California fires

[ICannotPlayBass]

I am currently residing in Canyon Country; if you were to look at a map, I am in the middle of the Sierra Highway/San Fernando, Sierra Highway Soledad Canyon, and Plumb Canyon Road fires.

Over the past 20+ years the firefighters in this district have done an amazing job of micromanaging the fires and saving the homes. I hold a very high regard for those individuals, and have quite a bit of faith instilled in them. I do not want to downplay the severity of the situation, or demean those individuals who have lost possessions, homes, and/or loved ones, but I do think that the media had blown this situation far out of hand.

I hope that the members are staying safe and that the winds do die down.

 

[carter]

We saw wildfires like this in FL in '76 and '77. All the folks in SoCal are in our prayers.

 

[MrNewportCustom]

This is the San Diego branch of the company I work for, during the firestorm of 2003. The picture was taken at approximately noon. It is one block north of Miramar Marine base, and it's the only time I'd ever been there that I didn't hear F-14s and such flying overhead. Yesterday, the branch didn't open, and may not open today - if it's still there.

Yesterday, the Marines evacuated their planes to Arizona and Nevada for safekeeping. So, I figure that this year's conflagration is even worse.

Lee

 

[The Captain]

.... but I do think that the media had blown this situation far out of hand.

As a retired fire supression officer, I have been watching the conflagration in Southern California closely. I have found that the reporting on the fire from:
http://www.signonsandiego.com to be as factual and up-to-date as possible.

If you feel that "the media" is manipulating the situation, I suggest you look at the photos and read the information on this site.

Rico

 

[ICannotPlayBass]

Rico, thank you for providing the link, I will run through the website that you posted shortly.

I should have refrained from making such a strong, but vague statement; it was intended to be directed local media's coverage in Santa Clarita, which is not something that the majority of the readers have/will not seen/see. I think that any further address would only detract from pleasant wishes that preceded my comment.

Kind regards.

 

[~*Red*~]

Hello fellow FL'ers...

My family was evacuated Monday, and my daughter and I drove to the Bay Area to stay with family until the smoke clears. We both have asthma, and mine was being affected badly by Monday afternoon. We are both doing well now, and my husband is actually back in our home (thank goodness!) cleaning up and waiting on news of going back to work or not. The bad part is, it seems that when one fire starts to get controlled, another one starts somehwere else, and it's all mayhem. Even you folks in the LA/Valencia area have seen that.

Anyhow, I found a great site that really has the best info, maps, everything you need to know that the news can't seem to report on.

http://www.sdcountyemergency.com

And for those of you who have friends/family on Camp Pendelton, you can find info for what's going on here:

http://www.pendleton.usmc.mil/

We're just praying for an end to all of this soon.

 

[sweetfrancaise]

I'm glad to see that you're alright, Red! This has been a nightmare for all of us.

 

[BeBopBaby]

It's been raining the past 3 days here. I've been trying to will the weather to go west with not much luck. My thoughts are with everyone out there. Stay safe and hopefully this will end soon.

 

[TM]

This is the best fire map of San Diego that I have found so far:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=114250687465160386813.00043d08ac31fe3357571

It's a bit slow loading though.

Tony

 

[Lauren]

My family is safe, though my mom and dad are both evacuated. Looks like my house is safe and we're not being evacuated. Pretty scary stuff. I flew home last night and driving through Pendleton with the sky all red and fire next to the freeway was really eerie- like watching a movie but knowing it's real and there's really people out there fighting this and loosing homes.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

I lived in SD until the fall of 2005 and was somewhat involved in the 2003 fire, so know some of the scary stuff, although not the waiting around to see if you still have a home.

My good friend Christine has her family living with her at present. Her daughter evacuated from Ramona. The house, we believe, is still there. Her daughter called her house a couple of days ago and the answering machine picked up. We are keeping our fingers Xed on this.

My friend Diana's brother-in-law, who fights fires in Utah is now around the Alpine area (near the Witch fire), he and his whole crew and truck.

My other friends are all OK, no one evacuated. I am glad I am not there as I have asthma that would be set-off by breathing that poisonous air. Also, I feel guilty not being there with and for my friends, as if there was anything I could do if I was there.

Thanks for the websites, folks, I plan to use them until this horrid situation is under control and no longer a threat.

karol