying trend was expected from Wednesday through the weekend, with temperatures up to 90F to 100F (32C to 38C) on Thursday and Friday. The drought and heat were expected to increase fire behavior, officials said. The National Weather Service's Los Angeles office has warned that the fire is generating considerable smoke, with smoke expected to move toward the south and east. A large smoke column formed as the blaze burned through steep terrain, Capt Scott Safechuck, a spokesperson with the Santa Barbara county fire department, told the Associated Press: 'A lot of it's in really inaccessible areas where even bulldozers can't even get into.' The causes of the fire are under investigation.
