So Cal Fires!!!

[Running Mommy]

Same with my home. I'm in the west valley of the Phoenix area. If anyone needs to escape the smothering smoke, please PM me. I have a spare room with a super comfy bed, bikes I'd be glad to loan out (mountain, road, and tri) so that you can clear your head with a nice smoke free ride, and a kitchen just ready to cook you a home cooked meal.
Seriously- if you need to escape for a few days and can drive (or fly) out this way, my casa is open!

[emily_in_nc]

I got home yesterday from a carefree weekend at the NC coast to see this devastating story on the national news last night. I was completely horrified. I live in the woods and simply cannot imagine the fear of an approaching forest fire taking our neighorhood away.

My heart goes out to all of you living in the affected areas at this time. I pray the fires are put out very soon.

Emily

[maillotpois]

I can't believe they've evacuated where we used to live outside Del Mar. My mom's old house is surely gone (she lives in Maine now, thank heaven), and we were texting friends last night who are sure their house in Poway is gone.

Very sad.

And Northern CA is not out of the wood yet either as far as fire season is concerned.

[snapdragen]

So far it seems most friends I know down there have escaped harm. M and G will be opening their houses to evacuees that need a place to stay. S and his wife were within an hour of evacuating, then I guess the wind changed and they got to stay put for now. The only person I don't know about is a friend in Escondido. She's got a new baby, so I hope she is somewhere out of the smoke.

M says he is so proud of the city of San Diego - they are pulling together and helping each other.

[MyLitespeed]

Last I heard on the news was that approx 513,000 people have been evacuated around San Diego County, over 300,000 acres have burned and over 1000 homes have been destroyed. I live in the east county of San Diego and where I live we have been untouched so far. They say the fires won't even be contained until November 4. They are doing a great job of doing reverse 911 calls giving people a chance to grab some things and then leave. My girlfriend who lives in Ramona said she just got back home (but wasn't suppose to go back into the area) and the Estates area is fine, just the outskirts have burned. Now that the winds are dying down they are able to get aircraft up to do water and fire retardant drops which is a great help. There has been minor looting (what scum some people are), but the National Guard is helping with that situation. These fires won't be over for quite some time but everyone is pulling together. Everyone in a fire area -- please stay safe!!!

[LBTC]

We're sending the Mars. I'm really glad we can help somehow!

Our news started by saying 1300 homes destroyed OMG! 10 minutes later, they said over 1600 homes gone. Yikes!

This is horrific! I am so sorry to all of you affected.

I'm still sending butterflies, but I know they can't protect your houses and stuff. Take care of yourselves!

Hugs,
~T~

[slmdunc]

It is really scary, I tell ya. I live right in the heart of Los Angeles, near West Hollywood and Bev Hills, so I'm not personally in any danger... but I work with and know a lot of people who have houses in Malibu, and the mass evacuations just south of us is overwhelming. It's incredibly sad to see everyone in such fear. Today, my entire office sat and ate lunch together in silence, watching the footage on television.

One of my favorite rides is in Malibu, and up through Pepperdine - and I couldn't go Sunday b/c of all this. This morning on an early ride with my SO and a friend, the ash and smoke in the air wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but my eyes haven't stopped watering and my nose is clogged.

To all my socal sistas - hang in there! Everyone stay safe!!

[smilingcat]

Where do you start with things like this? Today, the wind in Orange County seems bit more quiet. I guess anything is quiet when the wind howls at hurricane force.

From my office, I could see a billowing tower of dark cloud from Santiago fire (orange county). It looked like its spread over to Majestica canyon and spread over to foothill Ranch. And smaller column of smoke in El Toro area??.

One of my co-worker has a sister and twin nephew who lives in Majestica canyon, sister, the twins and their pet cat is now living with my co-worker.

Another co-worker lives in SD, he called and said he and his family is safe. He wasn't coming in to work. His home is in the evacuation area

I have acquaintance down in Leucadia, San Marcos and Fallbrook, all in north San Diego county. My partner called her friend in Fallbrook. answering machine was on so we know the house is still there but no one answered. They've been evacuated (just a guess).

Though I don't live near the fire in Malibu, Magic Mtn, or even the San Diego fire, the air stinks of fire, my eyes are watering, and second day of horrid head ache, sore throat. I shouldn't complain but still... I can't imagine what it is like to be staying at one of those evacuation centers and near the fire.

This morning on my way to work around 5:30AM, I saw a convoy of national guard or Army trucks going down to SD. On my way home this afternoon, I saw two convoys of fire trucks heading down... Each time I saw, just felt like crying. So sad to see and to realize how bad it is down in SD. I just hope that all of them stay safe.

I've thought about the horrid Oakland fire and comparing to SD fire...

I hope the wind dies down...

DelDios hwy from Escondido, down by Lake Hodges down to the beach in Del Mar is like a jungle, thick forest of 100ft tall dry Euclyptus trees. If that catches on fire... OMG.. It was a beautiful ride on my bike.

Then I think of all the wild life, pets cats & dogs, farm animals...

this is enough for now... over million evacuated and whole of SD has just under 4 million people.

smilingcat