<p>I love the internet today! After spending several days worried about a dear friend in Ramona, CA I got on the net. Spent some sleuthing hours. Found a real estate guy who was still in Ramona and was taking pictures around town. Sent him an email asking him about my friend’s place, as I knew the ranch next door was gone. </p>
<p>Two hours later, he actually drove there, took a picture of their still standing house and emailed it to me. Sweet relief. I have not ever met this guy and probably never will. </p>
<p>There are good people out there. Use the force for good. :)</p>
<p>What a nice guy! Doesn’t it make you really feel good when someone is so kind and goes out of their way to do something nice! I am so happy for your friend, happy to hear that Carolyn’s home is intact too, and I am wishing the best for all the folks that have been or are being effected by the fires.</p>
<p>Also, there is one trick you can do yourself that southern Californians use widely to determine whether a house has burned: call the home phone of the house in question - if the answering machine answers it’s very likely that the house is still standing.</p>
<p>courer,
I tried that, believe me. The phone has a strange busy signal and has for days. My friend actually just called my cel. Was able to go in for an hour last night and grabbed her personal phone book. I had picture/information about her house before she did.<br>
By the way, my other friends in Poway, CA were here visiting when the fires started. Their machine picked up and then stopped picking up. We feared the worst, but their home is fine too.
In both cases, they had multiple neighbors who lost homes so phone lines are out everywhere and will be for a while.</p>