California's Hog Fire is producing its own thunderstorms

[Zorro]

Source: Washington Post

Firefighters have received some unexpected help from the wildfire itself

Large wildfires can make their own weather, and the Hog Fire in California’s Lassen County has been busy doing exactly that.

Located five miles west of the town of Susanville in Northern California and about 75 miles northwest of Reno, Nev., the Hog Fire has been burning since Saturday and had torched 9,420 acres as of Wednesday morning. Its cause is still under investigation.

Firefighters have been struggling to combat the blaze, hampered by strong, erratic winds and rounds of thunderstorms. On Wednesday, the fire was 9 percent contained.

But fire officials have been getting a little bit of help, thanks in part to the fire itself. Twice in two days, the Hog Fire has helped produce its own thunderstorms, which then dumped rain on the flames below. Hail even pelted the wildfire Tuesday, due to a hybrid storm that was both occurring on its own and exacerbated by the wildfire plume.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/07/22/hog-fire-thunderstorms/

[Mz Pip]

1. That's so interesting!

I was in Lassen Park on Monday and there were plenty of thUnder clouds. Had no idea that firs could do this.

[NNadir]

2. One of the happiest stories from early in my marriage took place in a thunderstorm at Lassen.

There was huge lightening, and my wife was worried it would strike us.

I assured her confidently that the mountain next to us was so huge that surely the lightening would strike the mountain before coming t our level.

Not more than 60 seconds later, we came around the bend on the road and there was a huge tree - or what was left of the tree - probably a meter and a half in diameter at the base - blown into toothpicks, all of which were still smoldering.

All new husbands should look like fools at some point, and that was my best chance to do it, and I did it admirably I think.

At the time, she was not amused, but now that we're old, it can generate a laugh.

[kag]

3. Great story, superbly told! n/t

[LastDemocratInSC]

5. Well, it was good to get that foolish look out of the way early.

[Jedi Guy]

8. Wait, you're only supposed to look like a fool once?

Damn, my wife has been getting a lot of freebies over the years. I wish I'd known that earlier!

[NNadir]

10. I didn't mean to imply "just once."

One of our favorite jokes around my house when my sons are home is, "Dad, you're doing it wrong." They learned this from our old married couple bickering, which is a wonderful place to get.

I'm always doing it wrong, but I'm very pleased, extremely pleased in fact, that my wife is here to let me know I'm "doing it wrong."

I've been married a long time and am very much in love and would be devastated if I couldn't be told I'm doing it wrong.

[Jedi Guy]

11. Okay, glad it isn't just me then!

It sounds like you've been married a lot longer than I have (my wife and I will have our 10th in March of next year), and it also sounds like you're very happily married. I wish you many more years of happiness with your wife and the rest of your family!

[NNadir]

12. You've got a way to go to match me in married tenure.

We are in multiple decades.

When we're not happily bickering, and she complains about growing old (and I definitely wanted to grow old with her, so it's a wish granted) I remind her that the alternative to growing old was dying young.

I wish you and your beloved as many happy years and joys as we have known.

[jeffreyi]

4. Large wildfires make their own weather

Including thunderstorms. That said, the hail that fell on the Hog Fire is pretty neat.

[Bayard]

6. In reading the article,

I didn't see any explanation why this is called the HOG fire. I was expecting to see it started from methane at a hog farm.

[csziggy]

7. The location is at the Hog Flat Reservoir

Hog Fire
General Information
CAL FIRE Incident Yes
Last Updated 7/23/2020
Date Started 7/18/2020
Location Information Hog Flat Reservoir, West of Susanville
Counties Lassen
Acres Burned 9,517
Percentage Contained 26%
Current Conditions
The fire remained active throughout the night and still remains approximately 5 miles from Susanville.
Firefighters continue to take suppressive action and construct containment lines.
A Red Flag warning has beem extended through the day until this evening, with anticipated heavy winds and dry lightening in the area of the fire.
An essential fiber optic cable was damaged by the fire early Monday July 20th and has hampered communication and connectivity for Susanville, CAL FIRE Headquarters and the Incident Command Base.
Technicians are underway to restore internet and cellular service to the community.
Evacuations: Community of Lake Forest Estates and North and South side of Highway 36 from A-1 to Willard Creek Road
Road Closure: Highway 44 from the Highway 36 and 44 juncture to A-21. Highway 36 from Highway 44 and 36 juncture to Westwood. County Road A-1 is closed from Gallatin Road Highway 36.
Cause Under Investigation
Administrative Unit CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc
Control Statement Evacuation orders in place.
Archive Year 2020
Status Active
Final No
Lat/Long [40.420886, -120.86375]

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/7/18/hog-fire/

[Polybius]

9. Those poor pigs

Fire is a horrible way to die.