<p>Four firefighters are in the hospital with burn injuries. We need to remember the human cost of building houses in fire-prone areas.
My sympathy to all those evacuated or worrying about loved ones near the fires.</p>
<p>I talked to my dad today. He lives in San Diego. He lives alone and is not in good health. He was ordered to evacuate. So he told me he drove his car a few miles away and slept in his car because he didn’t want to drive that far in the dark. And then he went back to his condo this morning. He was watching and waiting to see if he should drive away again tonight. He said he hadn’t seen any actual flames, but lots of smoke and debris. I told him I’d check on him tomorrow. Very worrisome.</p>
<p>My pregnant niece in the San Diego area is packed up and ready to go in the event they are told to evacuate. Her mother said that the air quality is really tough at the moment…especially tough for someone who is pregnant. </p>
<p>This webcam link was passed on to me with real-time shots of the fires as viewed from Lyons Peak (east of San Diego). If you scroll down you will see some fairly intense fire. I feel terribly for all affected.</p>
<p><a href=“dilatush.com - dilatush Resources and Information.”>dilatush.com - dilatush Resources and Information.;
<p>Tks. for the link ebeeeee (post #39). Things look quiet in my dad’s neighborhood. It was reassuring to read that.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry folks in California have to go through this. We toured Soka University in Aliso Viejo with our D last spring. When I commented how beautiful the reflection pond by the Adm. Office was, we were told that it was designed as a reservoir to hold water for firefighting efforts (those helicopters with huge buckets)…</p>
<p>We have friends and family near the Orange County and San Diego fires. The link below shows the approximate perimeters of the San Diego County fires, last updated at 6:00pm this evening by the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services. I am struck by the how much of San Diego County is already covered in red and the fires are still expanding.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.sdcountyemergency.com/newsreleases/102320077_1800hrsA_Evac_FirePerem.pdf[/url]”>http://www.sdcountyemergency.com/newsreleases/102320077_1800hrsA_Evac_FirePerem.pdf</a></p>
<p>The map has been updated regularly. Check this website for future updates: </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.sdcountyemergency.com/[/url]”>http://www.sdcountyemergency.com/</a></p>
<p>Got an email from the Dean of Students at UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>It was apparently sent to every student who has an address in the areas affected by fire on record. It is very supportive – lets everyone know that counseling is available at the health center, the student affairs officers are available to talk any time, the financial aid office is open for emergency loans to travel, and encourages students to approach their professors if they need to request extensions due to travel. </p>
<p>While the fires are looking increasingly bad, it’s comforting to know that my impersonally large public school is looking out for me and my family.</p>
<p>The losses in Arrowhead, Santiago Canyon and all of SD County are tragic but predicable. Apparently 1 out of every 2 new homes built in So Cal is built in an area that is high risk for fire. The Developers need to stop. Even with the newest materials and fire abatement techniques, homes cannot survive the fire storms caused by the annual fall Santa Ana winds, dry conditions and horrid arsonists that crawl out of their holes every year. Enough is enough. If homes were not in fire areas, the forest and fire service could allow for natural burns and not spend so much time and resources trying to protect property and lives.</p>
<p>Due to a major flare-up on Camp Pendleton (marine base) last night, the main freeway between Los Angeles and San Diego is shut down in both directions (that’s the I-5) from San Juan Capistrano (south Orange County). That includes the Amtrak trains as well as they run parallel to the freeway. That’s a frightening thought as I wonder about those who would have used that freeway as an escape hatch if needed. </p>
<p>The winds are supposed to mellow out by nightfall. </p>
<p>We’ll see…</p>
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<p>Just as soon as people stop moving to San Diego the developers will stop. Building out to the fire-prone east county is the only option, since to the west is the Pacific Ocean. There are no simple answers here.</p>
<p>This IMO is scarier than an earthquake or hurricane
It just keeps coming.</p>
<p>My prayers are with you</p>
<p>Good news in Lake Arrowhead!</p>
<p>The winds were mild and the fire has slowed significantly. We’re hoping we can hang onto some of the planes SD Co. is trying to take from us long enough to make some progress on putting out/containing the fires. At the moment, the spread of the fire has been kept to unpopulated areas of forest on the hillside (with the exception of unfortunate spot fires within the burn area, which are continuing to take out the homes and businesses that were otherwise missed yesterday). </p>
<p>Crossing my fingers it stays that way!</p>
<p>The wind is much milder so far today which should allow them to get the upper hand with many of the fires.</p>
<p>That is good news!</p>
<p>Just spoke with my cousins in Oceanside. The nearest fire is 20 miles to the east and so far staying put. They are packed and ready to go if necessary. Schools are closed and the house has extra inhabitants for the moment.</p>
<p>Sandiegomom – Do you still lurk here? Hope to hear you’re ok. Carolyn, as well.</p>
<p>Every October with a hot, windy day like the one we had in the Bay Area a few days ago, brings back vivid memories of the Oakland Hills fire that burned down my parents’ home, along with everything they owned from 60 years of marriage. They were out of town, and safe. I’m sure they wouldn’t have made it out because their street had the highest number of fatalities. So far, it sounds as if the much larger fires in So. Cal. are not taking as many lives. Maybe a few lessons were learned.</p>
<p>Reporting in from the northeast portion of Oceanside–closest to the Rice Fire. Two towns directly east have been evacuated, Fallbrook and Bonsall. Bonsall is about 10 minutes away by car; Fallbrook about 20 minutes. </p>
<p>We were here for the fires 4 years ago, but this time is definitely worse for our area.</p>
<p>I’ve been playing it pretty cool up to this point, but I loaded up the car with a Bible (may need to find religion quick!), important papers, financial documents, food, water and some clothes this morning. Judging by my track record, that usually means the worst is over.</p>
<p>Sac, Carolyn has evacuated with her family, but the fire is less than a mile from her house, on her street, and headed toward their house. They’ve been able to reach their answering machine so far, so they know the fire hasn’t hit the house yet, but obviously, she is plenty worried.</p>
<p>my boyfriend’s dad is a fireman fighting the fire. I think about him all the time and watching it on the news makes me nervous. My boyfriend is in the fire academy and he has taken up a reservist position in the department, meaning he is working shifts in areas not affected by the fires, but it is just as scary becuase he isn’t a full fireman yet. he is just a senior in high school. At the local station, it is him 3 other “certs” and 2 full firemen. They are all really nervous so i went and made them pancakes 
This is proves how underfunded and understaffed the department is.
Pray for all men and women who have been affected by the fires.</p>
<p>Thanks for the word on Carolyn, mezzomom. So glad she’s safe, even if her house is not.</p>