California Fires & MMmmGood

by **hightimber** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 12:49 pm

So, Good, how close are you to the fires? You're in the San Diego area, right?

All we know is what's handed-out by the media which isn't always a true picture.

Do you have time to give us a man-on-the-street report?

by **JAG** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:34 pm

I can answer your question Hightimber. Good lives in the Oceanside area which is on the coast and north of most of the fires. He is a good distance away. I think Good's Mom also lives in San Diego, and I hope that your family is safe Good and I hope their houses are OK.

I live in an area called Scripps Ranch. It is a suburb of San Diego located just North East of Miramar MCAS. It is full of trees and sage brush, which is quite nice most of the time but just equals fuel when fires are about.

The fire has taken in excess of 300 homes in my neighborhood. The worst area is where the homes are older and the roofs are all shake-shingle. I think one of the houses I grew up in is gone.

I live in a newer part of Scripps Ranch now, which thankfully has tile roofs and not so many full grown trees. My house was not evacuated, but members of my wife's family that live in the older part were evacuated and stayed with us for a few days. Turns out their house is OK, but the flames cames within a few blocks of them.

The day of the fires I went out to see what I could see. It was incredible. From a vantage point above a lake near my house all I could see was plumes of dark smoke and flames taking houses. When I changed my vantage point to the east I could see flames burning down the surrounding mountains toward our area and toward other areas to the north and south. Of all the major freeways in San diego (about 9) all but one was closed.

Still today the entire San Diego area is covered with a thick blanket of smoke that bothers your throat when you breathe.

On my way to work this morning I tried to drive through as much of the old part of Scripps Ranch as I could. I grew up there and portions of it look like hell now. The fire burned thorugh large areas taking everything in its path. Travelling dowm one road called Pomerado all I could see was a forest of black trees on top of gray-ash ground. It is eerie. Ash is falling all over San Diego, it is incredible. Especially when you consider that San Diego is one of the largest cities in the US in terms of land mass (which is why it always makes the top ten list in terms of population).

Fortunately the loss of life has been relatively low (13 so far), and those were people that did not leave when told to do so. There are stories of people burned in thier cars trying to flee and other stories of people who got out of their carss and were overcome by the flames. All I can say is nothing you have is that important, leave when you are told to.

The fires are still burning in parts of the county/city. In addition, parts that already burned are re-igniting. Its going to take quite a while before this is over. My heart goes out to those in the paths of the flames. when I got to work this morning I learned that the parents of one of my co-workers lost their hime. I na ddition, I know a number of friend that lost their homes. It is very sad.

Sorry for the long post but its all very fresh in my mind and its been quite strange.

by **Harry Canyon** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:43 pm

Jag

I've lived in SD for about 6 years, went to computer school there (Coleman College). I know the area of Scripps and Poway well..stayed with some good friends of mine in Poway for about a year during my time there. My friends now live in some new areas just south of Ramona, which is where I was visiting just last month. Also, I know the other areas affected, like the Claremont/HW 52 area that I saw scorched on TV.

Damn.... what can you say....

by **hightimber** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:48 pm

JAG, thanks for the update. I get jaded with the media and it's nice to get a personal view of the scene.

I hope you and yours stay clear of the carnage.

I live in Colorado Springs but I've visited San Diego. If I was ever going to relocate, I'd choose San Diego. What a beautiful area to live in.

by **Rand0m** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 3:00 pm

Some of the fires are at or in Camp Pendleton, my brother is there he drives AAV's.

by **Evan** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 3:49 pm

Umm. MMmmGood has been living in Virginia for a few weeks now.

by **Weasel Meat** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 3:54 pm

You are slow he is back in SD now

by **Dutchy (nl)** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:04 pm

For those in that neighbourhood: Be carefull guys! I hope you and your family will be (and stay) safe! I will think of you guys! I also heard (by media) that these fires were lit? I hope they grab the asshole that is responible for this inferno! (Here in Holland those people get cought very often!!!)

God bless,
Dutchy.

by **Chacal** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:04 pm

Yeah, his beach boy tan was beginning to wear off.

by **Evan** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:17 pm

Originally posted by Weasel Meat
You are slow he is back in SD now

Only until the Xcelerator LAN.

by **Wairudo Enjin** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:19 pm

My thoughts are with you Jag, stay safe!

by **Chacal** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:55 pm

Originally posted by Evan
Only until the Xcelerator LAN.

So THAT's why he's driving to the LAN instead of flying. Oooo life is gonna be dull without the beach.

by **JAG** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:43 pm

Thanks for the nice thoughts guys and for the nice comments about San Diego. I love this city, not sure about the state though - ha ha.

Anyway, I had a chance to tour the burned areas on my way home from work. It is really sad to see streets that are just devastated. House after house burned to the ground. Fortunately injuries are minimal.

The air in San Diego continued to get worse all day. At noon the sky looked like it was dusk and my office building was officially closed due to air quality. All school in the county, which encompasses in excess of 800,000 students, are closed because of the smoke. Fortunately, helpful winds are expected tomorrow.

Regarding how the fire was set, its crazy. First, there were actually 3 different fires but the one that hit my neighborhood and other was the largest by far. It has burned over 600 structures and 250,000 acres. Its was started by a hunter who was out with his buddy. The two got separated and the guy started a signal fire to signal his friend. He has been located and arrested. Hard to believe that the guy started a signal fire in santa ana winds up to 40 mph in an area that hasn't seen rain in 178 days as of today.
:freak:

Thanks for the kind thoughts and I hope Good's family is OK.

by **Casus** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:53 pm

Originally posted by Weasel Meat
You are slow he is back in SD now

Yea, he left VA to go back to SD, he couldn't handle the 4 weeks of almost full-time work, so he went home to work at McDonalds again 3 hours every 2.5 days.

Casus

by **MMmmGood** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:55 pm

Thanks for the concern fellas. My family is alright. My family lives in Vista, which is in central North County. They are pretty far away from the fires.

JAG is absolutely right about the smoke, its EVERYWHERE. I am about as far away as you can get from the fires and still be in San Diego, and the smoke is horrible up here.

My girlfriend works for San Diego County Schools, and she got the entire week off because of the closures. Even schools that arent anywhere near the fire were closed down due to the unhealthy air and ash everywhere.

My girlfriends grandparents live in Valley Center, and had to evacuate yesterday. As far as we know, their home hasnt burned down. Her parents also have a cabin in a place called Crestline, which is close to Big Bear. They had to evacuate that town due to the San Bernardino fires ( another set of fires in the LA basin ), havent heard anything about their cabin either.

Everyone is well down here though, thanks for thinking about us San Diegans.

California Fires & MMmmGood

California Fires & MMmmGood

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