SoCal fires

Hi all,

Some of my wonderful NorCal friends have been checking in on those of us down south. These are the worst of times; over a million people have been evacuated from their homes during the course of this ongoing emergency. In an odd way, they are the best of times too, as the public has responded with an outpooring of help and sympathy for the people in the shelters salted seemingly everywhere across the southland.

In 2003 the Scripps Ranch neighborhood just east of us burned. Those poor people must have felt they were reliving a nightmare when they got the call to evacuate on Monday. Folks a short distance to the north were also asked to leave. At that point my family packed the essentials, but fortunately the suitcases are still piled by the door.

We've had the TV and radio on non-stop for up to date emergency infomation, and run watches overnight. A thick layer of ash coats every surface outside. The light alternates from twilight gloom, to a sickly yellow or the odd patch of blue sky. Meanwhile, the kids are home making the best of an enforced indoor 'holiday.' School is cancelled all week. Cell phone service is limited, and public officials are asking everyone to stay off the streets.

The winds have moderated, and the situation around my immediate neighborhood now seems less threatening. Our hearts go out to the thousands of families that have lost their homes. It seems everyone around here knows a family who has nothing to return to. Loss of life has been very light but nonetheless tragic.

On a more personal note, my mother in law is among the seniors sheltering in the medical ward at Qualcomm Stadium. For the time being she is still better off there than at either her home or ours. This incident has been extremely rough on the seniors and infirm. The end of these fires is still many days away.

Thank you very much for your well wishes.

Hang in there Pal,

 Such a surreal scene,

 Our Best thoughts are with you all down there... Danglin

Praying to the wind gods...

FF

Well wishes to all the victims.

Hi Pal,

Hope your mother in law is okay.  My cousin and his family had to evacuate too.

-Matt

My former boss, who recently relocated to our San Diego Branch, found out today that he could not go home. His street was blocked off by the Fire Crew. No word if his newly purchased house is still standing

I had to pack for a possible evacuation one time. It is amazing what you pack and what you leave behind. The most expensive possessions were not packed at all and the ones that had zero commercial were the first to be packed.
It is pretty humbling that it takes something like that to really put things into perspective.

Stay safe PAL!

A photo I found of the fire from space. Says it all.
Z

GD Al Qaeda!!   

My whole family lives down in LA and OC.  Everyone's allergies are going agro, but at least their homes and cars AND LIVES are intact.  Sentiment goes out to all the SoCal people whose homes and livelihoods literally went up in flames.

GD Al Qaeda!!   

Don't go starting no conspiracy theories now yak..
Probably just some knuckleheadz camping and listening to Steve Miller late night toking.. 

Z

I was just looking @ a update from our Strike Team down there


 100' Flames, wind busting out windows on Structures and now the wind is Changing directions,

 Basically, Not Good... They have gotten a handle on somethings, but it's still a massive fight.

 Our team went 36 hours straight, 6 hours sleep and are now on the " Canyon Fire " protecting

 multimillion dollar homes...

 Hang in there Pal,  looks like another long Day .............. Danglin



 Just read another update that just came in...

 Looks like the wind has finally let up and major air support can start again,

  That's great news, but

 So sad for all those that have lost everything, on such a major scale...

  This will be us for a long time and can only hope that the Goverment will come through in a Major way

 to help these folks get their lives back on track........ Danglin

The worst has passed for the major metro areas of San Diego. The winds have slowed; we had a weak onshore flow today. I feel profound relief, but it is tempered with the knowledge that the fires are now burning eastward into the rural areas. More homes may yet be lost. Inevitably, now that damage can be assessed, additional fire victims are discovered. We do have more firefighting assets on hand. Bless the firefighters and other public safety personnel for their great efforts.

Mom in law was well cared for at Qualcomm Stadium. We brought her home to clean up, then bundled her off to New Mexico's fresh air. The kids are home through Monday; it's back to work for most tomorrow. In another sign of returning normalcy, the mail came today. The smudged skies are still raining ash.

We're unpacked - photos, documents, clothing and the like. The sporting goods and most home electronics were never loaded. Those toys seemed too insignificant to bother with. The CPUs and the laptop with their priceless photos and a lifetime of work - those were ready to go.   

Two of my wife's coworkers lost their homes. Another's is damaged. My editor's sister is homeless. We all hope to never see the like of such a firestorm again.

Paul -

Our house is available for anyone needing a place to stay. My son brought some SCAL refugees home with him but we still have room for a few more. PM me if you need anything.

scott

  GB2,

That's got to be the kindest thing I've read all day.   My son and his wife are in San Diego but they are okay.   My cousins' family evacuated from Fallbrook but I'm sure they can take care of themselves.

good thoughts and hopes of better times to all who need it.