Another Heat Advisory, 6/17/21

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• Time to be diligent!

• Those little laser temperature sensors are very handy. A great opportunity for a citizen scientist (not complicated enough for "real" scientists). Kids are smarter than their elders, and they love their ignorance (which their elders fear).

  Measure the temperature of leaves, (top and bottom and at the eight points of the compass), bark, dead and live stems and roots, different ground surfaces at different times of the day, walls, roofs, dry and green weeds . . . the beat goes on . . .

  I believe the ignition temperature of wood is about around 330-435F, depending upon exposure time. The temperature of a glowing ember (red hot), is about 2,000 degrees. If the wood is pre-heated, ignition is faster. It's pretty easy to see why most structure ignitions are due to glowing embers, rather than flames.

  I'm of the opinion that the best way to protect property and lives an many situations is to have an on-site, independent, automatic fire suppression system. All of the building codes are fine, but they're not enough.

  Gotta run . . .

  W

• Woke up to the smell of smoke, The Willow Fire. Sorry Kate, it's that time again, already. Smells like a wildfire.