Update 7/9 2:30pm: Google has added a Public Alert page for SB County, so far mostly on the Alamo Fire.
This Initial Saturday 7/8/17 post was 11am (scroll down for latest):
Wow has this fire grown!
The larger orange circles show infrared satellite detection of active burning yesterday, and the smaller red circles show where more detailed infrared satellite fire detections today.Weather on the fire line looks better than yesterday. Right now the Santa Maria Airport is reporting 71℉, 59% humidity, and wind from the WNW at 6 MPH. But at 1pm they forecast wind at 17 MPH gusting to 23 MPH, so hopefully they'll have some containment lines the fire can't jump by then.
Update 1pm:
I'm having trouble finding current info on this fire. I assume they're doing lots of air drops before the winds pick up and start gusting, but haven't found any details online. The latest from CalFire was at 7:45am reporting 6,000 acres - 10% contained, and it's surely grown since then judging by this latest (noon) satellite image of the smoke plume.
Update 2:45pm:
Air Quality info online is slow to update, but here's what I found at about 2pm. On top is the noon report, and below the key to color meanings is the forecast.
Here are
two low-resolution satellite images from 2pm showing bright white areas in the fire area just below the SLO County line. The image on the left is an indication of the smoke plume reflectivity, and on the right an indication of the heat.
Update 3:15pm:
I found a live webcam of the air tankers at KSMX, confirming my earlier guess that most or all air support is based there. Just now I saw the big jet tanker on the ramp, and a medium size turboprop plane taxi in. Here's the link: Live KSMX Fire Base Webcam. Here's a screencap I did just after the jet was serviced and a tanker truck was driving away.
Update 3:45pm:
I found this NOAA air quality forecast for surface smoke level at 6pm EDT (3pm local). The plume starts South of the fire area because most of the particles are lifted high above the surface by the fire's heat and then begins to settle. Any trend toward a "sundowner" will also bring smoke down to the coast. Guess we'll be smelling the smoke again tonight, and taking health precautions.
Update 7/9 3:15pm:
Here's the latest satellite InfraRed (IR) composite on the USGS topo chart. Black circles are the oldest, red the newest indicating that most of the fire is now burning on a long North to South front at the East edge of the fire. There's a spot fire North of that and a larger area burning off the Southwest edge of it.
