So Cal Fires!!!

[teigyr]

I called my parents, they are at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains. They are ok, as of now. They usually get affected by fires. They said today was smokier than yesterday.

As much as I whine about WA rain and dampness, it makes me remember the days in SoCal. It makes me want to smack the people up here who do silly things like throw cigarettes out of cars...

For those who are affected, I hope you got your pets and anything important out of your house. If anybody needs anything, pls PM me. I don't know if I can anything but I sure can try.

[bouncybouncy]

I grew up in NoCal...remember this season vividly! Been wanting to get my hubby back to see my "home" before something like this devastates it.

I have lots of aquaintences in the SoCal area and thinking about them and all of you affected as well! I have a great Aunt & Uncle who JUST moved from the area...which is such a relief!!! He does not get around very well so having to evacuate would have been an ordeal...

Right now I look outside my window and thank the higher powers for every raindrop that falls here in the Western N Carolina mountains (we are in a 15 inch drought)

I think LBTC has all the butterflies directed at thoses suffering so I will just send all the good, still, calm, watery thoughts I can.

Stay safe and take peoples offers of open homes if you need to (I am way far away but I have a comfy spare room too!)

edit: our Red Cross and Nat'l Guard is on its way to you in SoCal...stay strong!

[ladyicon]

just let back into my home and everything is ok, not so good fro the people down the street though. I will be going down there to see if they are there. What a disaster!!!!!!

[Jo-n-NY]

My thoughts and prayers are with all you So Calif people.

~ JoAnn

[Brandi]

My god parents live in Fallbrook down in the SD area and it is one of the places being hit. I can't get a hold of them! It worries me. Say prayers of any sorts!

[Fredwina]

fallbrook got evac'ed w/the rice canyon fire. I have a guy who wants to ride one of brevet routes on sunday, despite the fact that he got evaced.
The air's a lot better today, but you see the smoke from the Arrowhead fires. And the winds have died down

[margo49]

Yeeeowwww - they just showed footage and a diagram of those winds on our tv news /weather about 10 min ago. You poor people. They said there is a wind coming off the ocean now and that will help. I surely do hope so.

Our house nearly burned down in a bushfire in New Zealand when I was 6 years old. It was terrrifying. My Dad sent us down-hill and stayed with the fire-fighters and then stayed up with the neighbour all night long.

Prayers for All Sentient Beings...

[Trek420]

My god parents live in Fallbrook down in the SD area and it is one of the places being hit. I can't get a hold of them! It worries me. Say prayers of any sorts!

I posted some info on contacting folks in emergency/disaster areas, I think it's post #13 here. Good idea for everyone to have emergency contact plan

Brandi, T&P and butterflies to your g*dparents and all in the area.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=10955

[bikerchick68]

Hi all... I am here in El Cajon, and so far this area is safe. My mom called me from Escondido at 2:20AM on Mon in a panic. She'd just received the reverse 911 call and didn't know what to take. Half asleep and scared to death. I told her what to grab and she did so, then knocked on all the neighbors doors to wake them and got out to an evac center. I told her to wait there until daylight and then figured out how to get her down to me using surface streets to get to where the freeway was open since much was shut down. I knew if we were evac'd from here, at least we'd be together.

Tues at 4:30 there was a fire 3 miles from my house. Mom and I packed everything up, but the firefighters were able to knock it down and put it out. G o d bless them. That was an incredibly stressful hour.

My ex (a cop) called Tues night to check on us. He asked if we had any idea if mom's house had burned and I said no. He took her address, as well as that of my best friend and HER parents as well, and checked on all 3 houses for us. He was working in Rancho Bernardo, but had friends in Escondido. He sent me a text around 11pm and all 3 homes were saved!!! Honestly, a miracle. We are definitely some of the fortunate ones. It was kind of him to do that for us.

The destruction is staggering. I am a Crisis Interventionist and spent 8 hours yesterday at police HQ answering the fire hotlines. We started getting lists of addresses that had burned down... and as people called in, had to break the news to them. I also spoke to a woman who had gone into contractions with twins, couldn't reach her doc, and her local hospital (Pomerado) was evac'd. She was in a panic. I told her to hang up and call 911. Another lady called who runs a care home. She had evac'd as many residents as she could, but still had 43 Alzheimers patients she couldn't get out. We made arrangements for them to be evacuated. She was near tears when we told her we had people on the way to get them. I came home physically and emotionally exhausted.

The fire in Jamul is still raging and is about 30 miles from where I'm at. I'm keeping an eye on it, but the winds have died down some, and as mentioned, we now have fire tankers and helicopters up fighting it. They couldn't get up Mon at all due to winds up to 70mph. The fire dept wasn't even trying to fight it that day... just getting people evac'd and safe from harm. Insane stuff. Like nothing I ever hope to see again. Of course, I said that after the Cedar Fires too.

I'm glad to hear that most everyone is safe. Here's hoping they crews get containment on this soon. All our agencies, fire, police, disaster services etc have done an amazing job... as has the local media in getting word out on evacuations etc.

I don't think it's gonna be safe to ride here for several months really. Too much ash and debris still on the ground. After the Cedar Fire I was out riding 2 months later and the wind kicked up... I returned home covered in soot. It was unnerving.

You all stay safe. Hugs...

[ClockworkOrange]

I came home physically and emotionally exhausted.

Hi bikerchick

Whenever a tragedy happens like this in another country, unfortunately it does not stay in the news for long over here.

Reading your very detailed post above, makes me feel so very sad for everybody in that area and also reminds me what is still happening.

The one line quoted above, I think probably sums it up for so many.

My heart really does go out to all in the SoCal area.

Thanks for your post, so much feeling and emotion.

Take care.

Clock

[Fredwina]

here's some pics:

boring, right? well.this taken earlier this from about a mile away(shooting in the same direction:

some more from the Cajon pass fire:

comparison photo:

more: