Fires in Southern California

[Barb Gordon]

So, if you somewhere between Fontana and Anaheim, California.....you'd think you were on another planet. Maybe something from Bradbury's Farenheit 451 or his Martian Chronicles. Some people are calling it the end of the world, and I've got to admit, there is quite the apocalyptic/9-11'ish feel in the sky. From what I've heard, there was a fire in Fontana or something, that just met up with another fire, so now there's one ginormous fire kicking our behind's at the moment. I've heard that Gov. Davis has declared a state of emergency for some of the areas, like San Bernadino....and the freeway to and from Vegas is closed down because the fire's going right through it. It's really something. I mean, I've listened to there being fires deep in Riverside before, even saw tiny flames on a hill once....but nothing like this. I've never seen the sky so clouded over with ash and smoke. It's this ugly orange/brown color, and the sun is a brilliant, deathly looking red. It's pretty dang scary, and rather unnerving to see the cars covered with soot and fire debris, or to see people walking around with goggles and surgical masks. A friend just told me that his friend had to get evacuated last night, so we're waiting to hear if his house was burned down. A lot of people, including him, had horses...most of those poor animals are either being taken away in trailers or are just wandering around waiting to be rounded up.

So yeah, just had to tell this to someone, because it's rather freaky right now! Anyone living in Cali right now will know exactly what I mean.

~Barb

[James]

I caught the end of this report on the radio in my kitchen (we have no TV) - I didn't get the details but I did wonder if all was okay where you live. Sounds pretty weird and scary - especially with all this being relatively close.

*hug*

[Twilight]

Here are the stats from the LA Times:

Rancho Cucamonga: 27,200 acres burned; 15 homes destroyed; 23% contained. Arson suspected.

San Bernadino: 10,000 acres burned; more than 200 homes destroyed.

Ventura County, Santa Barbara and Camp Pendleton also have fires burning.

I live by Pasadena, and have seen what looks like a river of fire burning in the mountains by my house about 3-4 years ago. That was an awesome sight, but nothing like these fires. From the TV reports, the San Bernadino ones look like hell's broken loose.

[Bakasama]

We got two major fires, one by Camp Pendleton and one in Ramona. The sky over San Diego is now reddish and there's some bits of ash in my neighborhood. What would been a clear and sunny day is now overcast with smoke. Jogging outside is not a good idea.

A part of the I-15 freeway is now closed because the Ramona fire has gotten close to the 15 and is burning many houses east of the 15. All the local stations are carrying constant reports of the fires.

[czyznyck99]

I have to admit, the orange sky is very cool. Too bad no one can enjoy it since it's still raining ash right now.

Later.

[TimTwoFace]

Fires are beautiful, beautiful things. But that beauty has a price, because fires are very destructive, too.

I know exactly what you're talking about, Barb. Up here in the BC Interior this summer, we had fires burning for about two months, and thousands of people were being evacuated in larger cities (including my birth town). It was really sad to see so many homes lost, not to mention the forested mountainsides. Most of them were initially caused by natural causes (lightning), but still, it's horrible to see it happen.

Fortunately, despite the 1,000+ fires BC had this summer (I'm not exaggerating), there were no fatalities. I think we got off lucky.

I hope all you folks down in southern California are that fortunate.

-Tim

[Barb Gordon]

It's especially freaky because for once I actually know people being seriously affected by all of this. I have a friend in San Diego, a close friend and two casual friends all in Yucaipa, which is now being evacuated. My close friend can't get home to Yucaipa because the freeway is closed, and his grandparents and parents may be evacuated soon. It's scary.

~Barb

[EinBebop]

I thank God that I'm not living in Chino/Pomona anymore.

[supermonkey]

I have ashes in pool and everywhere in my yard b/c of this fire. Some of the ashes look like big white paint chips. I was in Ramona this morning. Two lane winding roads in the mountains are pretty freaky when people are panicking b/c of a wildfire. :O

[BrendaBat]

Origionally posted by Barb Gordon
It's especially freaky because for once I actually know people being seriously affected by all of this. I have a friend in San Diego, a close friend and two casual friends all in Yucaipa, which is now being evacuated. My close friend can't get home to Yucaipa because the freeway is closed, and his grandparents and parents may be evacuated soon. It's scary.
I know what you mean. I have a friend living in Running Springs (which is right on top of the buring mountian) and I spent all day yesterday trying to get through to her on the phone. Luckily, I was able to reach her and she's fine; but she has probably been evacuated by now.
I was watching the news this afternoon and saw one of my favorite Crestline restaurants (The Cliffhanger) burn down! It really bummed me out because I LOVED eating there when I lived in Crestline 4 years ago. :(

I can't even look out the window anymore because the flames and the smoke on the horizon just give me flashbacks to the images of 9/11.

[Weatherman]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20911-2003Oct26.html


Ohh ****, it's reaching apocalype stage. 11 people killed outside Sandiego alone, including some in their cars. Ohh man. This is really bad. How does a fire hit 100,000 acres in a day? And they evacuated Cal State San Bernadino. What's going on over there? :(

[Alex Weitzman]

The fires just barely missed my parents' home in West Heritage, a neighborhood in Fontana that's right next to Rancho Cucamonga. It was a scary couple of hours that morning, because if they had to be evacuated, the whole family would've had to try and fit into my on-campus apartment (as I'm the only family they've got in Southern California). I'm not sure how I'd have explained the two dogs to the RAs.

By the way, I officially hate all ash.

[Proto DUDE]

I saw some footage on the news. The casters had to run for cover because it is raining DEATH from above. Even typing about it makes me want to go to the bathroom...and I must...

[sKorpia]

Anybody have any news on which freeways are closed between LA and SD?

[jrh31584]

Monday night's football game has been moved to Tempe, AZ. The Chargers and Dolphins will still play at 9 EST/6 PST.

[EinBebop]

Anybody have any news on which freeways are closed between LA and SD?

This is just the area you asked about, and doesn't include the numerous closures in San Bernardino/Riverside. You can also call 1-800-Caltrans and check conditions by entering the freeway numbers.

HIGHWAY CONDITION REPORT AT 2045 HRS ON 10/26/03 (http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/Hourly) (updated hourly)

I 15
[SAN DIEGO & IMPERIAL CO.'S]
IS CLOSED FROM BALBOA AVE TO MIRAMAR RD /IN SAN DIEGO/ (SAN DIEGO CO)
- DUE TO A FIRE - A DETOUR IS AVAILABLE

THE SOUTHBOUND CONNECTOR TO EASTBOUND & WESTBOUND SR 56 /IN SAN DIEGO/
(SAN DIEGO CO) IS CLOSED - DUE TO A FIRE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE
AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

SR 18
[SAN BERNARDINO & RIVERSIDE CO.'S]
IS CLOSED FROM SAN BERNARDINO TO 11.2 MI EAST OF BIG BEAR CITY
(SAN BERNARDINO CO) - DUE TO A FIRE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN
ALTERNATE ROUTE

SR 23
[LOS ANGELES & VENTURA CO.'S]
IS CLOSED FROM MOORPARK TO 7.7 MI NORTH OF MOORPARK /AT BARDSDALE AVE/
(VENTURA CO) - DUE TO A BRUSH FIRE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE
ROUTE

SR 52
[SAN DIEGO & IMPERIAL CO.'S]
IS CLOSED FROM THE JCT OF I 5 /IN SAN DIEGO/ TO THE JCT OF SR 125
/IN SANTEE/ (SAN DIEGO CO) - DUE TO A FIRE - MOTORISTS ARE ADSVISED TO
USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

SR 67
[SAN DIEGO & IMPERIAL CO.'S]
IS CLOSED FROM SANTEE TO POWAY (SAN DIEGO CO) - DUE TO A FIRE - A DETOUR
IS AVAILABLE

SR 118
[LOS ANGELES & VENTURA CO.'S]
IS CLOSED FROM STEARNS ST /IN SIMI VALLEY/ (VENTURA CO) TO THE
JCT OF SR 27 /IN LOS ANGELES/ (LOS ANGELES CO) - DUE TO A BRUSH FIRE -
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

SR 163
[SAN DIEGO & IMPERIAL CO'S]
IS CLOSED FROM THE JCT OF I 805 TO THE JCT OF I 15 /IN SAN DIEGO/
(SAN DIEGO CO) - DUE TO FIRE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

I 805
[SAN DIEGO & IMPERIAL CO'S]
THE NORTHBOUND CONNECTOR TO NORTHBOUND SR 163 /IN SAN DIEGO/ (SAN DIEGO CO)
IS CLOSED - DUE TO FIRE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

IS CLOSED FROM THE JCT OF SR 52 TO THE JCT OF I 5 /IN SAN DIEGO/
(SAN DIEGO CO) - DUE TO A FIRE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN
ALTERNATE ROUTE

[Jerry Mouse]

How does a fire hit 100,000 acres in a day?
Fire moves faster than you'd ever imagine. The trees, underbrush and all are basicly fueling it as it moves along. The wind's probably helping too. It's rough for homeowners who have had to evacuate as well as those who have already lost homes; but the ones who have it the roughest are the men and women putting it all on the line to extinguish these fires. I recommend having a listen to what they're dealing with to all that may be wondering by going to this website:http://www.firefeeds.com/feedroom/ca-sandiego.html

[James]

Funny, if I'd gone to San Diego this term as I was meant to (on student exchange) I would have seen all this. Now I'm off in January I'll miss it all - with all said, I'm not quite sure that's a bad thing however..

[Outlander00]

Funny, if I'd gone to San Diego this term as I was meant to (on student exchange) I would have seen all this. Now I'm off in January I'll miss it all - with all said, I'm not quite sure that's a bad thing however..


Trust me, you should be glad youre missing it.

Lets hope they can get this under control (if it can).

[The Falcon]

i just heard on the radio that the fire in san diego county is merging with the fire to the north and the fire to the south east forming a sort of monster fire. :( i hope everyone is ok

Falcon

[Proto DUDE]

A monster fire? Geez louise. Well, that totally sucks for South California.

[Ben]

Yikes, I leave the country and then all the supermarkets close and my home state burns down. Take care Barb, Alex, monkey, czynyck. Hope this blows over soon...

Yeesh, unfortunate choice of words there.

I live by Pasadena, and have seen what looks like a river of fire burning in the mountains by my house about 3-4 years ago. That was an awesome sight, but nothing like these fires. From the TV reports, the San Bernadino ones look like hell's broken loose.

I remember that fire too, my family's on the hillside in Burbank, that was pretty freaky. Nowhere near as bad as all this though. I'm grateful we having nothing but a few scrappy shrubs on our mountains.

Anyway, stay safe all!

EDIT: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2003/10/26/national/20031027_fire_slideshow_6.html

It looks like a volcanic eruption. Hell bubbling to the surface.

[Kat Pryde]

yeah i was really freaked out when i passed by irvine, last saturday. but since yesterday when san diego started burning up, it just really sucks. but hey, on the plus side i dont have school. the bad news is that my freinds near otay and chula vista's houses are at risk, and im not sure if the houses of my classmates up at scripps are safe. and once you step out of the house, you can hardly breathe. eck.

[Ben]

Have a look at this satellite photo: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Oct2003/California.TMOA2003299_lrg.jpg

The parts outlined in red are on fire. If you scroll down to the bottom you can see the bad ones. Incredible. You can't even see San Diego.

[Kat Pryde]

Have a look at this satellite photo: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Oct2003/California.TMOA2003299_lrg.jpg

The parts outlined in red are on fire. If you scroll down to the bottom you can see the bad ones. Incredible. You can't even see San Diego.
Ew. So thats how it looks like up there? The smoke really thick. Ash is falling as if a volcano had erupted and face masks are a must if you go outside. what i find incredible and slightly unbelievable is that the fire up at Scripps was started by a single man just trying to signal his friend for his location. And that spread out really wide and fast. I bet his friend 'found' him insane for doing that :p .

[Bakasama]

I'm in the middle of the biggest smoke cloud. There's a layer of ash and soot on the streets and driveways around my house. It's hard to breath the air around here. The sun shines in a dull red color and the sky has a yellow color to it.

It's not that suprising about how fast it spread. It's been dry around here for sometime.

[Weatherman]

You look at that photo......... :eek:

Hope you guys and gals in SoCal make it through alright.

[Tommy Lawson]

Have a look at this satellite photo: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Oct2003/California.TMOA2003299_lrg.jpg

The parts outlined in red are on fire. If you scroll down to the bottom you can see the bad ones. Incredible. You can't even see San Diego.

The Las Vegas valley, where I live, can be in the top right of that picture, just west of Lake Mead. That's over 250 miles away from downtown Los Angeles. That really gives you an idea of the incredible distance the smoke is traveling.

For us, the weather forecasters are predicting our weather will change by Wednesday, and winds will be coming from the southwest, which is where those fires are, possibly sending us some smoke. That's good news for California though, since the winds blowing out towards the Pacific will die down. However, there's no way I see firefighters gaining complete control of these wildfires by then. It's absolutely horrible some lost their lives in this disaster, especially if it's found that most or all of the fires were intentionally set.

Here's my advice for those living in Southern California. When the firefighters and police knock at your door telling you to evacuate, for goodness sake, get out. I know there are items in your home that can never be replaced, like photos, but you can't risk your life. I've seen at least one story on the news where someone stayed behind after the warnings, and lost her life, underestimating the intensity of the fires. You can't fight fires that intense with a garden hose, and possibly not even a fire hydrant can help. Follow the instuctions of emergency crews, and live to see another day.

[Warnergirls]

Im not in the line of fire (excuse the pun) but I can see the smoke quite clearly from my house. Theres about 10 fires in the area spreading from San Diego to LA and Santa Clarita, (Which is where I live) but my grandma might get affected down in Northridge =X
Its getting pretty freaky at my house. X_X wont go into details.
But yeah, the fires here are pretty bad =X half the sky where I live is covered with smoke....

[Proto DUDE]

Values won't let me say what I really want to say here. This is absolutely terrible. My feelings go out to them.

[Dante Bunny]

Im not in the line of fire (excuse the pun) but I can see the smoke quite clearly from my house. Theres about 10 fires in the area spreading from San Diego to LA and Santa Clarita, (Which is where I live) but my grandma might get affected down in Northridge =X
Its getting pretty freaky at my house. X_X wont go into details.
But yeah, the fires here are pretty bad =X half the sky where I live is covered with smoke....


*hugs Warnergirls* We're glad that you're ok...That CA fire is pretty big. I hope that your Grandma will be is ok, too. We're glad that you're safe. :)

[BrendaBat]

I went back to school the other day and it was terrible. Ashes were raining from the sky and it was almost impossable to breathe! I feel like I'm in the middle of the Apocolypse or something.

And I still can't believe someone intentionally started some of these fires. I hope they get their hand chopped off for it! :mad:

[Proto DUDE]

These were just accidental. If I accidentally set off a bomb, should I lose a hand? I mean, the news can also make things sound worse while telling the truth. Here's an example:

News Story: Some of these fires were intentional.

Our Thoughts: "MUA HA HA! I'll DESTROY the hillside by setting these fires! DIE!"

Truth: "I'm lost. I'll signal my bud by intentionally starting a fire. They'll see me."

[EinBebop]

News Story: Some of these fires were intentional.

Our Thoughts: "MUA HA HA! I'll DESTROY the hillside by setting these fires! DIE!"
News Story: (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/10/29/MNGSU2LHFB1.DTL) Many of the high-profile cases that do get solved are cracked as result of investigators focusing on specific suspects -- who often confess or give incriminating statements. Arsonists sometimes set structure fires for financial gain, but forest fires are generally set for more complicated reasons. In other cases, arsonists have admitted to setting fires for gratification.

A man convicted in 1997 of setting seven fires in San Diego County said he just wanted to be hero. A woman admitted that she had set the largest forest fire in Colorado history last year because she was depressed after breaking up with her boyfriend. Eight volunteer firefighters were arrested in Virginia in 2000 for setting several fires because they were bored.

A 2002 study by the Western Fire Ecology Center in Eugene, Ore. said that of 116,000 wildfires nationwide in the past decade, 25,000 were confirmed arsons, and another 25,000 were suspicious fires that might also have been intentionally set. The study also found that many convicted arsonists admitted to setting multiple fires.

Protodude's thoughts: There's no such thing as an intentional forest fire??? :confused:

[sKorpia]

EinBebop and BrendaBat speak the truth. While the Cedar Fire was accidentally set (and the lost hunter got a misdemeanor ticket), some of the fires up in San Bernadino County were set intentionally. They've got a sketch of one of the suspected arsonists circulating.

In other news, the first report of a firefighter dying while fighting the blaze is in. Le suck. And I heard that two more are injured.

[Proto DUDE]

News Story: (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/10/29/MNGSU2LHFB1.DTL) Many of the high-profile cases that do get solved are cracked as result of investigators focusing on specific suspects -- who often confess or give incriminating statements. Arsonists sometimes set structure fires for financial gain, but forest fires are generally set for more complicated reasons. In other cases, arsonists have admitted to setting fires for gratification.

A man convicted in 1997 of setting seven fires in San Diego County said he just wanted to be hero. A woman admitted that she had set the largest forest fire in Colorado history last year because she was depressed after breaking up with her boyfriend. Eight volunteer firefighters were arrested in Virginia in 2000 for setting several fires because they were bored.

A 2002 study by the Western Fire Ecology Center in Eugene, Ore. said that of 116,000 wildfires nationwide in the past decade, 25,000 were confirmed arsons, and another 25,000 were suspicious fires that might also have been intentionally set. The study also found that many convicted arsonists admitted to setting multiple fires.

Protodude's thoughts: There's no such thing as an intentional forest fire??? :confused:

Well, there are intentional fires, but some CAN be called intentional, but they were really accidents made from intentional fires.

[Barb Gordon]

Actually, some of these fires are intentional, they know that already. There are three in San Diego. I know one was accidently - a hiker was lost and sent up a signal flare, it sparked a fire and the winds made it super bad. A second was accidental, some marines were performing a drill and a fire started and got out of control. I'm not sure how the third started. One started in Fontana, and another near the Grand Prix race. Another fire hit San Bernadino, bits of LA county and some fires are now taking over the mountains. They know some of these are by arsons.

It's a real heartbreak for some people to being losing Lake Arrowhead right now. Almost everyone I know has memories of going up there to ski, go on camping trips, etc. I used to go skiing up there, sometimes my family would take a three day vacation in a friend's cabin, and I remember going up there for Girl Scout of Church functions. It's a real shame to see it so destroyed.

Also just heard that we lost a firefighter, and it wasn't even a Californian. It was a guy from Nevada that came over to help out, poor dear.

~Barb

[sKorpia]

we lost a firefighter, and it wasn't even a Californian. It was a guy from Nevada that came over to help out, poor dear.

If you're talking about the same guy I'm thinking about, he was from Northern California, a small town called Navarro. The other three members of his team got out and are being treated at UCSD Med's Burn Unit.

[Lucky Bob]

Okay, I'm gonna play RZetlin, here:

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35342

This makes sense. I've heard on documentaries that certain evironmental initiatives have actually done more to hurt the woodland than help it. Fire is a natural part of the woodland cycle, ever since the days of the indians. The more we do to encourage undergrowth and higher concentration of trees, the more chance we have of creating these disasters. Good intentions aside, I fear we have created time bombs around the nation with our radical green policies.

-Lucky "That's my advice, it didn't cost a dime" Bob

[Ben]

Okay, I'm gonna play RZetlin, here:

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35342

This makes sense. I've heard on documentaries that certain evironmental initiatives have actually done more to hurt the woodland than help it. Fire is a natural part of the woodland cycle, ever since the days of the indians. The more we do to encourage undergrowth and higher concentration of trees, the more chance we have of creating these disasters. Good intentions aside, I fear we have created time bombs around the nation with our radical green policies.

-Lucky "That's my advice, it didn't cost a dime" Bob

Wow, not a very likable man, that columnist. He smears over the distinction between legitimate environmentalist groups and ecoterrorists as well as the difference between real forest preservation (which includes occasional supervised fire to decrease underbrush) and Bush's "save the sawmills" forest policy. He might have a point somewhere in there, but I'm not listening to him until he reduces his vitriol enough to start actually analyzing the situation instead of just exercising punditry.

[Joe Wagner]

WOW! This is truly shocking how much damage these fires have already caused. Currently, it looks like almost 2,000 homes have been destroyed and 20 people are dead. Having lived in LA for a while and having traveled to San Bernadino numerous times it seems insane to even think that much of this has now been destroyed. Add on top of that a recent 3.6 richter scale earthquake in one of the fire zones and the Santa Anna winds and one can only be amazed at how much destruction has already occurred. Hopefully the winds will die down and the fires will finally be able to be contained. My prayers are with those that have already been affected by the fires, those that are making emergency preparations and heroes that have choosen to fight the fires - some even paying the ultimate price in an effort to help others.

-Joe!

[BrendaBat]

It's a real heartbreak for some people to being losing Lake Arrowhead right now. Almost everyone I know has memories of going up there to ski, go on camping trips, etc. I used to go skiing up there, sometimes my family would take a three day vacation in a friend's cabin, and I remember going up there for Girl Scout of Church functions. It's a real shame to see it so destroyed.
I feel your pain. I shed a tear when I heard about Santa's Village burning down.
I'm also worried sick about my friend living up in Running Springs. I haven't been able to get a hold of her in days :(