Posted On: October 24, 2007, 3:26 pm CDT

Posted By: California Agent

You obviously don't live in Calif. The heat generated from these fires causes many of the properties to internally combust, whereby sprinkler systems, if installed, amount to nothing more than pissing on the proverbial campfire. Many of these homes were built as they should be, inside developed neighborhoods with stucco exteriors and tile roofs. These fires create their own weather systems and actually fly over areas where no burnable material exists. The hot embers in the air are also blown a great deal of distance that cause fires elsewhere. Calif has had an EXTREMELY dry year this year. Some of these areas had wind gusts up to 111 mph and sustained winds of 50mph+. Try dousing a fire under those conditions. Air tanker support cannot function at night either. There really is no defense against a perfect firestorm as this. It's sad to say, but true.