Southern California - SO CAL FOLKS AFFECTED BY FIRES - Please Check In

Thought I would share a story from the wildfires the wildfires that may generate a smile or two.

On Monday morning as the fires were really raging, I was at work getting some things while my wife was at home packing the back our car with all our essentials. She went though an emergency checklist and gather important documents, pictures, change of clothes and the like.

When I returned home my bike was on the back of the car. I guess my ride is essential :D

that's pretty cool ;) thanks for sharing that story :D

When I returned home my bike was on the back of the car. I guess my ride is essential :D
Did she get the shoes too? :D

When I returned home my bike was on the back of the car. I guess my ride is essential :D

She's a keeper. ;):)

One of my best friends grew up in Crestline and his family still lives there. I called and found out his parents and his sister lost their homes (and are now staying with him in Aliso Viejo). They can't really say what has been saved and what has not and they are waiting to hear from their firends to see if everyone is OK. Thankfully those folks have been through this drill before so knew to get out and away from the fire.


Pam, if there house is on Crestline they may have been ok. From what I have heard structures that sit on crestline rd were saved. The structures that sit farther off the road or on the way up south grade might not have fared as well.

The Union Tribune has an article about the fire http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071025-9999-1n25palomar.html.


The firefighters up there did a heroic job saving those places. They are all volunteer firefighters too which is amazing.

When I returned home my bike was on the back of the car. I guess my ride is essential :DSo, how many of us packed our bike(s) too?

I admit, I'm one of them. :p

So, how many of us packed our bike(s) too?

I admit, I'm one of them. :p

The only things I took were my dog, 3 days of clothes, important papers, laptop computer, digital camera and my bike :)

I never got around to packing, but my list of priorities went as follows:

passport
laptop
Vivian
a few changes of clothes

I just had to share this. One of the few things I'm proud of my company (it's been hard to convince myself it's worth going to work lately, but this makes up for some of it):

Hello everyone,



As many of you know, relentless wildfires continue to rage across Southern California. It is difficult to recap the devastation that has taken such a dramatic toll on our neighbors to the south, resulting in the largest evacuation in the state's history.



To aid the victims of the fire, Juniper is donating $25,000 to the American Red Cross with specific designation to the Southern California wildfires. This contribution will be used to help respond to the immediate needs of the community.



The Red Cross has done an amazing job so far. First, they responded immediately to the disaster, setting up shelters to care for the many displaced people who had to be evacuated. And now, as the firefighters continue to battle the blaze, the Red Cross continues to work steadily supplying badly needed resources to help residents recover and stabilize their lives.

Thought I would share a story from the wildfires the wildfires that may generate a smile or two.

On Monday morning as the fires were really raging, I was at work getting some things while my wife was at home packing the back our car with all our essentials. She went though an emergency checklist and gather important documents, pictures, change of clothes and the like.

When I returned home my bike was on the back of the car. I guess my ride is essential :D

Or she's like mine and knows that the bicycles exceed the value of everything else in the whole house. :)
Pictures, papers, bikes. RV was hooked up with the jeep in tow, and minivan was loaded with the bike shop. We had time to pack and never got evacuated. Over by Wildcat Canyon in Lakeside/Santee.

So, how many of us packed our bike(s) too?

I admit, I'm one of them. :p

I would have too. There's nothing else valuable that will fit in that little tray thingie on the top of my car. :D

I packed up both my good bikes, and left the two beaters. They are among the most expensive things I own. I also figured if the S really hit the fan and I needed to go somewhere quick and the roads were all clogged, I could ride myself out of the situation.

I packed up both my good bikes, and left the two beaters. They are among the most expensive things I own. I also figured if the S really hit the fan and I needed to go somewhere quick and the roads were all clogged, I could ride myself out of the situation.

Ah yes, lifeboats :D

Haha. Yes, lifebikes.

I wonder how long before the smoke clears out of here. My lungs are killing me. Can't imagine how bad it is in the middle of the fire zones. Apparently, it all blew out to sea, and now with the onshore flow, its coming right back at us.

I packed my bike first (put it on the roof rack) and then packed all the other (less important) things ;)

Okay, guys, so the fires are getting under control (phew and major applause for the fire fighters). Just to double check, are all BF members back home and okay? Homes okay?

Also, I wish there was some way to thank our local fire fighters (I'm not being perverted here, so don't go there). As those men and women come off duty after the fires are dying down, I'm thinking of going to the local fire department (one or two in Malibu) and taking them some pies with a thank you card. I know it's just a silly, pathetic little thing, but anything to let them know how appreciated they are.

I watched the news today and have to admit I teared up watching one story. A couple went back to their now-reduced-to-rubble-and-ash home and found that the fire fighters who arrived on the scene and determined that the house could not be saved, went inside the home and collected any photos they could find of the family. They piled them outside where they were not harmed and the family found them. The woman was so grateful just to have her family photos.

Those men and women out there putting out these fires are truly heroes.

Hey everybody...this is the neighborhood I grew up in.

#1 - I could walk fifty feet from my in-law's house (from which I evac'd the 2nd time on Monday Morning) and take this picture:
View to Aguamiel from Aguacate
http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/albums/northcounty/KC_fireTUESDAY201.jpg

#2 - Went to high school with a girl that used to live in this house
Home ablaze on Creciente Way
http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/albums/northcounty/NCfirestorm278825x016c.jpg

#3 - House a few doors down from my In-Law's best friends
http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/albums/northcounty/NCfirestorm278825x006b.jpg

#4 - House on fire 4 doors down from my parents - firefighters saved the house next door...but lost the two others on the other side.
http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/albums/northcounty/KC_fire278810x183.jpg

#5 - This house was across the street and about 5 doors down from my in-law's house.
http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/albums/northcounty/KC_fire278810x131.jpg

#6 - This is the house of a La Mesa Firefighter (next door to #4 above) who knows his home burned, but is still fighting the Harris fire and hasn't returned. The firefighters are sifting through at his request.
http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/albums/northcounty/KC_fireWEDNESDAY114_001.jpg


As for me, I'm fine. All the hills surrounding my development burned, and the fire got to my back wall and was stopped by a fleet of firetrucks on Monday night. I was able to return home on Wednesday night, cleaned all day yesterday (lots of ash and soot) and am back to work this morning.

I'm happy my house is still here, very sad for everybody else that lost theirs.

OMG, Mo. Those pictures are so sad.

Okay, guys, so the fires are getting under control (phew and major applause for the fire fighters). Just to double check, are all BF members back home and okay? Homes okay?

Also, I wish there was some way to thank our local fire fighters (I'm not being perverted here, so don't go there). As those men and women come off duty after the fires are dying down, I'm thinking of going to the local fire department (one or two in Malibu) and taking them some pies with a thank you card. I know it's just a silly, pathetic little thing, but anything to let them know how appreciated they are.

I watched the news today and have to admit I teared up watching one story. A couple went back to their now-reduced-to-rubble-and-ash home and found that the fire fighters who arrived on the scene and determined that the house could not be saved, went inside the home and collected any photos they could find of the family. They piled them outside where they were not harmed and the family found them. The woman was so grateful just to have her family photos.

Those men and women out there putting out these fires are truly heroes.

I think they'd really appreciate that (I know I would)....

People (myself included) should start scanning their most treasured photos and storing the backups in multiple, safe locations. It seems like the loss of photos if often one of the most gut-wrenching things...

OMG, Mo. Those pictures are so sad.

+1 wow

My wife and I found out last night that a Mom from my daughter’s school was one of the firefighters that was seriously injured during the first day of the fire. Firefighter Brooke Linman is hospitalized in the UCSD Burn Center and of yesterday was a medically induced coma. He daughter is in the 2nd grade.

This really hits home.

The pictures are scary Mo'

Pictures are one thing...living through it was another.

Woke up at 5 am to five houses burning two streets over on a hill crest. The heat and wind were unreal.

I'm really sorry about the firefighter, it's a miracle more haven't been injured.

Here's my buddies neighborhood off of Via Rancho Parkway and Via Loma Vista. Some really nice places up there. One of his neighbors was the first to build there in 1972 and had 21 classic cars pre 40's stuff, all gone.

http://s218.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/kevin3151/

Pictures are one thing...living through it was another.

Woke up at 5 am to five houses burning two streets over on a hill crest. The heat and wind were unreal.

I'm really sorry about the firefighter, it's a miracle more haven't been injured.

That's crazy close. What sort of evacuation notices were given? They gave us (voluntary) evacuation notices well before there was any direct threat. Glad you're ok.

This was my car Tuesday morning after sitting for about 12 hours. I'm off the bike until the air quality improves. At least I still have my family and my home though. I feel for those who lost their homes or worse... :(

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9113/11amqw5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Okay, guys, so the fires are getting under control (phew and major applause for the fire fighters). Just to double check, are all BF members back home and okay? Homes okay?

Also, I wish there was some way to thank our local fire fighters.

Those men and women out there putting out these fires are truly heroes.


I want to give a big THANK YOU!! to Vireo and Brandy who were among several friends who offered their homes when they heard I was evacuating.

I feel so grateful for the work of all of the firefighters who were able to keep the fires far enough away from my home that it was here for me to come home to. My heart goes out to those who were injured or lost their homes and to the families who lost loved ones in this terrible, terrible hellstorm.

ME, I was thinking along the same path as you. I stopped by Smart & Final this afternoon and loaded up my car with Power Bars, Jerky, V8, etc. and took it to the firefighters who have set up camp at Kit Carson Park in Escondido. It was amazing to see the virtual firefighting city that they have there, with engines and crew from all over the state and beyond. They were so grateful for what I had brought, but that was just a drop in the bucket compared to the gratitude I have for all they have done.

That's crazy close. What sort of evacuation notices were given? They gave us (voluntary) evacuation notices well before there was any direct threat. Glad you're ok.

For the first evac in Escondido, we were alerted of an imminent evac notice at about 11 pm. The real evac notice went to my neighbors at 3 am.

In Rancho Bernardo, where we evac'd to, we didn't get a call.

HOWEVER. That isn't to say one didn't come. We might have left before it came. The fire swept into the Northeast corner of Westwood in Rancho Bernardo before anybody could blink, as it was propelled through a narrow canyon by 50 mph winds. I'm pretty sure the Reverse 911 system was a lifesaver to many, and was doing everything it could to stay ahead of this monster. All of Westwood was on the move, and as far as I know, nobody was killed by fire there, so I'm sure a call went out.

I applaud the Reverse 911 system...just one of the many policies implemented after the 2003 firestorm that worked just as it should have.

Unsticking thread. If people think it should be re-stickied, just let me know.