<p>ellemenope- I agree. It is becoming way to common. To many years of low rain. They said some of the areas burning in this fire have not burned in 35 yrs. They said some of the CalFire firefighters were pulled out of the classroom to be put on the fire. I missed Arnold talking this morning. I will be interested if he addresses the issue of public safety and the Ca budget.</p>
<p>mom60:</p>
<p>For our last big fire, in which thousands of homes were lost, I went to where the out of town firefighters were encamped, which was very near where I live, and thanked many of them. It was a huge encampment with firefighters from all over the state and from other states. I also thanked the guards guarding the prisoners, who were also encamped there, who also helped fight the fires. At one point President Bush landed there to also thanked all the firefighters and from my deck I watched his helicopters take off. </p>
<p>It’s something else what these firefighters do.</p>
<p>A bit of humor in all of this-
We got an email from one of my D’s teachers. Giving them some homework to do. He added that if the campus was still under mandatory evacuation they might not have school tomorrow. He added “it’s bad karma to root for the fire”
D and her F’s are enjoying a few free days off of school. Though they are fretting over the days getting added at the end of the yr.</p>
<p>Terrible winds this evening and the evac area has been expanded…still 0 containment. Mom60 it sounds (?) like it might be moving north away from you.</p>
<p>ebeee-8 30 pm things are looking as bad as last night. Now the area above La Colina jr high. The upper parking lot at sears is like an observation deck. Entire hillside covered in flames.
I am remembering Painted Cave and getting a bit nervous. Starting to pack up a few things.My family thinks I am overreacting but it is looking grim.</p>
<p>Mom60 I don’t think you are overreacting. This thing is out of control. The local news says flames are 100 feet high and there seems to be question about the 154 now and how long it will remain open if it still is.<br>
Being prepared is always the right answer. I have a friend who almost lost her home in San Diego and I was in one terrible fire down there years ago. The speed of these fires is mind defying.</p>
<p>This fire got really scary last night. I have never seen such a large evacuation area in such a heavily populated area.<br>
We are in no danger but lots of people we know are. Not sure about mom60 because I don’t know her in “real life” but they may have evacuated. Mom60 you out there?</p>
<p>Just checking in from SoCal to see if everyone is ok. They said on our news this morning that 100 homes have been lost and 30,000 evacuated. I hope all of you and your families are ok.</p>
<p>We are okay for now. We are in the area that needs to be ready to go. The scoop of this fire is unreal. I think at least half the town is evacuated and most of the rest on warning.
D is restless.
Showmom858- we are hoping we don’t have to move the horses. Though I am wishing we had our own trailer. I would be on the cautious side and move my D’s horse’s up to Santa Ynez</p>
<p>mom60 - Glad to hear you are all well for now. It’s good that you are ready to go if needed. The horses are such a big worry at a time like this. We do not have a trailer of our own, but when our horses were evacuated in 2007 here in San Diego it was wonderful all of the people who came to help get the horses to the fairgrounds and horsepark. I am sure that the horse people up your way are all helping as you are in a great horse community also.</p>
<p>DD is worried about the little horse she use to have that lives up your way now. We have not heard from the family that has him and are praying they are all safe.</p>
<p>Please stay safe!</p>
<p>mom60. I’m so glad to hear from you. I don’t have a trailer but definitely can help with finding a stall somewhere. By the way everyone, Westmont was just evacuated. Luckily yesterday was the last day of finals so many students had just gone home.</p>
<p>News is now saying the fire has split and is going in two directions. The firefighters are talking about a “wall of fire”.</p>
<p>ebeee and showmom- my inlaws live in the Santa Ynez valley and we have a place to take the horses. They have a trailer but it is up at their ranch.
The trainer and her mother have been through this many times. They have their two trailers down at the barn hitched up and facing in the right direction. The trainer evacuated last night with her 9 month old. Word is their house is standing but the fire burned right up to the house.
Earl Warren is also a place the horses can go. Worse case scenario we can ride them to Earl Warren if we need to. Since Earl Warren is the staging center for the firefighters I think that is a safe place.
Showmom- as you know we know your ponies owner. The stable is safe for now. I don’t know if you know they moved off the foothills and are now located down near the ocean. Much better location. The old stable is definitely in the burning area. The family would have been evacuated from their home for the last 2 nights. Their area has not burned but they are just below the foothills where the fire began.</p>
<p>Thinking of all of you and hoping thing slow today…my sister and her family have left SB, they were in the get ready to leave area.</p>
<p>mom60 - So glad to hear that you have a good plan if the horses need to go. Thank you for the update on DD’s old horse. When we visited him and his new owner last they were at the stables in the hills, that is whay DD was so worried. She will be glad to know they are all safe.</p>
<p>Also glad to hear you are covered mom60. Before we gave away DD’s horse recently that was always my biggest fear during a fire was getting the horse out safely.</p>
<p>showmom- that old stable area is in flames. There is another large show barn in that area as well.</p>
<p>mom60 - I hope that all the horses have been evacuated from that area. I remember when we visited there I was thinking how hard it would be to get out of there if you didn’t have warning.</p>
<p>Why do so many wait until the last minute? We practically had to pry my sister out of her house. This is so scary and unpredictable. Be conservative to stay safe everyone!</p>
<p>^^ Very good point. In the 2007 fires here some people not too far from us (I didn’t know them) waited too long and didn’t survive.</p>