SoCal in flames

[barfle]

I talked to my brother-in-law in Orange County yesterday. He said that there's a fine covering of ash over everything outside, and it smells like a campground, even in Midway City (maybe five miles inland).

My parents in Sun City aren't answering their phone, although their answering machine is, so I know the place is OK. Apparently they took their "camping" trailer (it's really an apartment - that ain't "camping") somewhere last Sunday, but didn't say where they were going or when they'd be back. Well, they're grown-ups, so I don't suppose I should spend too much time worrying about them...

<small>[ 10-29-2003, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: barfle ]</small>

[bignaf]

humans stink

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Originally posted by bignaf:
humans stink

Only if they don't bathe. You bathe, don't you, big?

Dead ashes, now they stink.

Way more good people than evil.

Selma

<small>[ 10-30-2003, 01:06 AM: Message edited by: Selma in San Diego ]</small>

[bignaf]

Originally posted by Selma in San Diego:
You bathe, don't you, big?

(in offended tone) of course not!!!

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

[barfle]

NASA has a fascinating view of the "Old" fire at I-15 going up to Cajon Pass.

[piqaboo]

The lady in the cube next to me was evacuated from her home, with her two kids and their pets. Although her home is intact and they are back in it, her neighbors and the members of "her" brownie troup were not so lucky. Several have lost houses, burnt completely, leaving only crumbled chimney remains. She is apparently in shock still. She has spent all day explaining to one person after another the effect on her of seeing these homes, the insistence of her daughter on having clean hands, and the detailed description of the evacuation- what she remembered to take and what she forgot.

I have (over)heard 5 renditions of this tale, despite having spent several hours away from my desk today.
I sympathize with her - she has major survivor's guilt going on as well.

I can only try to imagine the degree of shock and pain of my two co-workers who lost their houses and all the contents on Sunday/Monday. They, naturally, are not back at work this week.
Fortunately, no one here was severely injured or killed.

I am still waiting to hear from 4 families who evacuated Julian. I expect the news will not be all good.

There is some rain, but so much damage has already been done....

[The Great Carouser]

"There is some rain, but so much damage has already been done...."

Having lived through four hurricanes and now this I'm "amused"(not the best or even a good adjective here, but the best I can do at the moment)at how we are slogging through this catastrophe. Once the collective release of breath and the subsequent adrenaline crash subsides and we've all given a silent "thanks" to whatever G(g)od(s)we believe in what's next? Now that we can hear the still small, anonymous cries from the ash heaps that once were our neighbors and neighborhoods will we just roll up the windows and turn the radio up higher? I don't post this because I'm crusading, I don't know how I'll respond. I'm just thinking aloud.....

<small>[ 10-30-2003, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: The Great Carouser ]</small>

[dkm32]

Hi, all.

Boy, am I glad October is over!

I had major surgery...and complications (stroke...can't see out of my right eye now). Spent over two weeks in the hospital only to come home to a brush fire! It came to within a quarter mile of my house. Phone and power on and (mostly) off for 5 days.

<small>[ 11-03-2003, 05:58 PM: Message edited by: dkm32 ]</small>

[Marye]

Hey Donna!

I am so glad to hear you are safe. But you have been unwell. I am very sorry to hear this. I hope there is a good prognosis for you.

[shostakovich]

I second Marye's reply.

OT, practice up your Josef Strauss arias, and get on over to cheer up Donna.
Shos

[BenODen]

Hi Donna!

Youch, what an october! Sorry to hear about your Stroke, hope the rest of your body is Ok... An eye's not exactly optional, but *sigh* sometimes life throws curves, bah.

I'm glad you have a house to go home to, though. Quarter of a mile is pretty close, but at least you weren't in amongst the hits and misses common to urban fires. My friend's parents' house was spared by 5 feet or so in the Durango fire last summer, so I can identify with near misses...

Rest up and hope your November is a vast improvement over October!

-Benito

[barfle]

Donna, it's good to see your return. I know I was concerned that you were a victim of the fires, but it sounds like you are a victim of much worse.

My father-in-law had a small stroke that blinded him in one eye as well. He really wasn't aware of it for quite a while, then he realized he couldn't see out of the eye. Fortunately there weren't further symptoms, and I hope your situation is more recoverable than his was.

I'm glad, however, to hear that you have a home to return to. I also hope your albino hummingbirds are survivors.

With my deepest wishes for your complete recovery...

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

A mild benefit to the fires. The sunsets and sunrises the last few days have been drop-dead glorious. This morning's edition was absolutely stunning and people were standing outside with cups of coffee just watching the sky and smiling.

My quilt guild only had one member burned out - taking up a "Stash-replacer" collection in a big green bin tonight at the meeting. I understand she lost all but a few bits of her fabric horde, her machines, tools, gadgets, and stuff (we spend an astonishing amount on tools, gadgets, and stuff).

The fires are almost out (yes, only almost) and are now only in the least accessible areas of the mountains. Life has gone back to normal for most of us.

Selma

[Shapley]

Glad to hear it.

[piqaboo]

Got a nice tour of the northern parts of the county this weekend.
The destruction in Scripps Ranch was wrenching. What really awed me tho, thru out the county, were how many "structures" were saved.
Fire burned up to all four sides, and yet the building stands, roof on. Or the backyards of a knot of houses are black, but the houses are safe and the front yards are green (all the greener for all the water 2 weeks ago).
This could be seen over and over. The folks fighting these fires did awesome amazing work.

[dkm32]

The two local fires are supposed to be "contained" by this weekend. However, considering yesterday afternood and last night, they're probably out. About 2pm we had a tornet of rain come down. Part of a hillside spilled across a major (to Valley Center) road. Yet another mess.

[piqaboo]

DONNA ! ! ! !

How WONDERFUL to hear from you!


(bummer bout the road. Wonderd bout that )

[barfle]

The bad news is that now SoCal is going through one of their more objectionable seasons (Earthquakes, Fires, Mudslides, and Summer).

The good news is that Donna is OK.

Always good to hear from you. I was concerned (well, I still am. The danger is far from past.)

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

And we seem to be in fire season. There's been some earlier ones, but this one has a Santa Ana to help it along. For you out-of-town folks, a Santa Ana is a high-pressure system event that happens over SoCal. There are fairly stiff winds off the desert toward the coast, peaking in the afternoon, and it's so dry that my glass of icewater stays dry. There's not a drop of moisture on the outside of that glass. The catfur crackles if I think of petting a cat.

This last fire was set by an arsonist or arsonists. It was intentional. Some of a set a fire on purpose where the wind would drive it into populated areas. Four firefighters have already been killed and the reward-for-information-leading is now up to $500,000. If I knew anything, I'd tell the police for free.