Are our So Cal Du'ers safe from the fires?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

It's like our whole world is on fire in southern California. The entire southland smells like a raging fireplace. The sky is black with soot, it's raining ashes...you can't look up without getting an eyeful..

It is dark with ash and smoke from morning to night the last two days. I know Pippin was concerned and was near a fire but don't know about our other Duers.

For those of you not following, there are several fires all around the LA basin. TO the north, fires in Simi Valley and further north in Ventura county..these have the potential to connect.

And in Camp Pendleton and the inland empire, Rancho Cucamonga and now Big Bear and THOSE have the potential to connect as the winds kick up.


Over 50,000 acres has now burned.

It's very eerie even for those of us distant from them. I can only imagine how bad it is for those inland.

Check in So Cal Du'ers..are you all OK?

[SoCalDem]

1. Talk about BAD luck

"On Del Rey Drive, Deb Tirell loaded all her valuables -- pictures, insurance documents, identification, family heirlooms -- into her 1999 Mercury Sable. Then the garage caught fire, and with it, the car. Neighbors saved the house.

"Everything burned in the car," she said. "All I could think of when I left was 'I'm alive.' " "


http://www.pe.com/sharedcontent/southwest/pecom/fireseason/vt_stories/PE_NEWS_n26sbfire.57e99.html


?click ?click


video of the waterman fire
http://www.pe.com/cgi-bin/bi/video/G2redirect.pl?title=5329951

[SoCalDem]

2. incidentcontrol.com has maps & pics of all the fires

http://www.incidentcontrol.com/grandprix/grandprixgallery.htm

?click

[Clovis Sangrail]

3. Simi/Moorepark/Piru??

Anybody know where I could find a map of this one?

[SoCalDem]

4. here's piru

The approximate Piru Fire perimeter as of 8:00 pm, 10/24/03, is within the red line.
The town of Ventura, CA is located 24 miles southwest of Fillmore.
Darker green areas are designated wilderness.
White areas within the green areas are privately-owned land within the National Forest boundary.
Small red and white circles are Forest Service campgrounds.

[SoCalDem]

5. Info on many fires here

http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html

[Clovis Sangrail]

6. thanks

I'm trying to find the exact location of the offshoot that of that one that shot over to 118 and started eating up Simi/Moorepark and Thousand Oaks.

http://www.insidevc.com/vcs/county_news/article/0,1375,VCS_226_2378079,00.html

I've got family in TO/Moorepark.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

7. We're o.k. here in Palm Springs

although there's been a run on marshmellows, chocolate bars and graham crackers in case the fire breaks thru and we need to make s'mores.

[Booberdawg]

8. kick

[ronnykmarshall]

9. OK in Weho

But the sky looks awful with all the smoke. I just took some pics and I'll post them later.

[slackmaster]

10. Ash all over the place in San Diego

No fires anywhere nearby but the sky is almost completely covered with a dark gray ash cloud. The sunlight comes through dimly with an amber cast.

Ashes are falling like snowflakes right now.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. Actually Du'ers Laz and Haele may have to evacuate

they are in the Lakeside area and the Barona casino was asked to evacuate and declined

[tico]

22. I wish they would go ahead and leave...

...before its too late. Two people burned in a car while trying to evacuate. So sad.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

23. AM on the phone with them now

the winds have shifted and so far they are OK.

[tico]

21. So unreal here

What part of SD do you live? I live in Lemon Grove and I can see the smoke and ash fall around. No flames out here though, so I'm out of danger for the moment. The sky looks orange at times. People are being recommended not to drive if they don't have to.

[realFedUp]

11. Fine here

but it's scary. Arsonists should be shot on sight IMO.
Husband just wondered what we'd take out of the house
if we only had 30 minutes. Good to think about from
time to time to put important items together even if
there isn't an emergency.

[pasadenaboy]

12. Fine here in Pasadena

Anyone in LA proper is okay. Its mostly in Northern suburban areas. The sky is really smokey, and my throut hurts, but other than that A-OK

[Cat Atomic]

13. Long Beach is fine, but smells like a barbeque.

[realFedUp]

14. some homes in Claremont have been burned...

are extra crews being brought in from other counties, areas
of CA to fight these? Seems like little leadership here.

[proud patriot]

18. Bay Area News said Bay Area sent Firefighters down

I wish you the best brothers and sisters in the south

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. Holy shit!

David Zephyr is out that way!

[meow mix]

15. heard there was looters..

people shouldnt loot. thats mean.
hmm
i had a breakin couple weeks ago and they took my play station, some art projects, a box of cd's, my license, a candy bar and a lighter.
grrr

but i felt lucky since they didnt take my pc or my cell phone. WHEW TY

[oustemnow]

16. Okay here, but it has been bizarre

went to Irvine last night to see a comedy show and all the way down and up the 405 ash was falling like snow (combined with the fog it was pretty weird). When we left and hour and a half later it seemed like the temperature had actually risen a few degrees.

The daytime light has been very pretty over the last couple of days as a result though; I guess that's one small consolation.

[cosmicdot]

17. Irvine forecast: "Smoke"

I've seen sunny, partly cloudy, hazy, drizzle

"smoke" as a forecast is bizarre

Irvine, CA - Smoke 85° F H90°/L60°



who left the flue closed?

minuscule drifting of ashes

[catzies]

24. I'm getting all the smoke and ash from the Piru/Simi/Moorpark fires

They're east of me, and south somewhat.

I'm in town, thankfully, not near hillsides. I'm two blocks off the 101.

Horrible smoke clouds and nonstop raining of ash.

Staying inside with the windows closed, but I'm hungry and have nothing to eat so I'll have to leave sometime.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

25. It's NASTY outside here

If you look up ashes fall into your eyes immediately. It is COVERED in ashes ...

[underseasurveyor]

26. :-(

My Mom and Dad just recieved an evacuation order;( They live in the Terrasanta area of San Diego. My Mom said she could see the flames that are just a few miles from their house near Hwy 52 and Santo Road.

My parents are gathering what they can, their 3 cats and are going to my brothers house.

I'm feeling so helpless here in Iowa. My Dad has a very weak heart and he's been so sick the past few months and he just had eye surgery on one eye a couple days ago.

If it ain't one thing it's 10.
F*CK F*CK F*CK!

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you in California.

[Booberdawg]

28. What part of Iowa are you in?

I'm in Council Bluffs. My folks are in San Diego too about 10 miles from Miramar Marine base.

[underseasurveyor]

30. I live in northwest iowa now

And my parents live just south of Miramar.

[Booberdawg]

33. Oh fuck!

I'm scoping their address on Mapquest and they are in the same spot.

[Booberdawg]

36. Just talked to my dad

they are just a couple miles from the area that just got evacuated. They said things are getting pretty scary and they have a plan ready in case they have to go. Cripes. They promised to let me know if they have to leave.

Hope your parents make it out okay. Dammit this is awful.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. Hey Robin

If there is anything I can do for your folks let me know. I am very sorry to hear this but glad to hear from you. Hope your life is going better now even though this is going on.

[underseasurveyor]

34. Hey Well

Aside from still being unemployed we're doing OK here. We're happy on the prairie :-) for now ;-)

I just hope my next trip out there doesn't include going to any funerals. <sigh>

Thanks so much for your thoughts and your very kind offer.

[tico]

56. Tierrasanta

My uncle's friend had to evacuate her house too. A lot of people who live there were recommended to go to Qualcomm Stadium.

[underseasurveyor]

61. I hope your uncle's friend is ok

Just got off the phone with my Mom a bit ago and she said Terrasanta looks like a ghost town. She figured that many people were still at Qualcomm Stadium. But at least Terrasanta for the most part is intact, as far as she knew.

[ronnykmarshall]

64. SHIT!!

I just got a call from one of my co-workers in SD, he might have to get out as well. My prayers are with your folks. This shit is gettin' worse.

Just keep good thoughts for your mom and dad. They're getting out before the rush and they have your brother to be with. :loveya:

[Booberdawg]

27. Got a message from my folks in San Diego a couple hours ago

They said the fire is about 10 miles from them and the sky is eerily dark with an orange glow and they need all the lights on in the house to see. They are covered in ashes that continue to fall. Fire is near Miramar Marine base.

Whew. This is pretty devastating. I hope all our DUers get out of this okay.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

29. David Zephyr has been evacuated and they believe their home is gone

they were evacuated late last night and their neighbor's home burned before they left. It is estimated that nearly 100 homes burned in Clairmont and David's was in the higher elevation of town.

I just got off the phone with him. They are camping out on his office floor and are exhausted.

[underseasurveyor]

32. How sad and terrible

Thoughts and prayers going out to David Zephyr and family. I can't imagine what it must be like.

My folks have lived in their house for almost 30 years. Aside from grabbing the kitties and other important things she was trying to figure out how to get the baby grand piano packed in her car. Her attempt at trying to cheer me up I suppose.

[underseasurveyor]

35. I just tried calling home

No answer :-(

[underseasurveyor]

54. Whew....update

Well thankfully my parents and their houses came through the fires unscathed. Fire literally missed their house by mere blocks. Mom was to tired to venture out and check around the neighborhood. Said she would tomarrow.

They have most of their stuff unpacked from the cars and understandably they are both very tired. Emotionally drained and thankful.
Me too :-)

I hope many others dealing with this, fair as well.

[Booberdawg]

37. Gawd

:(

[Cheswick2.0]

40. Oh no

Oh I am so sorry to hear this. Please tell David my thoughts are with them. I am grateful they are okay even if the house is not.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

41. Will do when I talk to him,,they shut the phone off to get some sleep

They were supposed to attend a housewarming party last night for some friends in Upland whose new home was threatened..they offered to have the friends come stay with them as the fire was FAR from them...now THEY are the ones roughing it..very sad...even if by some MIRACLE his home survived, the smoke damage alone will render their home unlivable for quite a while.

[Cheswick2.0]

43. Lets hope for the best and let them know we care

what else can we do right now?

Are you safe?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

45. Yes I am MILES away from it but it smells like it's right next door

[flamingyouth]

44. I am so sorry to hear that

They just must be in shock now. How sad.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

46. More exhausted than anything..they were up for about 35 hours

[catzies]

63. No fuckin way that is AWFUL.

Give him all our best. That sucks.

[ronnykmarshall]

38. Smoke is getting worse in WeHo.

It is horrible here now. Going outside is like walking into a bar!

[Piperay]

39. I'm in the burbs of Los Angeles County

along the coast, everything fine here. Infact yesterday (Saturday) it was actually cool enough I needed a sweater when I went up to the Penninsula, was foggy and overcast. Today though the sun looks like it is coming through a yellow filter. :-(

EDIT: clarity

[flamingyouth]

42. I am so worried about you guys

All my friends down there. This is just terrifying.

[meow mix]

47. its getting really smokie

and ashie!
and the whole world is orange..

glad i dont have to go anywhere for a couple days.
and that..
there is 40 miles of densly packed urban territory, between me and that fire. yeeps! i think its gonna go eat san diego now.

[VeniceBeat]

48. Hang in There, Meow Mix!

It's all 40 miles from me, too. It's sad that people are suffering so.

BTW: Welcome to DU!

[meow mix]

50. hi ty

i love du site!
its the best..

especially since my other sites branded me a saddam lover and such ;p
and everytime i post something i get banned for a week!

but um,
my eyes are itchy.. and my shirt smells like i been at a campfire all day.
which are just mild tiny annoyances i know it... people are losing everything out there.

SORRY FOOTHILL PPL - THIS SUCKS!!

[neuvocat]

49. check

Although I've never seen it so dark at 2pm in my entire life.

[Mari333]

51. Thoughts are with all of you tonight get out if you have to

please..hugs to all of u

[jumptheshadow]

52. My partner got an emergency call from her boss

The division's headquarters is in SoCal and they're alerting the East Coast that they may have to come into work and do backup stuff.

[Clete]

53. Now is everyone ready to believe in global warming?

I felt it last year at this time when we didn't get any rain until January. I almost lost a couple of trees this summer and now all that Oak savannah scrub that hasn't received a drop of water for more than a year is ready for the conflagaration and nature is doing what it does in these circumstances.

[Palacsinta]

55. Can anyone give me specific info on San Diego?

My niece is visiting a friend there and my sister-in-law is hysterical. All she knows is that my niece is "somewhere near the ocean" in San Diego and that the last time she talked to her daughter the sky was orange, & the air, hot and ashy. Is San Diego being evacuated?

[tico]

57. Areas evacuated

Tierrasanta, Scripps Ranch and points eastward are most affected. East Chula Vista is under a voluntary evacuation. They are not near the ocean.

BTW, there's now a fire heading toward Escondido.

[Palacsinta]

58. Thanks

I'll look at a map.

[tico]

59. No problem

Most of the fires are pretty much north of I-8 and east of I-15.

[silverweb]

67. See my post #65...

...for useful websites for checking out specific information.

Anyone "near the ocean" is fine at the moment. I'm in the city proper we are all safe. Your sister-in-law can be reassured.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

60. This is horrible--fire from all sides

Literally hellish.

My thoughts and prayers are with all Southern California DUers.

[nini]

62. My brother's house in Poway is at risk..

I'm ok here in Torrance, but my brother is right on the edge and if the winds change it'll be ugly.

Truly scary stuff...

[silverweb]

65. San Diego Old Town area here!

We're quite safe and out of harm's way, though the air is smoky and a layer of ash covers everything.

For those who are concerned about friends and family, you might try typing their address into http://maps.yahoo.com/ to get a fix on the map location, then compare it with news as it becomes available at http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/index.html and http://www.signonsandiego.com (this second one is very slow right now).

Schools are closed all over the city and county tomorrow, even areas not evacuated, so that families can be together and stay home, off the roadways. Emergency child care centers are being set up at all middle schools, so that people who must work can go.

Our emergency service personnel are spread very thin right now, but seem to have support services well organized. The Red Cross is out in force, running evacuation centers, and is requesting financial support. Any amount will help: http://www.sdarc.org

I've really got nothing else new to add to all that's been said here. Thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have had to evacuate or have suffered loss. We'll get through this together.

On edit: Add website.

[Snow]

66. We're alright in Altadena...

I'm not riding my bike to work for a coupla days, though. Five miles home, uphill, in this kinda air is not such a good idea.

[LWolf]

68. I'm fine.

I've got a mountain between me and the nearest fire. There's been smoke to the east, and many tankers going back and forth, but so far no fire near home.

My son is stranded in Riverside; the highway home is closed. He says it's smoky, but not too close right now. He'll miss work tonight, and hope he can get home tomorrow.

[noiretextatique]

69. just talked to my mom in riverside

she said my nephew and his wife were evacuated from their apartment building in san bernardino yesterday, but were allowed back after a few hours. she says it's very smoky and the air is bad, so she and my dad are staying indoors. i told her to get the hell out of there as soon as possible, and come up north for a vacation.

[Clete]

71. Hi, I hope they're good and well.

:hi:

[DoctorBombay]

70. Ok in Redondo

the ash and smoke was bad today....for the first time, the smell was noticeable. Wife's car had ash on it (mine is in a carport). Drove into Hollywood to go the farmer's market, when we got on the other side of the Sepulveda pass, huge plumes of smoke were to the northwest, I guess that was the fire in Simi Valley.

Our friend's family lives in San Bernardino, they were evacuated, hopefully their home has survived.

[Capn Sunshine]

72. I'm still on hold

We are still all packed and ready to go. But the wind has stopped. The fire department is all parked along my street up to the ending above the canyon that goes down to Moorpark.

Lots of shit burned below me and I still have no idea about anything beyond our neighborhood. House looks really strange with no art on the walls; naked.

Everything is still smoky and my lungs hurt like I've been running for hours. The ash stopped falling about an an hour ago after literally covering everything about 1/2 inch deep.

I'm going out for a look see. BBL

[Booberdawg]

73. Have not heard back from my dad in San Diego since noon there

At that time they were just a couple miles from the evacuation area and packing just in case, but since I have not heard from them I assume they did not have to leave. They were going to contact me if they did.

I've been out for about 6 hours so I'm not up to date on the progression of this fire. Hope the winds have died down some by now.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

74. kick

[Booberdawg]

75. Got another message from San Diego

My dad and his wife did not have to evacuate yesterday although fire came within 5 miles down under a freeway bridge nearby. Still lots of heavy smoke in the air. More big fires are burning about an hour east and south of them.

Unfortunately all flights are being diverted to Phoenix so my flight later this week to San Diego could be postponed. Not so sure a couple days delay would be a bad thing as I'm not anxious to induce an asthma flare up from what sounds like pretty unbearable respriatory conditions out there.