CALIFORNIA FIRES II

I have not heard from Toni yet this morning (Thursday 7/3), but here is her update from yesterday afternoon.


It's getting better. Lots of helicopter drops. They have a basket and they scoop up ocean water! and drop it. Also borate drops in DC3s and C130s. They're making progress
Prayers are working!

"The primary thing that will drive this fire into residential neighborhoods- is Sundowner winds. These are unique winds that come up after sundown and blow the opposite direction! Fire will naturally burn UP a hill, sundowners make it burn downhill. ( See below for the technical description of them **)

The last time that happened here, the fire flew down the mountain, burned several hundred homes and then crossed the freeway and burned businesses in SB. Scary stuff.
So, please ask for prayers for the absence of wind in general and the absence of sundowners in particular.

The view this afternoon....now we can't see anything because of the smoke and I kinda like it better that way!"

**Called Sundowner winds because they often begin in the late afternoon or early evening, their onset is typically associated with a rapid rise in temperature and decrease in relative humidity. In the most extreme Sundowner wind events, wind speeds can be of gale force or higher, and temperatures over the coastal plain, and even at the coast itself, can rise significantly above 37.8°C (100°F). In addition to causing a dramatic change from the more typical marine-influenced local weather conditions, Sundowner wind episodes have resulted in significant property and agricultural damage, as well as extreme fire danger. They have, in fact, been associated with many of the most destructive conflagrations that have occurred in the Santa Barbara region.

Please keep praying!

Mamie