Drought and fire

[GasBandit]

My state continues to burn, and continues to be held in the throes of a record drought that is giving numbers that put even the dust bowl to shame.

The boston globe put together some pictures, they're very powerful. I live here, and a great deal of it was eye opening to me as well.

 

[Chibibar]

Dang buddy stay safe.

A friend of mine telling me that a lot of fire in the Austin area are cause by arson

 

[Dave]

Dang buddy stay safe.

A friend of mine telling me that a lot of fire in the Austin area are cause by arson

There is always arson but sometimes in these cases it's more "durr durr! Fire spreads?!?" stupidity. Like dipshits throwing cigarette butts out of car windows or people burning brush, etc. So while there may be some maliciousness involved (like they say in the case of the four teens being sought in a fire that killed 2 people) I think most are natural or accidents. Hell, in the one with the teens they were seen running from a wooded area, which says to me they didn't realize what they had done or it was accidental.

Still, mighty powerful pictures and I'm glad I'm not there. Now let's get out & pray for more rain!

 

[figmentPez]

Wow, that is shocking. Thanks for the link.

 

[CrimsonSoul]

I'm guessing gas is from Texas. I live just south of Houston myself

 

[figmentPez]

I'm NE of Houston myself. Several of my friends have been close enough to fires to have troubles with the smoke, and worries of evacuation. It's a bit of a scary thought to think about how vulnerable to fire we are right now. It's usually such a wet area.

 

[GasBandit]

Something about pictures of beached watercraft always strikes something inside me. I'm not sure why.

 

[Hailey Knight]

Yeah, the dry lakes with boats sitting on land were more striking than the terrible fires. And all those fish dead in the mud... yikes.

Though for the fire pictures, 39 scared the crap out of me before I read the caption.

And holy crap, that last picture showing the smoke plumes visible FROM SPACE... Gods, I hope you guys get some rain and soon.

 

[fade]

Last Thursday morning, the smoke was so bad here in the Westchase area of Houston, it was like thick fog in the morning.

 

[Sparhawk]

Damn, there sure are a lot of us on here from Texas. Had a new fire start just about 30 miles north of us yesterday that was set off by a car that caught on fire.

Also, just to up the ante, we're over 100°F again this week.

 

[Chibibar]

Damn, there sure are a lot of us on here from Texas. Had a new fire start just about 30 miles north of us yesterday that was set off by a car that caught on fire.

Also, just to up the ante, we're over 100°F again this week.

I know 105 here.. bleh

 

[General Specific]

The 5400 acre lake that is now dry really got me.

And my Brother, sister-on-law, and nephew live South of Houston.

 

[Denbrought]

The 5400 acre lake that is now dry really got me.

Look up Lake Chad, it's gone from 6400k acres to 330k in a few decades, impressive stuff.

 

[GasBandit]

Or the Aral Sea.

 

[General Specific]

Someone's stealing our water!

 

[checkeredhat]

Wow, I knew it was bad, but didn't know it was that bad. Looking back on our July, it doesn't seem half as bad anymore.
Stay safe, and stay cool.

 

[Shannow]

Meanwhile, extreme flooding In Upstate NY. and PA. Gotta love the weather this year.

 

[Shegokigo]

I think in the past 3-4 months I've seen it rain less than 15x. In those 15x, not a single rain has lasted more than 10 minutes.

Last time it rained here was about an hour before I got out of work. When I got out and drove home, there was no sign that it had rained at all, the entire 5 mile area had dried up.

 

[fade]

George Bush Park, a large park that is actually normally a wetland, has started burning here in Houston. This could be bad.

 

[fade]

Snapped some pictures from Westheimer on the way home from work. Sorry for the quality. I was driving and photographing at the same time.

 

[GasBandit]

When smoke is visible on westheimer, you know shit just got real.

 

[Sparhawk]

When smoke is visible on westheimer, you know shit just got real.

No kidding.

Fade, dude, stop taking pictures while driving. Kinda wanna keep you around here.

 

[Shakey]

And here I woke up to a truck covered in frost.
I know it's not as bad as your fire, but Minnesota has the states largest fire in 90 years going right now. http://www.startribune.com/local/129731598.html. 100,000 acres burned so far in the BWCA. I'm glad I made it up there last week, the area I was in is completely burned now.

 

[Chibibar]

Fade: please stop taking picture WHILE driving. It can be dangerous.
P.S. awesome pictures and man. It is getting real.

 

[fade]

Yeah, I snapped them from my iPhone without looking. It was no worse than changing the radio station.

 

[Chibibar]

Yeah, I snapped them from my iPhone without looking. It was no worse than changing the radio station.

LOL. I don't even do that. Texas drivers are scary. My wife does the radio change, talk on phone and navigate for me

 

[Shegokigo]

I drive + check websites/text/talk on the phone (on radio speaker through AUX) + smoke a cig + drink energy drink pretty much everyday on my way home from work.

 

[Chibibar]

I drive + check websites/text/talk on the phone (on radio speaker through AUX) + smoke a cig + drink energy drink pretty much everyday on my way home from work.

well, you are WAY more talented than I in may ways, but still. do be careful, the other drivers is what I worry about.

 

[Sparhawk]

I drive + check websites/text/talk on the phone (on radio speaker through AUX) + smoke a cig + drink energy drink pretty much everyday on my way home from work.

HEY! I've seen you driving!