Prayers & thoughts for California

427SnakeSC · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:36 PM

I know this don't mean spit, right now, but my thoughts and prayers are with you people in California. I am watching this on CNN and I just said to my wife, "Who would have thought this would happen?" Hang in there and take care!

1985 CCX · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:42 PM

I second that!

Slick61 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:55 PM

actually, it's not too terribly surprising... the second wettest year on record, followed by the second dryest year on record. Loads of fuel to burn. Have only had 2 or 3 light showers since april. Combine that with the Santa Ana winds (typical for this time of year) with single-digit humidity and poof! Most of the original fires were caused by downed power lines from the high winds, & several other were the result of burning embers being carried on the high winds.

Durt · #4 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 06:05 PM

I must say, I almost went postal this afternoon coming home from work. The sun is shining blood red through the smoke layer and I see at least two mouth-breathers throw lit cigarettes out of their car windows.
This is why I don't carry a firearm.
Thanks for the positive thoughts.

RedBarchetta · #5 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 06:20 PM

I'm staring at the smoke column from the Santiago Canyon fire as I type this. The winds today were A LOT calmer than the previous two days, but these Santa Anas have a tendency to whip up at nightfall. Sunday night was really bad...just howling!

My property is thankfully a safe distance between all of these So Cal fires and the only damage we incurred was a trash dumpster load size of broken Eucalyptus tree branches, messed up (bent/broken) palm fronds on all my backyard trees, and a swimming pool that looks like a big bowl of oatmeal (dirt, leaves and debris). Plus the above average level of dust and dirt that finds its way into the garage and attic (which will make its way into the house eventually). The Cobra has been sleeping under its cover since Saturday evening, but I'll need to break out the air hose and blow everything off it and around it. My shop vac will be working overtime this weekend.

If the above is all I have to whine about, then I'm one lucky son-of-a-gun compared to those that have lost EVERYTHING. My prayers are out to anyone that suffers a natural tragedy (unfortunately in this case, most of these fires were set by arsonists).

-Dean

Slick61 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 08:05 PM

I was fairly lucky, being pretty well inland from the front line of the fires.
this is as close as it got...

... about a mile or so away. Still a few hotspots around, but looks like my Cobra's been spared. I can see the Incident Command Center from my deck out back, so wasn't TOO worried.

Blas · #7 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 08:10 PM

I understand the Curt Scott from Cobra Country fame may be evacuating soon too...according to the note on his website....

289ACE · #8 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 08:35 PM

If anybody needs a spot to store their car until things settle out, drop me your phone # in a PM. I'm up in Santa Barbara.
Jay

496fe · #9 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 08:53 PM

427snakesc and 1985 ccx - your thoughts mean a lot. 99.9% of us in socal are just regular working stiffs trying to make our lives a little better. We need to endure the cracks from nocal and the rest of the country about all the water it takes to water the lawns around our mansions.

These socal canyons are beautiful before a fire and horrible after. They are a great loss to not only those of us who like to drive them but especially to those who live in them.

The real heroes are the firemen out there in easily the closest place to Hell during a firestorm. They somehow steer the flames around homes and property in all but the absolute worst life-threatening situations. Two firemen gave their lives today trying to save a man and his son, who were trying to save their home. They were all caught in the shifting flames and perished. The stories of trajedy and heroism continue and will be heard for time to come.

Again, thank you for your thoughtfulness.

Brian

WarrenG · #10 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 10:17 PM

Been here 52 years. Fires are about as common as earthquakes (if not more so) and Malibu mudslides here. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. We'll get thru it and most will rebuild. It's actually not the houses that get to me, but the irreplaceable personal items and the lives.

SkipB · #11 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 11:24 PM

Guys,

I just got back to my house today after being evacuated yesterday. (4 cops on foot said, "get out in 10 minutes"). Luckily we were packed with family photos, albums, any other irreplaceable stuff.

So, it is really good to be home in San Diego County. I remember shutting the garage door yesterday and taking a possible last long look at my Backdraft. I was more upset by that than thinking about the whole house. We had to use my F150 and my wife's car to haul all the important stuff. I could not go back for the Cobra.

This has been surreal. I feel like I have been in a some poorly written novel. The problem is that is has been real life! We luckily had my wife's brother's home to go to last night.

The media has been pretty good in this case, but some has been bad information. Lots of mistakes, but they mean well. Except for CNN tonight. They actually said that GLOBAL WARMING could be the cause! I just wanted to make me puke when I heard this. The cause, you idiot newspeople, is fire caused by down powerlines (possilble, but not proven) and potentially fools setting fires (very probably, but not being discussed yet). GLOBAL WARMING had nothing, I repeat, nothing to do with this!!!!! Oh my God what are they thinking. I believe I know. If you tell the same lie enough, most people will believe it. I assume Al Gore will be on soon to explain exactly how this happened.

Do I sound bitter. Yes, because I believe the planet is changing. But fires are not caused by this change!

Sorry. I am pissed, tired and ready for our lives to return to normal soon. When you see Anderson Cooper (on CNN) bring in some half assed weathermen to explain that the warming process has caused more rain, which allowed the brush to grow higher, then the warming caused drier weather, which added to the high winds, causes fires, I wanted to throw up. My wife made me change the channel, or I might have fired a rock at the TV set. Again, sorry, but the real reason is very different.

Off to bed for the tired, pissed, worn out guy whose Cobra survived.

SkipB

PDHse · #12 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 04:21 AM

Our thoughts are with you. Is Bonsall near the fires, my friend lives there. I must call him. Paul

427SnakeSC · #13 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 05:59 AM

Glad to see that you guys have not suffered any great losses and are still amoung us! Good stuff!

Hang in there, and stay safe!

wtm442 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 08:20 AM

My wishes and prayers to eveyone on the southern left coast from someone on the northern right coast.

Just heard that they arrested some guy this morning while he was trying to start another fire. Guess he can kiss his a$$ goodbye!

427SnakeSC · #15 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 08:43 AM

"Just heard that they arrested some guy this morning while he was trying to start another fire. Guess he can kiss his a$$ goodbye!"

They should have beat his a$$ first, then took him in, saying "Hey, he fell down, when we were chasing him!"

RedBarchetta · #16 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 10:16 AM

Skip, glad you are okay! Our prayers to you and your family!

The local air quality in North/Central OC is actually worse today because....there is no wind. Instead of the strong winds taking the smoke plumes out over the ocean, it's just settling in and there's a orange haze everywhere (I work at the 55 Fwy and MacArthur...close to John Wayne Airport). The air is just nasty....

But, I'd rather have no wind and give the firefighters a chance to defeat this thing.

-Dean

RodKnock · #17 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 11:04 AM

Where's "xlr8or"? Has anyone heard from him? He lives down in the San Diego area? I believe just north of San Diego? I hope he and his family is alright?

SkipB · #18 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 11:37 AM

Dean and others,

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

We are having air problems today as well. Lots of smoke and ash falling in San Diego now as two fires merged near Mt. Palomar. This has created huge amounts of smoke that is being pushed by light winds toward the coast and some of it is falling right on top of San Diego city. I hope this nightmare ends soon!

As for Bonsall. It is close to the Fallbrook fires, but I am not too sure if the town of Bonsall has been threatened. Sorry, I have been paying more attention to the fires closer to us. Call your friend and hope he or his answering machine answers! That is a good sign.

Off to clean out the pool.

SkipB

computerworks · #19 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Where's "xlr8or"? Has anyone heard from him? He lives down in the San Diego area? I believe just north of San Diego? I hope he and his family is alright?

Scott was evacuated with his family...and they are OK...looking to go back into their neighborhood ASAP.

The fire was only a few doors away from his house on a news coverage video clip the other day..

Joe Wicked · #20 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 11:59 AM

I am flying into San Diego in a few weeks, I haven't been back there since I moved in 2000. Are the fires as far south as the 8 east of the city? I am actually driving out to Calexico after we land, so I am concerned weather I should delay my trip. No sense in going out there if I really can't get to where I need to, plus having a couple more people to have to evacuate, unnecessarily just puts more burden on the officials.