Wild fire

I worked in Oakland when the Caldecott fire occurred. It was so hot the contents of the fire resistant homes burst into flames taking out the houses.

 

Wholly crap it's 92F and 3% humidity today.
Edit: 2%

I have seen 3% a few times, never 2.

 

Fuel load not weather or climate change controls wild fire danger.
Fuel availability not fire weather controls boreal wildfire severity and carbon emissions | Nature Climate Change

 

They don't read scientific papers or know anything about forestry. But they think they are the authority when it comes to how to take care of the environment...

 

This fire, earlier this year, got within 6 miles of my retreat, which is almost close enough for ember attack). That firefront got to be 60 miles wide, and destroyed hundreds of buildings, killed lots of people, and downed one aircraft (with an American crew) and at least one helicopter. When I move onto this retreat in a few years I'll be installing an underground fire bunker.

 

The bunker I'm looking at is from one of the few with proper fire certification. It has an air vent which you close when the firefront approaches, which effectively makes it a sealed unit. The unit gives 1hr of breathable air for the number of people it is designed for, currently either 6 or 12. It is not designed for an extended stay, just until the firefront passes, which normally only takes a few minutes.

Wildfire Safety Bunkers

 

It's best to deny the fire fuel.

 

I agree, but the local council doesn't. Even in areas where there was large loss of life and property, the local government will still prosecute you for removing trees. You can expect a fine of around $1000 for every tree removed.

 

What can you do on your own property?

 

And how's about making fire-lanes?

 

We're permitted to clear several metres each side of a fenceline. I don't know about a fire break. The most dangerous trees, which are dead or really old, are the most protected, regarded as wildlife habitat. My neighbour had a dead tree that was in danger of falling onto his house, council refused to allow it's removal, and then in a storm it was hit by lightning and split almost in half. Council reluctantly permitted it's removal after that.

Some trees fall over during or soon after big storms. It happens regularly. You just need to cover up the bulldozer tracks

 

Well you can't fix stupid.

 

I hate micro-management,Said .Gov really has no business poking around...other than approving a sewage system
I once was told I needed a permit to clean out a culvert under my driveway,Informed said permit dude to stuff it up his...well you know,We have been taking care of the culverts since 44' without a ''permit''

 

I cut more of my field than I ever have and it's barely july.
But I got a bunch of smaller dead elm trees now, about 10% of the smaller elms died. They dried out, got little bugs boring into them, guess they didn't have enough sap to flood out the bugs. They are small enough they should fit in my little 4 inch wood chipper if I don't buck them to stove size which I do if they are over 2 or 3 inches in diameter and not too twiggy.
Next problem, I'll have stumps to deal with. I think I want to build a stump grinder. I might just blow them up but worry about collateral damage.
I have a bunch of stumps that I hoed the dirt back, cut the tree off off at dirt level but the stump slowly starts protruding above dirt level and I find it with the mower in a bad way.
I don't mind craters.

Had a 1% humidity day.