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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow Two Words from a 24-Year-Old Pasadena Climate Specialist Saved Hundreds of Lives
by Phil Hopkins, January 11, 2025
A “wind event” was coming, scheduled to peak during the night of January 7th with near-hurricane force gusts, and Edgar McGregor knew it had the potential to be dangerous.
Very dangerous.
So McGregor, a part-time Los Angeles County park aide at Eaton Canyon Natural Area, leader of the Altadena Weather and Climate group on Facebook, publisher of the WeatherMcGregor service on Patreon and perhaps more widely known as the young guy who videoed his 1,997 daily trash pick-ups in the local foothills, started advising social media followers to be prepared.
Link: https://localnewspasadena.com/2025/how-two-words-from-a-24-year-old-pasadena-climate-specialist-saved-hundreds-of-lives/

dalton99a
(87,741 posts)Understanding the urgency, McGregor logged into his social media account and broadcast the only alert 2,500 members of the Altadena Weather and Climate community received for nearly an hour about the impending disaster, recording the equivalent of an all-caps warning to finish packing critical items, load them into a vehicle, and then “Get out!”
Within minutes of McGregor’s warning, hundreds of vehicles streamed down Altadena Drive away from the fire and toward safety.
So many vehicles headed south that first responders from Pasadena barely had clearance to scream past on their way north toward the fire. Alternative southbound routes on side streets like Martelo Avenue and Craig Avenue quickly filled-up with escaping residents, tree limbs and flying palm fronds.
LeftInTX
(32,761 posts)cate94
(2,944 posts)I’m glad he had followers that paid attention.
Hekate
(96,986 posts)He totally rocks
ellisonz
(27,773 posts)Sad we were just down there a month or so ago working on the native plant nursery. There are seed samples from Eaton Canyon that should have made it through the fire.
Lulu KC
(7,643 posts)Aren't the plants in that ecosystem adapted for fire? (Hard to find them, but could they be?)
LeftInTX
(32,761 posts)Seeds in the ground are a different story.
Lulu KC
(7,643 posts)Which I realize is not the case here. Not a botanist, just envisioning the fire cycle in my head. I hope for the best for all, especially for the flora and fauna that are caught up in our human situation.
LeftInTX
(32,761 posts)I would think similar in CA. Seeds in pods usually won't survive.
It happened at Mt St Helens. And it often happens in wildfire areas.
However, if these were special seeds collected, it's hard to say. I assume these may have been from endangered species. Endangered species are purposely propagated and reintroduced. However, collected seeds are often in various stages. They could be in packets, in refrigerators, in grow pots, in the ground etc etc etc.
Lulu KC
(7,643 posts)I have heard about this in prairie burns and in northern forest succession (some pine cones burst). But for So Cal, it can be a problem since eucalyptus is an invasive exotic there from Australia. Oy.
https://www.britannica.com/list/5-amazing-adaptations-of-pyrophytic-plants#:~:text=Fire%2Dactivated%20Seed&text=Some%20plants%2C%20such%20as%20the,has%20physically%20melted%20the%20resin.
LeftInTX
(32,761 posts)We don't have pines where I live. We do have bad growing conditions...Poor soil, heat and drought.
ellisonz
(27,773 posts)Precautions were taken but you don’t know they worked until you know! I don’t want to be more specific at this time. Thank you for understanding!
I'm very sorry.
dchill
(41,802 posts)Lulu KC
(7,643 posts)Thanks for posting.
SleeplessinSoCal
(10,007 posts)But leaving town may be here biggest mistake by far. Career ending no doubt.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/health-and-safety-alerts/karen-bass-left-l-a-for-africa-as-wind-fire-warnings-increased-mayor-returned-to-a-burning-city/ar-BB1r7xde
calimary
(85,675 posts)What on earth was she thinking???
NJCher
(39,531 posts)Of these independent weather guys like Edgar. This person’s name was Liam and he was so fascinated by the weather that he had his own site where he issued weather predictions.it was one of the first on the internet.
He also had a job doing the weather on some local cable channel.
My point in mentioning this is that there are these kinds of people who are so fascinated with weather prediction that it consumes them, and that appears to be the case with Edgar.