YIKES. one of the big fires in CA just jumped a major freeway heading

[radwriter0555]

towards seriously populated suburbs in the Chatsworth area.

NOT good news... This is also the only freeway in and out of Simi Valley. In fact this is THE worst thing that could happen in this fire.

Zowie.

[Tikki]

1. Yikes...Remember that there....

....have been a couple times (at least two in my memory) when eastern fires have burned all the way through the hills of Malibu ..... to the Pacific....

[radwriter0555]

3. Yeah, sure do. This is real, REAL bad... Our FD's just do not have the

resources to deal with this, much less all the other fires.

[Pab Sungenis]

2. I wonder what Pat Robertson has to say about this.

Usually, when this kind of natural disaster happens after a controversial poltiical action he doesn't like, he claims it's God's retribution. (Like claiming that all the hurricanes hit Florida because of Gay Day at Disney World.)

Maybe he should be saying that God is punishing California for putting the Gropinator in office?

[DS1]

4. The Lord helps those who help themselves

"Ahh, so you want to destroy the state from the top down?"

*snaps fingers*

*spark*

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

5. Holy Camoly!

I grew up in Northridge, not far from Chatsworth. Those fires are getting quite serious. I hope I don't have to hear about my childhood home burning down.

[cally]

6. Bad news

So the fire departments are not getting enough help? I've never heard this in previous fires. I'm :scared: We need some more firefighters and national guards out there.

[RebelOne]

7. Can't some other surrounding states send in firefighters?

I know whenever we have had any disasters, such as tornadoes, here in the South, neighboring states have pitched in.

[incapsulated]

8. My thoughts, too

Haven't any neighboring states volunteered to help?

[Hand]

10. National Guards?...

Sorry, they're all in Iraq. That's actually one of the little heralded side effects of Chimpy's war--the troops whose normal duties include disaster response just aren't available because they're being used as cannon fodder (or roadside bomb fodder) elsewhere.

"Sorry, folks. You're on your own. I need the NG to secure the next election."

Interesting that Davis (lame duck) has been on the scene, but the Gropinator is nowhere to be seen. Fucking cowardly prick.

[realFedUp]

13. Gov. Davis asked Nevada and Arizona for firefighters

and the state disaster signings allow the military
use of helicopters and ground crews.

[Le Taz Hot]

17. Firefighters from all over California have been sent

There were several crews sent down from the San Joaquin Valley last week and this week. I'm sure firefighters from all over the state have been sent down.

[radwriter0555]

18. The FDs are limited by the number of personnel they actually

employ. It's not like there is help that's unavailable, it's that all the available help is stretched to THE MAX battling some 3-4 major fires.

Keep in mind, there are only some 250 fire trucks in Los Angeles County, and a few water dumping choppers. In fact, I know that 2 water dumping choppers came from CANADA to assist in this disaster.

I don't believe the national guard would be much help...

[Champion Jack]

9. The fire is about 6 or 7 miles from here

I'm taking this REAL seriously.

[incapsulated]

11. Take care

This thing seems to jump and run in such an unpredictable way.

Stay safe.

[Champion Jack]

14. Thanks

the winds haven't come up yet this morning. I hope they can bring in the tanker planes while they have this window.

[KharmaTrain]

12. I'm trying to mediawatch this...

Is there a radio station in So. Cal that is giving reliable information? I can't seem to find one. KFWB and KNX seem in total confusion as to what's breaking where and are repeating the same fire details over and over that I'm seeing here and on the TV sites.

The problem is that many of these news departments have been consolidated and downscaled...down to the most local level...and when some big story breaks on an "off-hour", there's nobody around to handle things. I expect coverage will improve later today, but right now everyone is scrambling to figure which areas are in the most peril and to get their people out there.

Our thoughts and hopes are with all who are suffering the uncertainty of this growing crisis. Please keep posting so the rest of us can keep updated.

[kskiska]

15. Simi Valley – Reagan Library

I was wondering about that. CNN did a story on it a while ago. Talking about how they have sprinklers and all.

[eileen_d]

16. This is so upsetting.

Everyone in LA, SD and the other areas affected are in my thoughts today. Of course Montana has dealt with its share of fires recently, but the proximity to very densely populated areas in this case makes it even more frightening.

Take care everybody!!! :(