Poodle Dog Brush in Angeles Forest is a Skin Irritant

Beware…the Poodle-dog Bush September 22nd, 2009 | Author: Larry Purple-flowered poodle-dog bush, grow­ing in burn areas, is haz­ard to humans. Poodle-dog bush flow­ers (danger!!!) A pretty purple-flowered bush bloom­ing on the hills of the burned areas is a dan­ger to peo­ple, accord­ing to the Depart­ment of Forestry. As a result of South­ern California’s recent fires, hik­ers need to be aware of poodle-dog bush grow­ing along the trails. The flower, com­monly known as poodle-dog bush, is an irri­tant akin to poi­son oak, said forester Eric Oldar. “In the Spring, the flo­ral stalk is bril­liant and it’s very attrac­tive, espe­cially along hik­ing trails or roads where peo­ple make a stop,” Oldar said. “They’ll go out and actu­ally pick it and take it home as a flower arrange­ment, not know­ing that con­tact, for the vast major­ity of the pub­lic, will cause a poi­son oak reac­tion. Later in the sea­son, the flow­ers drop and the shrub will con­tinue to exist, but it has no par­tic­u­lar char­ac­ter­is­tic that would cause the pub­lic to come in con­tact with it.” Poodle-dog bush is fre­quently preva­lent along trails after a fire. Symp­toms range from itch­ing to a rash or blis­ters last­ing as long as two weeks. George Ewan with the Orange County Fire Author­ity said the pain is rem­i­nis­cent to com­ing in con­tact with sting­ing nettles. “It’s like that except it doesn’t wear off,” Ewan said. “It goes for quite a while.“ Oldar said the bush is typ­i­cally dor­mant, but is preva­lent after a major dis­tur­bance like fire or some­thing that takes the area back to the bar­ren ground,” Oldar said. “It will blos­som, grow, and even­tu­ally be replaced by other dom­i­nant veg­e­ta­tion until another dis­tur­bance occurs.” The preva­lence period could last as long as a decade, which is one of the rea­sons his depart­ment is try­ing to get the word out about the bush. Another rea­son is because of the attrac­tive­ness of the flower. Oldar said peo­ple should go to their doc­tor if they start to itch. An over-the-counter rem­edy is calamine lotion or any­thing that has a cor­ti­sone derivative. Ewan said avoid­ance is the best remedy. “If you’re going to go out into the foothills or into the burn area, be care­ful,” he said. “There’s a cute lit­tle flower out there that’s pur­ple and if you touch it, it’s going to get you.” A great arti­cle about a Poodle-Dog bush encounter. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/08/DDMR18JTLK.DTL Related Posts: Poison-oak: get­ting to know your enemy share my blog

Wildfire Near Julian: Evacuations and Strike Teams on Order WHISPERING PINES - A fast-moving wildfire blackened scores of open acres east of Julian Thursday, prompting evacuations of back-country homes potentially in the path of the blaze. Reports of at least a thousand acres plus at this hour. Fire area near Banner Rd, Highway 78 and Highway S-2 in San Diego County, this is near the Anza Borrego Desert. The blaze near Banner Grade in the Whispering Pines area of eastern San Diego County began spreading about 2:15 p.m., according to Cal Fire. Authorities evacuated roughly 100 residences in nearby Shelter Valley as crews fought the flames on the ground and aboard air tankers and water- dropping helicopters, said Nick Schuler, a battalion chief with the state agency. A large order ahs been placed for stike teams for structure protection.

Strong Winds Are the Story Today!

...NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHLAND THROUGH WEDNESDAY... DISCUSSION... A NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERN WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN TODAY ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. A DRY FRONTAL BOUNDARY MOVING OVER THE AREA THIS MORNING WILL TIGHTEN THE NORTHERLY PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE AREA AS THE DAY PROGRESSES. NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN THROUGH AND BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS OF SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AND THROUGH THE INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED BETWEEN TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WIDESPREAD WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREAS. IN ADDITION...A PROLONGED PERIOD OF GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WESTERN PORTION. NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOWERING HUMIDITIES TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED LOCATIONS. Strong winds over turned a semi truck this morning at Highway 138 and Gorman Post RD, LACOFD 77 district. Strong winds are hammering Neenach and Fairmont at this hour. Critical fire weather is a concern on the high desert. Winds are currently at gale force strength with blowing dust. Other wise skies are clear. Driving high profile vehicles not advised.

Fire Weather Watch: Gusty Canyon Winds

High fire danger alert: DRY CONDITIONS CAN BE ANTICIPATED THROUGH MID-WEEK...WITH A DECREASE IN COASTAL STRATUS AND FOG. GUSTY NORTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP MONDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS ACROSS SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AND THE INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR. For the Antelope Valley prolonged winds and dry conditions warrant a fire weather watch. Fire behavior today was moderate with average flame lengths at the Highway fire. The fire was held to 12 acres. Both Angeles National Forest and LA County Fire Department responded full brush assignments. Strong winds in the area are cause for concern as light flashy fuels have cured on the high desert floor. 00Z NAM STILL INDICATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A STRONGER NORTHWEST TO NORTH WIND EVENT TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. DURING THIS PERIOD...THERE IS STRONG UPPER LEVEL WIND SUPPORT AND SUBSIDENCE...AS EVIDENT BY THE 40-55 KNOT 850 MB WINDS DEPICTED ACROSS THE WIND PRONE AREAS OF THE SOUTHERN SBA COUNTY...INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR...AND ANTELOPE VALLEY. AS A RESULT...PATTERN IS SHAPING UP FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF MODERATE TO STRONG WINDS ACROSS THESE LOCATIONS. GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH WILL CERTAINLY BE POSSIBLE ACROSS WINDIER LOCATIONS...WITH LATER SHIFTS POSSIBLY NEEDING TO ISSUE HIGH WIND WATCHES. FOR NOW...HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THIS WIND POTENTIAL WITH A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT. DUE TO THE STRENGTH AND DURATION OF THESE POTENTIALLY STRONG NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS AND LOWERING HUMIDITIES...THERE WILL BE A HEIGHTENED FIRE RISK ACROSS THE REGION...MAINLY FOR THE PASSES AND CANYONS OF SOUTHERN SBA COUNTY...INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR...AND ANTELOPE VALLEY.

Wildfire, Acton CA

A fast moving wildfire threatened homes and destroyed property today in Acton, CA along Bootlegger RD and Soledad Canyon RD. Numerous people had to be evacuated from the area as the fire threatened rural homes. About 50 acres were charred in the blaze. Warm, dry weather is expected to continue tomorrow.

House Fire

LAFD responded to a well involved house fire 1047 E 23 Street, near Griffith, Task Force 10, 9 and 14's.

Sulfur IC, Inerstate 5 and Highway 138 along Copco RD. Spilled sulfur, driver is non injured. Photo Jeff Zimmerman