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JG300-Ascout · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:55 am Post subject: SoCal fires....

...are decidedly a problem. I-15 is closed for a major and significant stretch from Escondido-Scripps Ranch (which is where I work). The phones there are not being answered and the fired spread from the Cleveland Nat'l Forest area east of Ramona (which had mandatory evacuations) to now jumping EAST of the I-15 since the Santa Ana winds did not die down during the night. This is serious....to say nothing of the fires north near Malibu.

One dead, thirteen injured here, including four firefighters. I'm south of the affected area about fifteen miles so far. If this crosses to the I-5, our evac routes will be effectively cut off.

Fingers crossed here...

Shades · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

Keep your engine running.., spare sheep in the back.
Make sure you got time to rescue the pooter!

Uhu_Fledermaus · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

it was on the news here so I've seen what you're talking about, keeping all crossed here for you Doug, that's no fun situation you've got there.

JG300-Ascout · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

I reached 'em at work, but they don't know if they'll actually be working since many of the staff may not be able to make it in (we're located right ON I-15 near the Miramar Air Station). I'm off today anyway for a medical procedure which likewise may, or may not, be happening for the same reason...I won't know that for a while.

The Pathfinder is topped off, I have a utility trailer and 15 gallons of gas in accessory containers. I had to prepare like this a few years ago for the Cedar Fires, which put spot fires within about three miles. The Cedar Fires removed a lot of the fuel to the south which may help to protect from spread in this direction, but you never know. The Santa Ana's have produced hurrican force winds in the current episode...there is no fighting that, and they produce spot fires that spread rapidly. Last night there were two fires, as of now, there are nine that they know about. Rolling Eyes

JG300-fr8ycat · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

Been keeping an eye on it.

I'm in the Angeles National Forest about 18 miles North of the Canyon Country/Aqua Dulce fire and 25-30 miles NE of the Castaic fire. The Canyon road I take to get down to the I5 is closed along with my only other 2 alternates.

We're used to dealing with fires here in the hills so for the time being we don't appear to be in any danger but the winds have been really bad here the last couple of days. Sustained winds 30-50mph with gusts up to 90mph which can really push a fire fast.

JG300-Stoopy · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 1:17 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

Was wondering too howyou guys were doing. They're closer than I thought to both of you...good luck and hope it all works out!

JG300-fr8ycat · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:45 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

Here's a vid I put together of a fire in our area in 2005. LACFD helos and "Superscoopers".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eluAJhGjoYQ

JG300-Ascout · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

Work is closed, the hospital is "emergency only" and after only one night they've determined that this is a much more dangerous fire than the Ceder Fire of 2003. Winds and dry conditions making it tougher to fight...the winds did not die down during the night. At least our governor did not "write letters" like the last one (which was his undoing, actually). The Cedar Fire taught a lot of lessons and when I got up this morning it was a "total recall" of all firefighters and law enforcement personnel who might have been off or away (including off duty investigators) so they pulled out all the stops unlike that idiot Gray Davis. Every resource is being brought to bear.

The Wildlife Animal Park is threatened (that's the expansive wildlife park of the San Diego Zoo near Escondido) and every firefighting aircraft available was in the air yesterday afternoon.

Wolfe · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:19 am Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

Good luck m8, hope it all works out, ya'll do your best to stay safe, remember, material things can be replaced, you can't...that's what everyone told me when my house burnt to the ground a year and a half ago...

Wolfe Sad

Shadow_Bshwackr · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:53 am Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

I have my fingers crossed for all of you...

JG300-Stoopy · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:03 am Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

Status Check!

CNN says 300,000 evacuees so far...hopefully no piggies have had their homes threatened yet?

JG300-Ascout · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

- JG300-Stoopy

Status Check!

CNN says 300,000 evacuees so far...hopefully no piggies have had their homes threatened yet?

That figure is correct, 1,000 homes lost, but ours not among them. We've taken in two evacuees (they won't know about their home for a day or two at least). Our plant facility is closed because it's in the evacuation area on I-15, but we have our own power generating capability, so our inventory will be safe and that area burned in the Cedar Fire of 2003 so the fuel is minimal (you can still see evidence around the Miramar Airfield even today).

This is EASILY the worst fire in San Diego history...it makes the Cedar Fire of 2003 look like a marshmallow roast by comparison. We are much better prepared, but the winds in this one are so much worse there is nothing to do by way of fighting it.

Containment is effectively zero. There is now discussion of evacuating Camp Pendleton Marine Base.

JG300-Ascout · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

MCAS Miramar is evacuating it's Air Wing to bases in Arizona to protect the aircraft.

RAF92_BattleHawk · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

Wow, hope you get out all right if it comes your way. I was on vacation in Kelowna BC when the fire there started, and that was an impressive fire. The Martin Mars were flying over dropping load after load, it was incredible. I'm not sure of the state of forest fires here in BC, but if its under control I figure you could be seeing a big red and white flying boat near you soon...

bsmart · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject: Re: SoCal fires....

- JG300-Stoopy

Status Check!

CNN says 300,000 evacuees so far...hopefully no piggies have had their homes threatened yet?

Evening News now says 950,000 evacuees 'The largest peacetime movement of Americans since the Civil War'

Pictures of a converted DC-10 dropping retardent. They are bringing in C-130s (didn't say whether Reserve Guard or Active) set up to drop retardent

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