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Alan Sheckter Photo | profile | all galleries >> Nature, landscape photos >> "West Fire" near Magalia, Calif., June 22-30, 2008 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

"West Fire" near Magalia, Calif., June 22-30, 2008

Thunderstorms, specifically lightning, sparked hundreds of fires in Northern California June 21, 2008. These are photos of the so-called West Fire, in the West Branch Feather River Canyon, just east of Magalia/Paradise Pines. They were taken June 22-30 in Magalia. Aided by a blanketing inversion layer that's kept visibility low, the now-3,000-acre has been smoldering about 2.5 miles from our house for nine days, causing preliminary evacuations for those that live along Magalia's canyon edges. Major breakthrough on June 30: The skies cleared enough for air support to fight the fire. During the early evening, three Army helicopters made run after run, filling their buckets in Magalia Reservoir, then dropping water on the West Fire, only to return and pick up more water as jubilant local residents looked on. This is just one of about 30 fires now burning in Butte County and an estimated 1,000 in the state. Cal-Fire says it doesn't expect full containment of the fires burning in Northern California until July 9. Photos by Alan Sheckter, AlSheck@comcast.net. Permission must be granted for re-publication.
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6-30: Chinook and Black Hawk copters at Magalia Reservoir
6-30: Chinook and Black Hawk copters at Magalia Reservoir		 6-30: Chinook and Black Hawk copters at Magalia Reservoir
6-30: Chinook and Black Hawk copters at Magalia Reservoir		 6-30: Chinook and Black Hawk copters at Magalia Reservoir
6-30: Chinook and Black Hawk copters at Magalia Reservoir		 6-30: Chinook and Black Hawk copters at Magalia Reservoir
6-30: Chinook and Black Hawk copters at Magalia Reservoir		 6-30: Black Hawk copter flies by Sawmill Peak Lookout
6-30: Black Hawk copter flies by Sawmill Peak Lookout
6-30: A real wakeup call when one of these flies over your house
6-30: A real wakeup call when one of these flies over your house		 6-30 Welcome to Magalia / Thank you firefighters
6-30 Welcome to Magalia / Thank you firefighters		 6-30: Chinook copter carrying water to the West Fire
6-30: Chinook copter carrying water to the West Fire		 6-30: Chinook copter drops water on the West Fire near Magalia
6-30: Chinook copter drops water on the West Fire near Magalia		 6-30: Chinook copter drops water on the West Fire near Magalia
6-30: Chinook copter drops water on the West Fire near Magalia
6-30: Onlookers watch Chinook copter fill up at Magalia Reservoir
6-30: Onlookers watch Chinook copter fill up at Magalia Reservoir		 6-30: Onlookers watch Chinook copter fill up at Magalia Reservoir
6-30: Onlookers watch Chinook copter fill up at Magalia Reservoir		 6-30: Onlookers watch Chinook copter fill up at Magalia Reservoir
6-30: Onlookers watch Chinook copter fill up at Magalia Reservoir		 6-29: Army helicopter flies past a smoky Sawmill Peak Lookout, Magalia
6-29: Army helicopter flies past a smoky Sawmill Peak Lookout, Magalia		 6-29: Retired local engineer chats with Newport Beach firefighter in Magalia
6-29: Retired local engineer chats with Newport Beach firefighter in Magalia
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Guest 07-Jul-2008 18:13
Nice shots Alan! Thank you for sharing. Stay safe out there.
Husa
john 04-Jul-2008 16:18
Nice pics Al!! You've certainly captured the action--I hope this all ends soon--very concerning about your air quality up there, you lead the charts every night on the news cast with THE WORST air quality in the north state--not a good thing. Be safe, tell Donna hi and cuddos on her volunteer work and we'll be in touch. Happy 4th! john
Martha 02-Jul-2008 05:10
Thanks for the pictures and the update, Alan. Hope to hear that there is containment real soon! Thinking of you and Donna and everyone else in Magalia at this time! Love, Martha and Rob
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