Roll Call

Channel 8 news just said that this is the "second fire in less than a week to start on a training range" on Pendleton. I personally think this is criminal negligence and that the military should be held accountable and responsible, but that's never going to happen. We've lived here 25 years and I couldn't begin to count the number of times that Pendleton has burned and the De Luz area especially threatened. So, here we are once again wondering if we'll be evacuating in the night if the wind shifts this way and I am angry! Very angry...this is the kind of stuff that drives people nuts 'cause it isn't right and there's nothing you can do about it.

I'm surprised they're saying training range. Would they be firing in between two housing developments? That sounds crazy. Channel 39 showed the map full screen and there was nothing between the two groups of homes. Fortunately the smoke from this one and the one last week have not affected us. After last year, I really feel sorry for folks in the way of smoke - been there, done that! My brother and his wife suffered for weeks with the smoke up north.

We have a neighbor who is with Oceanside PD and she says they have had a lot of random fires, cars, etc.

Channel 10 news then also said started at a training range...saw a site online that said it actually started at 11 a.m., so I don't know. Somehow there never seems to be a consensus on these things. I wish they would keep covering it on TV...can't believe they left to go to the regularly scheduled programs......House prices have dropped, we keep burning so who'd want to live here? Want to leave, but in this economy also, perhaps should stay so DS still has work here..frustrating...I'm sitting here realizing that I haven't picked up one more cat carrier. At a certain point, if I have to gather things together again to take with, I think I won't bother with much that went along last time. Perhaps I'll take things I wouldn't want to lose and store them at my Dad's house in an area that never burns.....

Has anyone heard from "Amarantha" (Karen) ???
I know she lives in San Bernardino...lots of fire out there at the moment...

I didn't know they were burning also...know about the ones in L.A. and checking on the CalFire site saw that there are currently 5 burning in Ca. but must have mised that. We haven't heard from her in a long time....

SW, we installed a fire hydrant after last year's fire here......

What's involved in getting a hydrant installed?

KC...a petition signed by all the local canines (Sorry, couldn't resist...! )

Tell you later, going to get gas...just drove up Alta Vista to take a look at the fire and realized I didn't get gas today.

Good one, JD! lol

Edited to add: that picture I posted above? The smoke is all flames now. Hope there's more between us and IT than how it appears. :-(

This message was edited Oct 13, 2008 9:15 PM

Camp Pen says they were doing no live ammo firing yesterday...if so, I'm wrongly accusing them this time. I do have to add that I'm not inclined to believe 'officials' unfortunately.

I imagine a lot of comments were being directed at them. I certainly didn't hear any firing yesterday. DH checked a topo map last night and we could see the firebreaks all the way around the base. It's such a big place to watch and we know how fast those winds can make a spark go. The fire near Yosemite started from a spark when a single man was target shooting in his back yard. Dumb thing to do - most folks up there know better - but an example of how fast it can happen from such a tiny source.

KaperC you ready to evacuate? If you need a place to go, you are welcome here. Seeing the flames is scary!
wcgypsy. It was required by the county to have a hydrant installed. They cost a lot, I'm not for sure how much it would be in your area but we had to pay 3,500 (I think) for ours, which still is not installed. You also have to have access to a municipal water source. We have that access because Eastern Municipal Water Co. has a line that runs under Scott Rd. The county required the hydrant as part of our conditional use permit for the firewood lot. Dealing with the county is no fun! At least we are in compliance now, and they have quit hasseling us.
JD thanks for the best laugh I've had today.
I get so frustrated. We are closer to San Diego, but we are stuck with LA tv stations. Not much info from San Diego, it really is frustrating when you want to know what is going on with your friends and there isn't any news on TV about that area.
About Camp Pendleton. I'm sorry that their exercises are a pain to local residents. However, the military has been there for a really long time, they do try to be good neighbors. They need to be able to train the troops, they use the beaches for training in amphibious landings. They don't do as much artillery as they used to there, in part because the civilian population has moved in so close. They are necessary to the defense of our country, and where else is left for them to train? I heard on the news that the military had quit their exercises yesterday due to the wind conditions and the fire had started later on. Now I'm hearing that the 5 fwy that goes through Camp Pendleton is now closed too. Just heard that they reopened the 5 fwy. 3rd fire in last week?!! Just keep everyone in your prayers.
Open invite, to anyone who needs to evacuate. We can put you up, especially if you have a camper or RV. Lots of room and we even have a couple of portapotties on site. I just hope it isn't necessary. We have a couple of empty critter pens too, so your critters are welcome as well.
Call my cell phone if you need directions. (909)286-8289.
Be careful, be prepared and BE SAFE!
Walk In Beauty!
SingingWolf

SW, you are a dear. We're fine here. Got a little spooky when we saw the ridgeline aglow, but a couple of hours later it was gone! Couldn't have been fog, so I guess the wind died down and so did the flames. Also, DH checked a topo map to see just what was between us and the fire, and we were less worried after that. We'll be watching, though, because those winds aren't called 'devil winds' by some for no reason! They are kicking up again, too.

Luckily, there have been no injuries and no structure loss. We don't mind the ordnance and just hope their aim is better for it! It's usually not more than distant thunder, unless they are using the heavy stuff, then it gets lively around here. And I wave to the helicopters, too. :-) One report I read said that they had suspended artillery practice for the duration of the red flag notice.

DH also reminded me last night that we have a hydrant right on the corner of our property. Sheesh, I hate getting old!

KaperC,
DH just told me I got the price of the fire hydrant wrong. (I'm lousy with #;s so I asked). Anyway the price we paid for a hydrant we are still waiting to be installed was $6,500 not $3,500 like I said before. They are quite expensive. The next closest hydrant is 1/10th of a mile down the road. I measured it. We always try to work with our fire dept. They like us. They never have to worry about us doing weed abatement and keeping a defensive perimeter. They know they will be welcome here if they need a staging station. It's only a matter of time before we have a big fire on the range to the south of us.
Be careful!
WIB!
SW

Of course we don't mind the noise of the shelling or choppers from Pendleton, but if they're going to have housing anywhere close enough that fire can spread to (and we know that can be many, many miles) then I don't think they can do live ammo shelling when it's going to endanger homes and lives.... 250,000 people evacuated during last October's fires...that's an awful lot of people to be endangered during fire season. That's nowhere near sensible.

I don't know what the cost of having a hydrant installed would be....Jer put ours in. But it's ours and should we decide the next time to stay, we'd have a better chance with one on the property. We also meant to get to installing roof ridgeline sprinklers this year and it's easy not to get to that when fire is not immediately threatening and many other things need doing......
We would in the event of another fire probably choose to stay (depending)....our property has many, many trees and would be the first one the firefighters would choose not to defend and I understand that.

I would like to have a clearer picture of where they use live ammo relative to housing, etc.

We've thought about the roof sprinklers, too. We also made a turnaround at the bottom of our track to the back of the property and we have a circle drive. It's not big enough for a ladder truck, of course, but a smaller truck could get access or turn around.

Our neighbors in the back are in a similar situation, Sherry, lots of trees and little access - they're up against the hillside.

Is everybody safe from the fires?
I haven't seen the news in 4 days and do not know what's going on but the 5 and 210 were smooth sailing on the way home. We did not have much wind on Monday going north and got there safe.
Thanks all for your concern. We had a great time...my son officially proposed to his gf yesterday, they were camping with us for his 27th birthday! We're looking at a May or June 2010 wedding...you should see her rock. (ring!)
Missed all of you guys!

This message was edited Oct 16, 2008 5:03 PM

Yep, we're fine, too, Weegy. Looks like we all had angels watching over us. :-) Glad you had a good time and congratulations. Won't be long before you'll grandkids crawling all over the place!

Glad everyone is fine. Yes, angels do that, don't they!
I hope there's grandkids all over very soon! Thank you Kathleen.

Weege, is this the last one to marry, or do you still have one of the girls single? Seems like every year has a wedding...lol...

No Sherry, I have still have 2 others after this one...daughters... and you are right..it seems like a wedding every year!!!!
Here's my son with his "fiance.!"

Great looking couple...yep, you're gonna have some beautiful grandbabies for sure. Was Carpinteria good?

Carpinteria was beautiful, high 70's during the day, the nights were a bit chilly but we sat around the fire and stayed toasty.
Can't wait for them little rugrats! Can't wait for the first one that's due in April!

Weegy,
AAAAAAAAAWWWWW! Your kids look so sweet! Please forward my congrats. (To you too!)
I've been ok, but offline these last few days. My ES, discovered my laptop cord was shorting out. He needed to borrow mine to turn in homework). We actually saw sparks! I could have caught on fire! He ordered me a new cord, so I was offline for a few days. I'm glad he is maturing. Kids, Ya gotta love 'em.
WIB,
SingingWolf

Thanks SW!
Wow, I'm glad you've replaced your faulty cord. That is scarey. What a good boy you have! Yup, gotta love em!

Hi gang,

Just wanted to brag a little about my sister. Go here to see what I'm talking about. :-))
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/914411/

Donna

You are justly proud. :-) And your dad must be so happy to have two such accomplished daughters!

My sister sent me a shawl for my birthday that she won an award for in her County Fair. It is light as a cloud and so intricate it boggles the mind - but I can't figure out how to photograph it to show it off.

KC:
Wear it to the March Round Up!
WIB!
SW

Well, at the very least I'll put it on display! Thanks, SW. :-)

Jo, Hope I'm not too late in notifying you of such a monumental occasion. There are only five more days to prepare for it. Permits have to be applied for in order to have the parade, caterers need to be lined up, newspapers notified, a banquet hall rented, prizes and awards purchased and wrapped, and a myriad of other details confronted. After all, how could we possibly let October 28th slip by unnoticed. It is, of course, National Chocolate Day.

My Second favorite day of the year!
WIB,
SW

I'm back after returning from a 10 trip to Italy. I'll be at Kathleen's.

Welcome back Arlene, how was the trip?

I'll go anywhere to have 10 one on one days with my daughter! It just makes you appreciate what you take for granted here. Italy is very beautiful. We spent 4 days in the country and had a car there for driving around. The move "Under the Tuscan Sun" inspired my daughter for the trip. We also went to Venice, Sorrento, Positano, Naples, and Rome. No tours - just relaxing, girl chat, reading books, and listening to language tapes in the car so we could commicate somewhat. I did buy milk in a grocery store, opened it and took a big drink -whipping cream! Ugh! The next trip I read the bottles closer. Latte fresca was what I need! LOL

That sounds wonderful! So glad you had a good time. DH and I love that movie.

And the sun in Tuscany looks just like the movie - always a haze over it.