This is a view of the Carr fire from the Market Street Bridge near downtown Redding Wednesday evening captured by Jonathan Harris, who said he took this time-lapse video over a 15-minute period of time.
One frame taken by Jonothan Harris of the Carr Fire from the Market Street Bridge in Redding.
Each frame had a 6-second exposure, and the camera was able to cut through the smoke/light pollution and capture more detail of what was happening than could be seen with the human eye.
Harris pointed out that the light we’re seeing in the video – while it looks like flames – isn’t really. What we’re seeing is what’s reflecting off the smoke. Harris said that a few seconds before he started the time-lapse process on his camera, he had seen a few actual flames, brighter than what is captured in his video.
While Harris’ business incorporates drones for photography, and he acknowledges it would have been “awesome footage” from a drone to capture video high above the fire, it’s not something he’d risk, for a couple of reasons.
First, he said it’s dangerous to fly a drone – for the drone and for people – too near a fire due to emergency aerial activity. Second, there are law-enforcement regulations in place that only permit fire-related aircraft to enter a fire’s air space. Jonathan Harris owns NorCal Night. You can click here for more information about him.
Evacuating the entire family, including show goats
Shasta County native Chad Fowler and his wife are both teachers. They have three kids, ages 12 to 20.
Wednesday’s early-morning scene at the intersection of Victoria Drive and Highway 299 as the Fowler family evacuated. The fire is west of Rock Creek Road in Shasta. Video and photo by Chad Fowler
Fowler captured a quick video as he approached the intersection near his home at Victoria Drive and Highway 299 west near Redding about 7 a.m. today minutes after the family’s evacuation.
He said he was up late last night watching a CHP video or about 45 minutes that include images of fire at Oak Bottom.
Boats destroyed by the Carr Fire at Oak Bottom. Photo credit: Jill Carr-Stidham via Facebook.
That’s when he realized how quickly the fire was moving, which inspired him to go through his house videotaping significant belongings, in the event of a worst-case scenario that the fire might destroy everything.
Finally about midnight he went to bed, but was awakened around 3:30 a.m. by a friend’s text message that said Rock Creek Road in Shasta – about four miles west of their property – was under evacuation
That’s when Fowler woke up his wife and their three children and starting packing to leave. He said that at about 5 a.m. his landline received an emergency services call saying their area would be evacuated. About 45 minutes later sheriff deputies were at the Fowler home, telling the family to load everything up of value and get out.
For the Fowlers, “loading up” included 10 goats, one cat, four dogs and everything else of value the family could think to grab. Unavoidably left behind were the chickens, and two stray cats.
Fowler said his daughter had recently shown some of her goats at the Shasta District Fair as part of her 4-H project. The family raises show goats, which explains the sound of bleating in the background.
“They are safe at a friend’s house in Anderson,” Fowler said.
His family is safe, too.
Prepare for an emergency
Even if you or your loved ones are not under evacuations, the time to think and plan for an evacuation is before an emergency, not after.
CAL FIRE’s pre-evacuation check list is good for everyone, whether at risk for evacuation or not.
Inside the House
- Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked.
- Remove flammable window shades, curtains and close metal shutters.
- Remove lightweight curtains.
- Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.
- Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights.
- Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions.
- Shut off the air conditioning.
Outside
- Gather up flammable items from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, trash cans, etc.) or place them in your pool.
- Turn off propane tanks.
- Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures.
- Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around the house.
- Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running, they can affect critical water pressure.
- Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night.
- Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle.
- Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you.
- Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof.
- Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.
- Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened.
- Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave.
Animals
- Locate your pets and keep them nearby.
- Prepare farm animals for transport and think about moving them to a safe location early. (Note that many evacuation centers do not allow pets, so alternate arrangements must be made for your animals.)
Tell your fire story
If you have photos, video or stories to share about your experience with the Carr Fire, please email them to me at donig.anewscafe@gmail.com and we’ll do our best to publish as many as possible.
Until then, thank you, fire-fighting personal, first responders and law enforcement.
Stay safe, everyone.
Click here for Barbara Rice’s official fire updates, including evacuation orders and shelters.
Click here for Steve DuBois’ Carr Fire story and slide show.
