WESTBOUND ON IR80

plowman · Post by **plowman** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:37 pm

If you are coming to Burning Man on IR80 westbound, be extremely careful between Carlin NV and Battle Mountain NV
Range fires have burned over 100,000 acres in this area mostly on the southside of the freeway. The dust hazard is high. If the wind kicks up you might find yourself in white out conditions

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:53 pm

The playa's coming to us.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:54 pm

Thanks...I DO come that way, and will probably be in that vicinity at nighttime. Will add to "command map".

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:11 pm

Double that thanks. We're on that route too, and probably in the early evening.

plowman · Post by **plowman** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:26 pm

2 years ago we had a 34 vehicle 17 fatality accident in the Eastbound lane because the visibility was almost 0 because of the "dust" it was really soot and ash. The wind was fast, in front of a storm that dropped about an inch of rain. 15 minutes of white out and 15 minutes of rain to clear it up.
But that first 15 minutes was devistating. I have some tips if this happens to you.
1. DO NOT stop, that was the cause of this accident.

2.DO NOT pull off to the emergency lane or shoulder, (just as dangerous as stopping in the middle of the lane)

3.DO NOT use your emergency flashers, The people behind you will think you are stopped and will probably stop too, causing a chain reaction

4.DO turn on your headlights. Low beams are best ( high beams will disipate and do nothing for your vision, just like in fog)

5.Get in the right hand lane

6.If you are having trouble seeing the road,use the fog line for a guide, look down and to your right,it's the solid white line.

7.Slow down, just because the speed limit is 75 it doesn't mean you have to drive that fast

Please be safe on your journey.

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:57 pm

I drove through those fires as they were burning earlier this month. Something to behold.

additionally: A mere 100 kiloacres? Call us over here in the U-T when you hit 275k, mmkay?

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:04 am

plowman wrote:2 years ago we had a 34 vehicle 17 fatality accident in the Eastbound lane because the visibility was almost 0 because of the "dust" it was really soot and ash. The wind was fast, in front of a storm that dropped about an inch of rain. 15 minutes of white out and 15 minutes of rain to clear it up.
But that first 15 minutes was devistating. I have some tips if this happens to you.
1. DO NOT stop, that was the cause of this accident.

2.DO NOT pull off to the emergency lane or shoulder, (just as dangerous as stopping in the middle of the lane)

3.DO NOT use your emergency flashers, The people behind you will think you are stopped and will probably stop too, causing a chain reaction

4.DO turn on your headlights. Low beams are best ( high beams will disipate and do nothing for your vision, just like in fog)

5.Get in the right hand lane

6.If you are having trouble seeing the road,use the fog line for a guide, look down and to your right,it's the solid white line.

7.Slow down, just because the speed limit is 75 it doesn't mean you have to drive that fast

Please be safe on your journey.

Your concern is appreciated and will be taken to heart. Thanks plowman. We want everyone to make Home safe.

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:32 am

Thanks for the heads up. I always drive at night.

plowman · Post by **plowman** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:44 pm

[quote="Ranger Genius"]I drove through those fires as they were burning earlier this month. Something to behold.

additionally: A mere 100 kiloacres? Call us over here in the U-T when you hit 275k, mmkay?[/quote]

Over 400k last year, up to around 330k this year. Only 100k along IR80 theres not much left

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:45 pm

I meant for one fire. The whole west is burning.

Weirdest thing about the time I lived in Virginia: driving past one of those Smokey The Bear "Fire Danger Today" signs, and having it say "Low." I'd never seen that before. The one in Ogden Canyon says "Moderate" when Smokey is nipple-deep in snow.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:54 am

I hadn't really ever seen fires like you have out west before last year- Really awesome and terrible to behold. And now it's so crispy HERE in West Michigan that we're joing the party! Driest it's been in MANY years. Just what we needed, on top of our economic woes.