I hope all of our Southern California Rendo friends are safe and away from the fires!

We're about 30 miles away and between couple of major fires (Irvine and San Diego). 
Safe, but a ton of smoke and ashes. I had to wash the desk, computers and the floor before I could touch anything. Visibility here is about one residential block.

I didn't go to work, because I would have to make my way past Irvine and Chino fires. I'm kind of worried that by the end of the day my way home may be cut off. Just wanted to play it safe.

Let us know how you're affected and how you're doing! I hope everyone stays safe and healthy!!!

What a sweet thread! I too hope everyone located there sees no harm.

I hope they are contained soon.
250,000 people evacuated in San Diego county alone according to MSN.

Its actually worse than you can imagine.  I am sitting here waiting to see if I have to evacuate but everybody is ringed with fire and there is no place to go.  They had huge holding areas and then had to evacuate those....

That sounds awful :(  Is that in San Diego?
It's so smoky and dusty here, you don't want to be outside... You can't evacuate people and leave them out in this... and we're 30 miles away from fires.
Can't imagine how it is any closer :(

I hope you stay okay!

I hope they will be safe there, and that the evacuations won't last long. I saw one news story of a couple who had built an house on the site of one of the previous malibu fires, only to have it burn down.

Yep close to San Diego..the problem is that they are running out of places to put the evacuees.

My heart does not bleed for million dollar homes built on top of each other, sorry.

Quote - Yep close to San Diego..the problem is that they are running out of places to put the evacuees.

I can believe that!
We just had a samll fire break out at the end of our block, in a dry creek bed. Luckily there were two fire engines available to put it out. With being so far away from all the other fires, I wonder how this got started.

I hear that one of the major power trunks bringing Power into San Diego, from Arizona is down due to the fire. If utilities start breaking down, it'll get nasty. I made sure we have abnout 5 days worth of food and drinking water if thig get ugly... may need more.

Dajadues, that was nasty and totally uncalled for. 
Malibu, where the rich houses are is atually not affected all that much any more. It just happens to get a fair amount of press coverage.
There are plenty of poor people in Southern California too, and the extent of the fire damage is a lot worse then one or two large houses burning down.
For example, City of Ramona, down in San Diego, entire city of some 35,000 people has been evacuated. It is a little desert city with a lot of agriculture. Not very many rich people there. Lot of little more rural communities and people without fire insurance are affected.

Also, the smoke is affecting milions of people around here. At least half of the southland is covered in smoke and ash, air quality so bad you can barely see a block away. I'm wondering about evacuees and homeless people, I hope there's an indoor place for them to take shelter.

I went outside for about 30 min, and by the time I came back, I was congested, and my mouth was actually dry and full of ashes. I could feel my teeth grind the sand, dust, ash, whatever it is.

Sending thoughts and prayers everyones way.....

and yup that comment was totally uncalled for.....

Quote - My heart does not bleed for million dollar homes built on top of each other, sorry.

Regardless of this it is not these homes in danger as Connie pointed out. I spent a lot of time in the San Diego area and I didn't see million dollar homes there. If losing homes, power, and other things aren't bad enough I truly feel for all the firefighters that have been at battle with these fires for over 36 hours straight and no end in sight! Also the fact that there are more fires starting than crews to fight them is no help either. I wouldn't be at all suprised if California doesn't ask for firefighters from all over the U.S. and getting the guard involved as well. These folks in this area are in fire straits and need all the support we can give them.

Yes, I've been watching this, Connie.  I am certainly sorry to hear that you and yours are being affected by it.  Are the winds as bad in your area as they are saying on the news -- causing the fires to spread?

Good thing that you don't have northern Georgia's problem of severe drought coupled together with the fires.  It's amazing to me to hear that the city of Atlanta may literally face the possibility of running out of water.  I don't live there -- but I know people who do.

Yes -- there's always an element of envy involved in wishing ill to rich folks, and in celebrating about it when they get hurt somehow.

Too bad when the businesses which are owned by those horrible rich folks get burned down -- and put a lot of the "little people" whose lives & families are supported by the businesses which are run by those awful rich folks out of work.

I hope this link works. These are photos from the San Diego area. 
May God have mercy on them all.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/slideshow/news/14393320/detail.html

Hope everyone pulls through okay. We have had some bad wildfires here in Florida, the smoke is terrible! If you have a mask to protect your lungs, wear it. N95 might do the trick. But, OMG, the Santa Anna winds are Fast and Deadly! BE SMART! Don't get caught out in the open if you make a run for it. Many people died recently in Greece that way. OO!!! The weather channel says the Santa Anna is not easing up, this could be trouble.

It's even worse than the last big fire we had 4 years ago.  San Diego county lost over 2000 homes then.  We may loose even more this time.  The wind is blowing up to 35 mph gusts.  In some of the hills it has got up to 60 mph.  Due to the winds and smoke, the planes could not do their water drops...  They finally were able to get in the air late this afternoon.

I'm safe now, but it is burning rather closer to me than I like!  They just ordered evacs for Scripps Ranch, which is less than 2 miles away.   The homes that are at the highest risk are near the canyons.  We are far from those, so I feel pretty safe.

The severe Santa Ana wind advisory just got extended from ending tuesday to thursday now. Not good news.
We do have drought too, not super severe, but the water reserves are on low, we had public announcements to conserve water for few months now.
I think Operaguy and DarkEdge are from so cal. I hope we hear from them. I'm sure there are others.

The winds around here can be vicious! Anywhere between 60 and 100mph, toppling trees and power lines. Several of theese fires started because of the wind knocking down power lines. Lot of local schools are closed due to poor air quality. The one nearest to me, covering 15,000 acres and so far injuring 12 firefighters is an arson fire. 
Whomever did that, I hope they feed him to the sharks!!!!

Mojo to all our San Diego buddies.  Hope you are all safe and well.

Please overlook my short comings as we are in fallbrook and are in big trouble...prayers would be good. My wife is safe and I am stuck...so I'm digging in.

OMG, Falbrook... you guys are in the middle of it :(
I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed, and sending you some good wishes and prayers!

Yikes Darkedge - take care and get out if you can.  Houses can be rebuilt - you are more important!  Saying lots of prayers for you.

Another reason to despise the media: entire communities were being evacuated this morning and some news ditz, in a cheery voice, was reporting that the homes of celebrities were being threatened. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but when a whole community is imperiled, it is hardly the time for this insipid, vacuous obsession with celebrity that pretends to be news when there is no news.

Thank you ladies...I appreciate your thoughts. Pulling an all nighter here. I can't believe the power is still on. Ready to roll at a moments notice. I figure it can't take the whole town at once, so I'll just drive where the fire isn't. It took my wife 3 hours to go 2 miles. Even better today is our 19th anniversary...it doesn't get any better than this!
But the whole situation is extremly dynamic at this point, nothing is for sure.

Yes Paloth. Unfortunately it is my opinion that Fallbrook is being left to fry...the whole of San Diego is on fire and, well...we are just a little avocado town. I've seen 1 fire truck today.

I don't fault them though, you have to make a stand at some places and others you can't. They are heros and do the best they can. If you pray, pray for those on the front lines fighting this thing.

DarkEdge, if you make a run a run for it, take a route near water, or swimming pools. I have heard several stories of people surviving a firestorm by jumping in water. Just don't get caught out in the open. The smoke can get you too. Stay safe! Taking care of your wife's safety and yours on your 19th anniversary is a reminder of what's really important in life. I hope your town pulls through,

I saw some pics of the fire damage....I don't know if I would hide in a pool...you might boil. 

I do hope that you guys all make it through this okay....I was looking at a satallite photo...the smoke just billows out over the ocean in a huge cloud.  

That is some scary shit. :( 

--Rebekah--

It's very sureal here. I live in Mira Mesa and winds is still, the sky is clear and we can see the stars. While everyone to the north and east is under manditory evacuation and to the west is voluntary evacuation. I'm close to the Mira Mesa High School which is an evacuation point so I am keeping an eye on that. I'm getting my bags packed in case we get evacuated.

Stay safe all of you - Conniekat8, DarkEdge, and all others in that region - I never realised how your country has so many natural disasters until moving north of the US. Thoughts and prayers with all during this terrifying ordeal.

Posted in the Lyne thread about this.

Best wishes to all those in the area.

I lived through this 4 years ago, but moved to denver.  Dad is on high alert.  Friend already thinks he lost his house.

Aweful.

Best wishes and good luck to all in the area and those that are effected.

Hey EricJ - I live in Mira Mesa too.  We look OK so far.  Pretty scary though when it's burning on 3 sides of us. 

I hear the feds and military are on their way, I hope they help San Diego first.

Things are pretty calm here today, we're out of the smoke and ash
I stayed at home just to be on the safe side. With the long drive I have to get to work, I worry about being cut off somewhere.... since out of 4 possible ways to get there, there's only one left.
Looks like someone is still trying to lite up fires in the area, so with resources being strained, i'm kind of worried about new fires spouting elsewhere.

Quote - Stay safe all of you - Conniekat8, DarkEdge, and all others in that region - I never realised how your country has so many natural disasters until moving north of the US. Thoughts and prayers with all during this terrifying ordeal.

Not all of this is natural.  A number of the fires are suspected to have been started by arson.

Stay safe, Connie and the others.

My husband just got activated again - he is in the CERT  (Civilian Emergency Response Team).   And yes, the feds and military are helping out - I think they said over 65,000 cots are on there way to the shelters.  

I went to work yesterday at 5:30 am just to make a backup of my computer and take the files home.  Glad I did - now that area is in the evac zone. 

Las Vegas sent 5 teams of firefighters  out yesterday and a 6th left this morning (5 engines and 45 firefighters). That's a total of 150 and they expect to send more.
 In addtion, about 20 or so Clark County firefighters are taking their scheduled rest leaves to head out there and help. 

According to the news reports, it's so dangerous now that only brush trucks and wildland  trained firefighters are being allowed to go.

Arizona is sending 80 firefighters. They also have 6 water planes on the runway waiting for the winds to die down enough for them to take off,

please everyone do your best to stay safe.  it sounds like all forces are mobilized and people are doing the best they can, so that's good to hear.

as for million dollar homes, from what little i know of the Cali housing market, i don't think it's hard for a house to be worth a million.  especially if people have hung onto a house for several years.   i'm pretty sure my parents house in NJ will be worth about that much when they're finally done with it (assuming Jersey's coast isn't underwater by then), and they bought it for something like $35k  in the 70s.  different state, but still...

you know, a friend of a friend keeps his hard drive backups in fireproof safe.  that's seeming like a better and better idea as time goes on.

Hang in there Peggy, Eric and all affected. Last night was a close one, VERY close. Saw a couple of fire tornados from some trees. Yikes!

Million dollar homes out here are no big deal. Here in the inland empire there are homes built in the 70s 4 bedroom, 2 bath are worth $500,000 so million dollar homes are no big deal. Everything is expensive out here so the costs of property damage are going to be huge all across the board.

I think we need some rain real soon here.   :(

My daughter keeps playing with her rain stick.  I think that's about as close as we are going to get to rain!  Mira Mesa and our home are still safe.  Hope you are in a safe place DarkEdge!

Thanks Peggy.
I hope for your husbands safety, I know he is out there fighting. Obviously I hope for your whole family too...you know what I'm trying to say (I hope!). I cannot find the correct words right now. Wish all is well there for you. 

Sorry we are kind of devastated up here. 500 homes gone. Those tornados I saw last night were quite scary and I have finally seen an aerial view...homes are still going up as we speak. Me and 2 other neighbors are hunkering down again for the night...only ones left. Chainsaw and shovels are ready.

Stay safe.

Prayers are winging over from downunder, we know the terror and helplessness of bushfire. I am in the city away from it but my parents lost thier home, wedding pressies and photos 2 wks after the wedding 43 years ago.
My uncle and other relos still fight the raging beast almost yearly with dwinding water supplies.

Keep safe all of you. Dont do anything silly!!!!
Jen

Here is an amazing video of embers falling like rain.

video.nbcsandiego.com/player/

GAH! now there's another fire a lot closer to us, within a few miles, burning in Camp Pendleton (Marine Base). The firefighters tried to light a backfire, and it got out of hand. Now we have a fire burning in San Onofre, few hundred yards from a nuclear power plant!!!!

How's everyone else doing? DarkEdge, you hanging in there?

Hi Connie,

I thought you were somewhere near by (location wise), hang in there...let us know how you are doing!

Monday night was very scary, fire tornados going up all around, all hell broke loose. Hopefully we get aircraft today (???). Cal Fire Dept. is a broken wheel in regards to getting aircraft in the area. It's been touch and go, finally seeing fire trucks in town.  Initial estimates were 500 homes lost, now they are revising to 200-300. Still had homes going up yesterday with no visable support in the immeadiate area. The brave fighters are just spread too thin. Thankfully a small local market opened up today...everyone is buying beer, frozen food, and toothpaste (everyone? oh, that's just me! :P) Slept a total of 6 hours last 2 days. Still hunkered down. Thanks for asking!

Aside from the slight smell of smoke in the wind, some haze in the air, and the lack of cars on the roads things are normal here in MIra Mesa. Hopefully that won't change, everyone is keeping a close eye on the winds.

Quote - My heart does not bleed for million dollar homes built on top of each other, sorry.

That's rather cold hearted.  Just because a person is fortunate enough to be able to buy
a nice house doesn't mean they don't have feelings too. They deserve our prayers too.

I've had three days off work.  Two because Poway was under evac and today they said not to come in due to the air quality and power conservation.  

I have asthma, so coughing a lot today.  Need to get away from the TV and do something else beside watch the fire news.  

Hang in there DarkEdge - the planes looked like they were making lots of headway in the Fallbrook area today. 

Peggy, how is Poway doing? 
I have a friend that lives in Poway (I'm not sure where), and I haven't heard from her at all, and she disappeard from her usual online spots without saying a word :(
I gather the whole city got evacuated.
Do you have any more 'inside info'

Oh my gosh, You all stay as safe as you can, prayers going up for all of you.

Peggy,
Sounds like you need to stay inside, don't need to trigger an attack. 
Today is the best day so far up here, that's not saying much but I'll take it. The winds have been dead calm all day so far, but the ash is very heavy and thick.

To all, here is a current fire map: www.sdcountyemergency.com/

Poway is mostly OK - the back hills are still under evac, but the rest of the city is getting populated again.   

Yes, I've been hiding inside today.  But even inside you notice everything is covered with dust. 

I read an article here downunder that says strong black coffee is good for athsma,  particularly if you dont drink it a lot.....it has a naturally occuring ingredient they use in the puffers. hope it helps!