Line Fire producing dangerous weather conditions for firefighters
The growing Line Fire that began on Thursday in Highland in San Bernardino County has created dangerous weather conditions for firefighters.
Pyrocumulus clouds, which often form during very hot surface conditions, have developed due to the Line Fire, the National Weather Surface reported on Saturday.
These clouds, also referred to as pyroCbs, are often created during extremely hot or large fires, and can create dangerous conditions for firefighters, who may encounter gusty winds, lightning, and even rain, the weather agency stated.
At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the weather service recorded over 3,700 lightning strikes inside the clouds directly over the Line Fire. There were also 280 ground strikes, weather officials stated.
'PyroCbs act as giant chimneys'
Dr. David Peterson, a meteorologist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, shared his expertise on pyrocumulonimbus clouds.
"When atmospheric conditions are right, wildfires can create their own weather — monstrous fire-induced thunderstorms called pyrocumulonimbus clouds, or pyroCb for short," Dr. Peterson said.
He added that pyroCbs act as giant chimneys as they pull smoke released by the fire upward through the fire-induced thunderstorm core, "releasing the resultant smoke plume at the altitude that thunderstorm tops reach, often at the cruising altitudes of jet aircraft or higher."
PyroCbs are capable of producing lightning, hail, strong downdraft winds, and even tornadoes, any of which can severely impact aviation, firefighting, public safety, ecosystems, and climate, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials reported.
The magnitude of a pyroCb smoke plume can rival that of a volcanic eruption, rising into the stratosphere and having far-reaching impacts on regional and global climates, such as changes in stratospheric wind behavior and long-distance smoke transport.
The Line Fire
The Line Fire exploded beyond 7,100 acres in size on Saturday, prompting mandatory evacuations in Highland, Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake and San Bernardino.
CAL FIRE and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials said evacuation orders were issued for some neighborhoods Saturday morning while others remained under evacuation warnings.
More: Mandatory evacuations ordered as Line Fire in San Bernardino Co. surpasses 7,100 acres
No structure damage or injuries had been reported as more than 500 firefighters battled the flames, officials said. No containment had been established.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Line Fire producing dangerous weather conditions for firefighters
