California fires

[Bertie Wooster]

Hi all

Kishtu and I have been hearing in the news media about these wildfires currently sweeping California.

Our thoughts are with any FLers or their families who have been evacuated or are affected by this event. Its difficult in the UK to comprehend the scale of destruction that can happen in that situation. Hopefully they will be brought under control soon, fingers and toes crossed.

 

[deanglen]

My uncle lives close enough to smell the smoke, see the flames, and watch the helicopters drop water near Magic Mountain and Stevenson Ranch. He lives in Valencia. He says the winds are moving the flames away from his home. Which is fine until and if, the winds shift. My prayers are for the safety of everyone out there.

dean

 

[Miss Neecerie]

There are at least two loungers who are literally waiting for evacuation...and their freinds and loved ones have already -been- evacuated.

Please keep them in your prayers.

D

 

[PrettySquareGal]

There are at least two loungers who are literally waiting for evacuation...and their freinds and loved ones have already -been- evacuated.

Please keep them in your prayers.

D

I will.

 

[Twitch]

....and later when it rains we'll have mudslides from the denuded hillsides:eusa_doh: [huh]

 

[Nashoba]

I lived down in riverside a few years back when the fires were so bad that our sky was gray black for weeks and the smoke was a constant in the air. Been there and done that.

All our SoCal loungers are in my prayers.

 

[ShortClara]

I have a few friends already evacuated. I was thinking of them all night and praying

 

[sweetfrancaise]

I live in Valencia, so I've been watching flames circle the valley--a bizarre feeling. No danger here (there's a freeway and many structures between me and the hils), but many friends have evacuated, and one lost her farm. If we're lucky, this horrid wind will die down tomorrow, and we'll all be a bit safer!

 

[Foofoogal]

Definitely praying about the people and the fire fighters also.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Well, the smoke has now obscured the sun in the San Fernando Valley - my eyes are watering, I have a headache and the smell of burning pervades everything. And to think, we're the LUCKY ones.

 

[hargist]

I was in Chatsworth on Sunday. I couldn't see the brush fire near there directly, but the smoke made for a eerily dramatic sky.

 

[Cobden]

Several years ago, I was close to the California forest fires. I understand how harrowing such an experience can be, and wish those in the midst of the them the best of luck.

And to think I was complaining about the rain

 

[Diamondback]

All of you down there and yours are in my thoughts and prayers that this one goes away soon.

Let's be careful out there, huh?

 

[Benny Holiday]

I would think that every Australian is watching the news from California with horror and great empathy. It was only a couple of years ago that shocking bushfires wiped out whole tracts of land, and many houses, in Canberra. Of course, we have a long history of terrible fires in this country. Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow Loungers and all who are in danger of losing their homes or risk personal harm.

 

[HadleyH]

I would think that every Australian is watching the news from California with horror and great empathy. It was only a couple of years ago that shocking bushfires wiped out whole tracts of land, and many houses, in Canberra. Of course, we have a long history of terrible fires in this country. Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow Loungers and all who are in danger of losing their homes or risk personal harm.

Ditto.
Just the thought of summer makes me nervous.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

From a fire blog....was too cute not to share.

Don and Susan Buckley, both 49, snuck around a police barricade in Highlands Ranch to check their Mediterranean style house on the edge of steep ravine.

They walked last couple hundred yards in silence, holding hands. As they rounded a bend, Susan let out a deep sigh: "It's there! Oh my god we are so lucky! We are so lucky.''

They embraced, kissed briefly, then walked throught the front door, which had been broken in by fire fighters.Fire had burned to within 10 yards of the house, destroying a vegetable garden and solar collector, and some palm strees they had planted. Their pool had thick black layer of soot and grime. Up the hill, they gazed out onto what had been four mansions. Nothing remained.

Susan: "Oh my god, look-the whole hillside is gone. It couldn't have come any closer."

On the kitchen counter were empty Gatorade bottles, energy bar wrappers and a note from San Diego Fire Engine 12, Lincoln Park:

``House saved,'' it said. ``Sorry about the door!''

 

[Mike in Seattle]

The only problem with stories like that...police lines & evacuation areas & barricades are there for a reason. You get others who read a story like that and think, "Well, they crossed the barricades and snuck back home! I'm going to do the same thing!" and then they end up dead, or in the burn ward and/or having to be rescued, taking firefighters & other resources away from doing the job at hand. OK, I'm getting off my soapbox.

But I am keeping good thoughts and prayers flowing down to So Cal to everyone down there, crossing my fingers that friends and family make it through OK.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Way to ruin a nice moment there Mike

Shall I go back and edit out that part so you can -pretend- you didnt read it...and go back to thinking the note they left them was cute?

 

[Doh!]

I was in Chatsworth on Sunday. I couldn't see the brush fire near there directly, but the smoke made for a eerily dramatic sky.

Awesome photo, Hargist. The sky around here is starting to resemble Mars or something. Tonight I noticed that the moon looks orange due to all the smoke.

I'm nowhere near any of the danger areas but can still smell the smoke. I feel for anyone who had to be evacuated.

 

[Jovan]

My thoughts go out to those in California as well.

Wildfires are a scary thing. There were some earlier in May in Florida this year in the Bradford, Flagler, Seminole, and Lee counties. The effects could be seen all the way here in Gainesville. Outside, it looked like a nuclear winter, ashes falling like snowflakes from the sky and smoke rising in the horizon. It looked like something out of War of the Worlds.