The fire

I am so relieved to see that people are checking in that you are staying safe. So far so good, may it continue.

So happy you're home and praying that these last fires get under control soon.

SD County is just so more together than anywhere else here.....just look at this:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/forums/?forumID=3123

Daisy - wow! that was a lot of info! you'd have to really know what you were looking for - but at least its all there for the searching.

Shari -

It always blows me away that you're typing from the Marshall Islans. Just had to get that out in the open. LOL Gotta love the Internet.

Sherry, I'm thrilled for you! Everything OK there, the plants too? What about the neighbors you were worried about?

Katie59....I most certainly do love the internet! My lifeline!!

You guys be sure to let us know if there are any specifics that you need!

Me too!! I've been looking at lots of sites about the Islands since I have a new friend there now - there's so much out there. It's really beautiful. Do you scuba-dive or snorkel. Seems like that might be a requirement . . .

If you would like to know who IslandShari is. Go to: Tropical Gardening. There are 6 threads about underthe sea gardening. So magical I can hardly believe. My favorite forum.
Will relax your mind and body. Such an easy listenin' sort of place. I frequently start over with #1 and go though each one. Makes us appreciate our beautiful planet.

Katie59, go to the Tropical Gardening Forum....yes to your questions and lots of pics and more info there. This thread should be about the fire. Don't mean to stomp on your enthusiasm...its just so easy to get off topic, and this is an important one. See you over there!

sorry

LouC

Christi - now cut that out!!! I love you dear, but you're embarrasing me. This thread should be about other people and places...my very special and always OT friend! ☺

Thanks, LouC. Yes, Shari. Good point, I am all about "off-topic", I'm afraid. :-o

We cross posted yet again.

The 'random-ness' of the fires is so strange...the DH had a dental appointment for cleaning yesterday and our dentist's office is in the same shopping village at the south end of town where I spent 10 hours waiting for them to open the road. At one point I walked up to the market to hit the deli and noticed that our dentist's office was open...how odd! So I go in and they're wanting to know why Jer isn't there...they've been calling trying tro reach him 'cause he hasn't gotten there. DUH! Hello!! We've been evacuated...we can't get home past this center where you're conveniently located! They weren't burning, so it apparently didn't enter their minds why there were a hundred or so people waiting in this parking lot.
And now tonight there's a big beautiful moon,cool, moist air, the onshore breezes have returned, people out driving around and you wonder if the last 5 days really happened. And suddenly there isn't constant live coverage of the fires, even though there are plenty of people who are still in danger,who can't go home and Qualcomm Stadium which was a great evacuation center boots all of the remaining evacuees out so they can have the Chargers game there.....the evacuees who have been in some of San Diego's hotels have to leave because there are conventions happening and the rooms have been booked for a long time for these events. It's like everyone has said, "okay, enough time given to this, time to move on". It's so bizarre.

Kaperc that story made me tear up.

I am so grateful to hear that all our friends are safe....and what a blessing it is to hear how well the local people have responded to this terrible crisis. There are some grand folks in this world! Love & Hugs to all of you.....Jo

I am hoping someone can help or at least help calm my nerves a bit. My favorite Uncle (along with a few cousins) has not contacted me in days when I first heard news of the fire. He always e-mails me as soon as I e-mail him, my letters and phone calls have gone unanswered. It has been 5 days now.

He lives near Rancho Bernardo very near the Doubleday golf coarse (just a bit SW of it). I was wondering if the reason I am not hearing from him is because he has been evacuated ot is it worse? My cousin in Spring Valley just was allowed home and said the fire was 100 yards from where he lives but he is fine. He has not heard from my Uncle either.

I would love if someone can help me out with a bit of info-I am in Minnesota and the info I have is always hours/days old
Robbi

My Dad was worried about me and couldn't reach me so he called my cousin in Alpine and she called our sheriff's office here and they very kindly came out to my house and checked to let them know. She had called the sheriff's office before trying our cell phone number,because my Dad (He's 83) didn't even know that he had our cell phone number, so as soon as she reached me on our cell phone, she called the sheriffs to cancel and they had already been to my house that quickly. They were very happy to help....call the sheriff's office for Rancho Bernardo. If his answering machine is answering, then his house is still standing..so I'm assuming he's in a evacuation center or elsewhere and hasn't been able to reach you for one reason or another, but please,try the sheriff's office.

Distantkin - I also have family in Rancho Bernardo. Nearly all of RB was evacuated...and they are just getting back in today. My family had over 35 calls on there message machine, so it takes a while to get through. Sherry is right...call the sheriff's office. I don't think there is any comprehensive list yet of homes that were burned, or that made it okay...but if you have an address, I'm sure they can help.

Good luck, and sincerely hope you get good news.

Robbi,

There is a list here of destroyed homes in RB. http://genesis.sannet.gov/infospc/templates/cd5/index.jsp
See if your uncle's address is on there. If so, there are resources we can check to see where he was evacuated. Qualcomm Stadium has been closed now, and evacuees who did not have homes to return to were relocated. If you want to DMail me his info, I will contact Red Cross and see if they have him logged in (everyone logged in at shelters). They can help him contact family.

Kathleen

Edited to add: Shari and Sherry's idea is probably quicker! The Sheriff's offices around here are very responsive.

This message was edited Oct 26, 2007 8:33 PM

Kathleen, you are incredible...If I was in need, I would sure want you on my side...the distribution of information is so important and you are right there with it. Great job!

The non-emergency number for SDPD is 619 531-2000. they should be able to answer your questions about checking on your uncle.

Robbi - Is it the Double Tree Golf Course? Have you gone to googlemaps and looked at the fire coverage? It says that the Poomacha and Witch Creek fires have not joined together as they were fearing. The map shows the Doubletree Golf Resort as being about 4 km south and west of the Witch Creek fire perimeter.

"No change in acreage for the Witch Fire, but it is now 30% contained, with full containment expected on Oct 31st & full control on Nov 5th.

The Witch Fire has burned 198,000 acres.
There have been 22 injuries to firefighters.

It up to $5.3 million in suppression costs.

Currently there 325 engines, 45 fire crews, 45 water tenders, 22 dozers and 2,619 firefighters.
10/25, 9:00 p.m."

Here's the link, but it won't take you straight there as all the settings aren't saved in the link. It looks like your uncle's home may be okay for now . . .

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&om=1&msa=0&msid=114250687465160386813.00043d08ac31fe3357571&ll=32.990236,-116.732483&spn=1.234787,3.010254&z=9&num=1000&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-mapshpp-na-us-mm&utm_medium=mapshpp&utm_term=fires

Fingers crossed.

Kathy

What an amazing list. That's awesome that they've put aside everything else to try and get this together. I'm dumbstruck.

Thank you all so much. I will have to do that but I would feel bad having them go look when he is just sitting at some hotel somewhere doing laps in a pool. The Sheriff's office must be so busy.
Just called again and still a machine-good to hear that then.

I will wait a bit before calling them-but will do it.
My Uncle seems to be south of the fire though-his home is not listed but he is farther south then RB, he lives near Carmel Mountain RD near 56. This means he is still safe from the fire right?

If they are letting people go home-does this mean the fire has been contained? Sorry for all of these questions but I am in MN and the info I get here is so sketchy unless I dig around on the internet.
Thanks again so much for your help :o)
Robbi

If it's the fire around Rancho Bernardo, then I don't think it's been contained yet. It's about 30% and they're estimating some containment, all things cooperating, October 31st.

Ty-yes doubletree. So sorry-that has been so confusing to me-not knowing place names etc and so many have been talked about-I hear Ranch anything and I jump! Or Golf Coarse. For some time I was watching the google map after I typed in my Uncles address not realizing that google found Bradford RD by El Cajon and I thought that was the right address so I watched the Harris fire thinking all was well and not understanding why I couldn't reach him-only to be sickened when speaking to my cousin who explained that it was not the right place and show me where the error was-to see how close he really was put me in a panic.
Thanks for the help and info all-I so appreciate it-I just wish he would answer the phone-could someone just go smack him for me-LOL
Robbi

Heehee. Plenty of time to smack him when you're sure he's okay. Right?

I'm not familiar with the area - just the names of the cities. I have been doing the same thing - chasing the map all around the state. Somehow it feels like I can keep people safe if I keep on top of the news. It still is scary that the fire looks like it's all around the city, but as they get other fires under control you can bet that they'll move to quash these.

And it's good news that you can get the answering machine. Not only is the house there, there is electricity.

Hope you sleep a little better tonight and that you guys touch base tomorrow.

K

Robbi - that the answering machine is still working is a very good sign.

Yes, Robbi, I think you can sleep tonight. Oops, you're probably asleep already! I know what you mean about place names, and so many of ours are similar-sounding. Plus the Spanish and Native American influence gets people when they're trying to pronounce them. Then there's the fact that so many of our streets/roads change names at intersections! That drives me nuts. And don't even try to count how many things are named "Mission" something. lol

Let us know when you hear from him - then we can go bop him for you!

Is there any damage in San Tee? Missing friends.

Santee that's just north of El Cajon? Looks from Google like they are in the clear for now. Nearest fires are to the north and the east.

I have a large wire crate/pen type thing that fits in the back of the Cherokee. 3 of my cats who get along were in it, but it could hold 6. This time I had from Monday a.m. when I figured we would have to evacuate until 4 in the afternoon when we actually received a mandatory call. Fortunately I had the time and I'd made sure that I knew where the pieces were to put it together, but I need to allow for the fact that there may be a time when I have only a few minutes to get out and I'm now going to leave that crate aleady assembled and ready to go. I don't care how much room it takes up, I'll find a place for it. Another large carrier holds 3 and then I have a carrier for one. I won't ever have more animals than I can carry out in an emergency. DH built a trailer for hauling mulch, compost, etc. and I am SUPER glad we had that. The trailer with everything in it can be put into a storage unit. We also have a flat trailer that we could load and tie stuff down on, both vehicles set up to tow. I'm thinking now that we ought to put a camper shell on the DS's truck.....we've lived her 25 years and I'd never ever have thought it would burn here simply because it hadn't. Quite a few people I know lost homes in the fire here several years ago and I thought that was a one-time occurrence. Now we came close in this one. If you are not already set up with such stuff, it can seem rather costly or needless to do so since we just had a fire and what are the odds that we'd have another one anytime soon, huh? But now we know that it CAN happen to us and I intend to spend a lot more time thinking about ways to make this easier and go faster. Most organizers would recommend arranging your closet by 'season', or color, etc. Now mine is going to be arranged by 'save' and not save. I kid you not. A whole new way of seeing things.

You have really hit on some good points wcgypsy. Those of us in the hurricane belt have to do that too. On another forum it was mentioned that pesticide masks are effective in heavy smoke and ash conditions. They are much better than the small medical type masks generally used. They would be a good investment for you fire preparation stash.

There is a disposable vapor mask that 3M makes. You keep it in the sealed plastic bag until needed. My husband uses them when he paints. I'll get the part number today. They are about 30 bucks each, and will last several days. Might not hurt to keep a couple stashed somewhere.

Good thoughts Sherry. Looking forward to that part number on the 3M mask, Melody.

Thanks

Melody: I'm very interested in hearing about that mask - we prepare for volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes up here (probably something we're not even thinking about will surprise us).

Kathy

We just can't ever think of everything, can we Kathy? Just when you think you've got it all covered, somebody or something slaps you upside the head with a zinger! Good ol' Mother Nature usually has a had in it, too.

I don't know what to do first...watering, planting,cleaning, put away stuff that went on evac with us...back to the usual daily stuff, but phone keeps ringing....people checking in with each other. I'd not heard from my friend, Anne, they were able to get back to their house though that area is supposedly still closed. Their house is there, but most of their grove and property torched. They'd just moved back here from Washington 4-5 years ago to build a house when the first fire hit Fallbrook. This is now the second fire they've come through in 5 years. Other friends evacuated north and decided the heck with it, if we have to leave, let's enjoy it and so went to Pismo Beach and then learned a relative has died in Arkansas and are now on their way to Arkansas without even knowing if their house here is still standing. I think there are quite a few people I know who would sell their house tomorrow if they could find a buyer. I went grocery shopping and was then told by DH that we have no propane and may not be able to get any for a week or so...think microwave instead. I'm thinking pizza instead. All of my good friends that I've heard from so far still have their homes. We even got mail delivery yesterday...big box full of mail. Strange. The library is open, I can go see everyone and take my books back.
We haven't heard from Tleaves since she got back home...she evacuated out of Scripps Ranch and went home several days ago.
I've been so busy trying to get back into things that I haven't stopped to have breakfast yet so that's next on my agenda. First plants and watering, THEN eat...priorities. Would like to have the shelves in my new greenhouse finished so I can start getting some things in there, but DH has asthma and I think it's going to be quite awhile until he can be outside working on things.
I was in the drive-up line at my local fish taco place yesterday and noticed a big red fire Suburban-type vehicle behind me and leaned out the window and yelled Thank You at him and the he gave a big smile and waved back..the girl at the window said "he's a mechanic". I said, "That's okay, he keeps their vehicles running."
It's such an odd thing...I noticed that now I even wave at every police car that I see. I wonder how long that will last. Maybe until I get a ticket.......