NYT/Reuters: Wind-Driven Wildfire Threatens California Vineyards

[DeepModem Mom]

Wind - Driven Wildfire Threatens California Vineyards
By REUTERS
Published: September 23, 2006

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A wind-driven wildfire on Saturday threatened some of California's premier vineyards and the winemaking city of Napa, one of several blazes kindled across the state by dry conditions and seasonal Santa Ana winds.

The 400-acre (160-hectare) Napa fire started on Friday morning off a rural highway north of the wine lovers' haven by what fire officials believe was a downed power line.

Firefighters had cornered the blaze northwest of the city and were hoping to have it contained by Sunday evening.

The Napa Valley, about 40 miles north of San Francisco, is famed for its wine production and beauty and is a popular tourist spot.

Forecasts for low humidity and winds of up to 60 mph (96 kph) starting on Saturday morning had fire officials across the state on high alert throughout the weekend....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-environment-wildfires-california.html

[Truthiness Inspector]

1. Oh no

I hope they are able to get this under control soon. Napa Valley and the surrounding area is such a special place. (Not that all wildfires aren't bad of course.)

[Gormy Cuss]

2. SF Chronicle says Napa fire is about 60% contained

It's west of Yountville, one of the better known towns in the valley.
We have had very windy afternoons all week and it's prime fire season -- not a good combo. The East Bay Parks district has closed several parks near me because of the fire danger.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/23/BAGDILBJRD6.DTL

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Thanks for this report, GC! nt

[Porcupine]

4. Fire is an essential part of the regions ecosystem.

and vineyards don't burn. If you cut manzanita scrub and plant grapes on every non-vertical acre this is going to happen.

Yountville is in the middle of some very rugged coastal foothills. There isn't a lot of flat land near Yountville. The grow great wine there though. The vines will be fine. The wineries might take a beating though.

[Ecumenist]

6. Amen, Porcupine....

People from other parts of the country don't understand what it means to be in a Mediterranean climate. The area EVOLVED to burn, for crying out loud. It's damaging but it's part of nature, just as tornatic storms and monsoons are in other parts of the country and world.

[kestrel91316]

7. They can't have evolved to burn. There's no such thing as

evolution.

I guess you didn't get the memo.

[Ecumenist]

8. Oh yeah, that's right....

I forgot.. Hmmm, I need to remember to keep myself in line with the talking points and I can't expect to be a "REAL" christian, seeing as how there is no such thing as evolution and the world is only 5000 years old.. Thank you so much for reminding me of the "truthiness" of no evolution! Oh thank you...:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :banghead:

[Ecumenist]

5. I live about an hour east of Napa

it's not quite to that point, trust me.