Frustration & Fires in California

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:06 pm

Hi All

I realize that this has nothing to do with Genealogy or Scotland.

The Disaster started last Friday in Ventura counties and Sunday in the LA, Orange, San Diego and all the Southern Counties. It is as if all of Southern California is burning, especially San Diego County.

These terrible fires have been fanned by the Santa Ana winds. These winds are from the desert and are very hot and dry. Humidity is some areas was down to 4%. On TV last night they reported that one million people have been evacuated.

I live in San Clemente in Orange County. The only thing that separates San Diego County from Orange County is Camp Pendleton. Now there are fires there. Where I am living there is nothing but smoke and it seems to be getting worse by the hour.

What is bothering me is the lack of information about the fires. On the news they tell you about fires that are already going on, nothing is said about who might be in danger. Should I prepare to evacuate? I don't know.

Sorry for this rambling post, but I am worried.

Post by **Ina** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:24 pm

Sheila,

I hope you will not be affected by these horrible fires. Like you said it looks like all of California is burning. We had a group of people come into out shop yesterday from San Diego, they had been told to evacuate. Palm Springs was the closest hotel they could find. They had no idea if they would return to a house or not.

It must be devasting to lose everything you own, whether you are rich or poor.

The winds are not expected to die down until sometime late Thursday. It makes me very angry to think that four of these fires were set on purpose by some sick person.

Sheila, I will pray that you and your family will be safe.

Kind Regards.

Ina

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:26 pm

Hi Sheila,
I feel for you. I grew up in Southern California and know all about those Santa Ana winds. I can remember many times when the ashes were raining down on us from wildfires in the hills. Is there no local news channel that would give you more precise information? I know that in Minnesota it is the local news that tells exactly where the tornado is headed, etc., whereas the national news is way behind and with only general information.

Hang in there! I hope you won't have to evacuate...
All the best,
Sarah

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:39 pm

Hi Sarah

I am something of a wimp and wouldn't let my husband go to work. This fire we are having now is the worst in memory. It is almost unbelievable.
What is almost as unbelievable is that it is suspected that two of the fires were arson. All of the others were natural.
There are so many fires going on that the media isn't able to cover all of them in depth.
San Diego has fires from almost the Mexican border to San Clemente. I have never seen anything like this in all the time I have lived in California. My husband has never seen anything like this either, and he was born here.

Regards

Post by **marilyn morning** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:11 pm

Sheila wrote

Should I prepare to evacuate? I don't know.

Hi Sheila,

It won't hurt to be prepared.

If I were you, I take all my suitcases and pack them with your irreplaceable belonging such as pictures, jewelery, family heirlooms, genealogy research, etc and set the cases beside the door just in case you need to evacuate on a moment's notice. You can always unpack them later on, but you'll never be able to replace these items.

I hear the winds are dying down and fireman from all over the United States are on their way to help out.

Regards
Marilyn

maceill · Post by **maceill** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:27 pm

Hi sheila
Just hoping all goes well with you and that you wont have to evacuate your home.My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time

maceill

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:11 pm

Hi Ina, Marilyn, Macneil,

I am still here at home. I called the City of San Clemente and got through. They said that for the moment we are safe, but that I could call back later. This has relieved my mind.

One of the worst things are the rumors. I am not the only one who got frightened. Last night people in San Clemente say that they could see the flames from Camp Pendleton. My husband and I couldn't see any flames, but could see that the sky was red. This might have been the fire that hit an ammo dump.

There is no wind at all at the moment. It is still hot, but we have closed all the windows because of the smoke. Everything has an orangey look about it. I can barely see the ocean because of all the smoke. I will be so glad when the Ocean Breeze returns.

Marilyn, I am taking your advice. I am trying to put together in one place, the things that I would never be able to replace, like old pictures and letters. At the moment they are scattered all over in different boxes, etc.

Regards

Post by **marilyn morning** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:28 pm

Hi Sheila,

Its better to be safe then sorry! Stay calm and the packing should keep your mind busy.

Keep us up to date.

Marilyn

Post by **paddyscar** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:47 am

Hi Sheila:

Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your state in midst of this disaster. I saw the news just a while ago and they were saying it's the worst in California's history. Mother Nature is a tremendous force, but for someone to deliberately set a fire ... beyond understanding!

I hope you will both be safe.

Frances

heymarky · Post by **heymarky** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:55 am

California Government web site has what appears to be up-to-date information:

http://www.fire.ca.gov/

There is a map that shows the areas that are burning and the areas that are being evacuated:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ms ... 1fe3357571

San Diego public radio has a streaming broadcast (you might need to have a broadband connection:

http://www.kpbs.org/media/assets/kpbs-fm.asx

Another pbs sponsored link that has up-to-date info (text):
www.twitter.com/kpbsnews