Fires in SoCal

I get cold chills looking at the pics of the devastation. Praying hard for all of you Californians and the brave men and women who are battling the fires.

Amen to that!

I just saw it on the news. It sure don't look like it's getting any better. Everybody is in my prayers. The poor fire fighters are exhausted.

SoCal hasn't posted is she still ok?

Frogsrus, the last picture you posted looks like it has concentric rings around the sun. Are those rings of smoke?

Keeping all of you in my prayers. SoCal, are you ok????

I think SoCal and anyone else on the coast are OK. I know the air sucks big time here, but so far no fires have started this close to the coast. The air smelled like burning rubber this afternoon. Really nasty, yet I know how lucky I am. Poor San Diego County is really taking a beating on this one.

I just talked to SoCal and they are fine, the fires aren't anywhere near them. They are getting lots of smoke and ash tho.

Ruth

we are located in the north east of I-15 Freeway. my neighbors and i are watching the fire every night for nearly a week now. it is nerve wracking even though we are not close to the proximity of the fire. Cajon Pass in 8 miles from where our house is located. the past few days, it is clear, we can see the mountains ridges. here is the view of the fire 7 a.m. 10/28

as of this writing, everything is covered with smoke. this is the 1st time we have experience the smoke covering the entire neighborhoood. the mountain ridges can no longer visible. it is all black smoke all around... so dark and so eiree.

do not worry, we are pack and ready to go at a moment's notice. we have bare essentials to carry us through to get out of here.

actually, we are trapped. going east bound on 18 freeway, we will encounter the Simi Valley fire. going 18 freeway south bound, is closed due to the Big BEar and Lake Arrowhead fire. I-15 going south is closed due to the Devore and San Diego fire.

the only route to get out of here is to go north toward Las Vegas or Northern Calif.

here is another photo from 9 a.m. i can no longer take any photos cause of the dark clouds and smoke covering the area.

What horrific sights! I pray that everyone is safe with their loved ones. their homes and businesses escape these devatasting fires!!

I pray for all of your safety in the vicinity of the fires. And also for the firemen. Hope they are getting some needed reinforcement.

I was near a wildfire a couple of years ago and had to leave my house , but thankgoodness the wind changed direction and my house was saved. I know how scary it is. Again my prayers for all of you. Donna

NoH20, the whole sky is nothing but smoke. It isn't really rings just the way the light looks. It is weird. You can see sunspots too. I was dark here at 2 pm. We have not seen blue sky for a couple of days. The orange light is getting on everyones nerves, not to mention being housebound. I do not really expect the schools to open this week. The air pollution is terrible. They have never had an "air unsafe for everyone" alert before in San Diego.

It is so horrible to look at these pictures. I lived in Yucca Valley and also Berkely about 30 years ago. California is such a beautiful state with the most amazing scenery. It is painful to think of the devastation.

I can't even imagine what it must be like to have the sky filled with smoke and ash. Even if you are not in any immediate danger you all must be subconciously on high alert. I lived near Seattle when Mount St. Helens blew and that was such a strange feeling. It is almost like being in a dream - everything is the same, all the houses and streets and plants are in the same places but everything is so strange.

I'm so sorry I haven't been in touch here much this week. I have had out of town company and they just left yesterday, and then we have my grandson for 2 days now.
Thank you all for thinking of me and several others out here. I am quite a ways from the fires, even though we are feeling their devastion. The soot and ashes and smoke is all we are experienceing here, and I will put up with it as it reminds me of all the people who are homeless or have lost loved ones in this horricfic devastation.

MaVie, Frogs, Jul, I hope all is going well for you and your families.

Donna

on a normal night, one can see the lovely bright stars. last night it was so clear, the stars seems to be within reach.

tonight it is so cloudy with smoke, can't see the crescent moon nor the stars.

i step out a few minutes ago, to see which direction the wind is going, it was awful. i had a damp face towel over my face. it did not help any. i was out barely 2 mins., when i walk inside the house, i was coughing so bad. at least it is good the wind is going south west... gusting 10 mi./hr.

Ma Vie, I can only imagine! I worked a fire when I was younger and on the PD. It is horrible. We are sill in ashes, but getting better. But NOTHING like where you are. I could see the crescent moon last evening and it was red. So eerie.

Frogs, thanks for the updates. It has helped so much. Not sure where sis is today, I am sure heading home. But still no power. I so feel for Julian area. We were headed up there in a couple of weeks for the apples. I think we will still go to support the community. So far it looks to be stopping just short of the town. So glad, enough is enough!

I can't believe that some of the firefighters have not gotten much food! If I could get up there, I would bring lots, I guess the media has gotten the word out and hopefully things have changed for them... I have many firefigher family and good freinds. My DH was pay call fire for a long time. I know how hard they work on fires! God Bless them all, they give so much!

Got to go back to work, thanks again all for the updates. My email is fixed.

Mavie just posted on the photo forum that her neighborhood is being evacuated. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

This fire just goes on and on. They are trying so hard to save Julian and other areas. They spent most of the nght setting backfires to try to slow this monster. I have a friend who doesn't know if his house is standing or if his ex and daughter made it off the mountain. We are all holding our breaths. Not knowing is the hardest thing of all.

So many of the people killed and burned waited too long to leave their homes. One little 10 year old girl had a hand badly burned hen they went back after a fire and she took ahold of something that was still too hot. I hope that peole are prepared ow and will leave when the police come though.

I hope MaVie is spared what so many are now going through with the loss of their homes.

Here are some shots and video of the fires in San Diego

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/fires/multimedia.html#

All this makes me think of an old peom I memorized as a school girl...

"Some say the world will end in Fire,
Others say in Ice..."
(I know the rest but it's not pertinent)

I think everyone in the paths of these fires must feel like it's the end of the world. I pray for you all.

Yes, I heard that Hesperia is under evac. I heard two reports, one Voluntary the other Mandatory. Any way you put it, the ash is just to thick to stay.

I have been watching the news all day now and I am so sadened that the wind has picked up. It is windy in my area and that wind comes from the fire direction.

This truly is the worst I have seen growing up in So Cal. Please all pray for this to end, and if you can please try to help with the disaster relief fund. I know I would be greatful if I were in the fire victums shoes.

All of the peoples homes in the fire/smoke path have suffered smoke damage as well. Their furniture etc smells like smoke and that smell is almost impossible to remove. I am also concerned for the fire victums families during the holiday season.

Frogs, maybe we could find a way to feed some fire victums during the Thanksgiving time. Let me know. Maybe you have some ideas.

Three firefighters have now died fighting the Julian fire. Another person was found in the home that they waited too long to leave. The news will be a long time getting better I am afraid. So far they have managed to save historic downtown Julian but the cost is getting very high. This is a fast moving fire and those fighting is are tired after so many days.

Jul, as of now they are asking people to hold off on donations (except cash) for awhile or to check the Red Cross to find out what is needed. The community at large has really been generous. 1000 lbs of tri-tips were brought in last night as dinner for the firegighters. We will have to wait and see what is lined up for the holidays. They are saying that tis fire will still burn for a week or more.

I am grateful that the fire got no closer to me than it did. Everything smells. The air here is clearer today, as I am fairly close to the water, measured as the crow flies. The marine layer was very welcome this AM.

I have a small ray of hope, When I was a child living here
it would threaten to rain every year right before holloween
I hope it rains soon today is much cooloer then last week
and clouds have started to form.
Everyone to a rain dance.

Doing a raind dance here Tom...and using my gourd shakere that I made to help keep time. Praying for all of you in harms way.

Love & Hugs Jo

Hey Jo!
Thanks, next July and August would you bottle up one of your monsoons and fed ex it to me please?
What I would love to smell right now is my folks little ranch right after it rains.
I don't know about anyone else but to me the desert or high desert after a rain storm is one of the most beautiful smells I have ever had a chance to take in.
When I get out to my folks place sleep falls on me so easy.
Hope everyone is having a good day.
Tom

I would be more than happy to share some rain with ya'll, even tho it's been dry this month. Ya'll need it so much more than we do.

Sending good thoughts and prayers to everyone involved or effected by this nightmare.

Cheri'

Sending you all my thoughts and prayers from Michigan. I keep you in my prayers every day, many times a day. It is unbelievable and so hard to imagine. It seems that nothing I can say will convey how much concern and empathy I feel and send.....Blessings to everyone out there.

Goodnews/badnews

three firefighters were burned at Julian and only one dead. The fires are very erratic. We have rumour of rain on Friday. Keep sniffin' that brug and doing a raindance Jo!

There are some lovely storm clouds forming off the coast here. Yes, forecast for Friday is scattered showers. Sure hope they get inland where they are needed most.

I fear for you and think of you. I am hoping all is well with you.

Our friends and other family members went through this, just a while ago!........so our thoughts are with California from B.C., Canada......Elaine

I have little tiny tiny sprinkles of rain on my windsheild this morning. Keep it up the rain dances are working!

We just had a small shower here a few minutes ago also. The skies look like they want to give up some more, but they are being a little bit stingy. We need more than this for many reasons....of course for the fires, but also to clean up the air and to remove all the black soot and ashes that are on everything.

Come on rain....PLEASE

Donna

I'm getting out my 55 gal barrel that I used to beat on for making rain. (The neighbors once told me to stop it...they said I was causing their garden to flood.)

I'll aim the barrel ya'lls way!

Thanks Shoe, we need it badly.
The rain has already stopped here and the sun is shining...that's the type of rain we get!! The weatherman says we are supposed to have more rain tomorrow and Sat. I'll keep my umbrella handy. :-)

Donna

WHEW!!Between 'Shoe's barrel, my Shakere, and both of us doing a very earnest rain dance...we should have this fire under control soon...with the help of our wonderful Firefighters!! (my feet are getting sore...need to change dancing shoes.)

Tom....I hope I can meet your family here....I'm sure they live close to me. I went to a Halloween Party the other night off Palominas Road...down on the San Pedro River. Met lots of folks. Maybe one was your kin. Jo

Donna, Heck with the umbrella! I will be out washing the poor plants. My poor little ears do not like being baked in a coating of ashes. Too bad it doesn't seem to bother the caterpillars. The passifloria dropped all its blooms. I have given everything a spit bath but we are still trying to conserve water here.

We have clouds here now but they are predicting rain MAYBE for Friday and Saturday. Shoe and Jo, keep it up! we need all of the help we can get!
Janice

Has anyone heard from Michelle5000, she lives in Joshua Tree!

"eyes"

Eyes, Joshua Tree is over 100 miles from San Diego.

Our houses in Orange County are a mess! piles of ash on the doorsteps; the pool is full of ash and with the Santa Ana Winds it is sifting into the house.

But those things can always be cleaned up later. The worst of it is what these people are breathing in. Everyone I talk to are having sore throats and allergy-type symptoms from breathing this stuff.

Truly the worst fire in our lifetimes.

My thoughts and prayers for the safety of all of you as well as your family and friends are here.

My step daughter lives in San Diego near the airport and they have not been going to work.