Southern Cali fires

[NavarreMan 10]

I'll jump in here and sound like a human. First and foremost I hope and pray that all will take whatever action is necessary to remain safe and protect your lives and the lives of your family, friends and animals. Grab what you need and go!!!

I live in the Florida panhandle and have suffered dearly at the hands of several hurricanes in recent years (Ivan and Dennis were direct hits). When the insurance companies get involved everyone will suffer. The only good news is the SoCal housing market just made a rebound. But the cost to do this is devastating and tragic. I feel great loss for those of you who have lost your entire home and life. Photos, documents, mementoes of your lives are now gone. They cannot be replaced. It does not matter if you are rep. or dem. Loss is loss.

The insurance companies will raise everyone’s premiums and try to wiggle and squirm their way out of adequate compensation. This battle that you will have to fight just makes the loss of a home that much worse. Hang in there and don't let them beat you down. Above all, protect your lives. Everything else will follow.

I was surprised at how many of you regulars live out there. I really had not paid any attention to your locations until now. I send you my prayers and hopes that your homes and families will remain safe.

[LaL 418]

My heart goes out to all who are affected by the fires, please stay safe. Let's not turn a thread about a disaster into a fight.

[no name 1]

I'll jump in here and sound like a human. First and foremost I hope and pray that all will take whatever action is necessary to remain safe and protect your lives and the lives of your family, friends and animals. Grab what you need and go!!!

I live in the Florida panhandle and have suffered dearly at the hands of several hurricanes in recent years (Ivan and Dennis were direct hits). When the insurance companies get involved everyone will suffer. The only good news is the SoCal housing market just made a rebound. But the cost to do this is devastating and tragic. I feel great loss for those of you who have lost your entire home and life. Photos, documents, mementoes of your lives are now gone. They cannot be replaced. It does not matter if you are rep. or dem. Loss is loss.

The insurance companies will raise everyone's premiums and try to wiggle and squirm their way out of adequate compensation. This battle that you will have to fight just makes the loss of a home that much worse. Hang in there and don't let them beat you down. Above all, protect your lives. Everything else will follow.

I was surprised at how many of you regulars live out there. I really had not paid any attention to your locations until now. I send you my prayers and hopes that your homes and families will remain safe.

It is not near us - about 15 miles away but it still affects all of us here in SoCal - we can see the smoke & smell it. Thank you.

Edited October 23, 2007 by devilette

[NavarreMan 10]

ok good. they can afford to build 10 new homes if they want them.

It doesn't sound bad at all, I'm with ya on this one. Most of these people are filthy rich and they can afford a new home. I don't feel bad one bit as long as no one is hurt or dead from them.

Diana

How heartless.

You guys need to read the news, it is NOT all rich people, there are many middle class or lower middle class. How cruel that it's OK cuz they may or may not have $$. 1200 people have lost their HOMES & all their belongings - some because of arson. Thousands of homes are threatened, and hundreds are injured in 16 separate fires. It's hell here & the fires are not expected to be contained until next week!!!

That is NOT OK, for ANYONE.

you're starting to sound like a republican

Charles,

For one time try and refrain from being such a #######. This is not political. People’s lives and homes and jobs are at stake. Try to be just a little human will you. You should be happy it's not your home or job at risk.

[NavarreMan 10]

My heart goes out to all who are affected by the fires, please stay safe. Let's not turn a thread about a disaster into a fight.

I'm trying sweetie but it can be soooo difficult sometimes.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Charles,

For one time try and refrain from being such a #######. This is not political. People’s lives and homes and jobs are at stake. Try to be just a little human will you. You should be happy it's not your home or job at risk.

and while you are on about it not being political, check out post #2 - no one commented in a hostile manner on that one did they? and guess what, it's political too. spare me your self rightous bs.

if it is so bad, why people who are in that area are still online instead of getting outta dodge?

[no name 1]

I'm glad it's a positive place there...quite the opposite of New Orleans...

---

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 22 — At Qualcomm Stadium, to which thousands of evacuees fled throughout the day Monday to escape approaching fires, the hazy and acrid air pinched the throat. Despite those reminders of the nearby inferno, the stadium seemed an oasis of order.

Hundreds of volunteers and city workers stacked up towers of pizza boxes, water bottles and blankets. Steaming cups of coffee were on offer as well as free massages and reflexology sessions.

A clown twisted balloons for children, several autism specialists were available to give parents of disabled children a break, and an electric guitarist jammed with his speaker turned low.

The stadium, normally home to the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League, is the county's largest evacuation center. Many of the evacuees came from hard-hit areas like Rancho Bernardo and Poway, middle-class communities northeast of San Diego where huge fires fed on dry shrubs and grass.

Many families sat in the bleachers all day watching ceiling-mounted televisions for reports of their neighborhoods.

"I saw a live video of our apartment complex burning," said Raj Panandian, a 26-year-old software engineer. He and several of his neighbors left the complex at 4 a.m. after receiving a telephone call from San Diego County Fire Department officials.

"I had just settled down there six months ago," said Mr. Panandian, an Indian citizen. "I had bought furniture, and everything. The only thing I managed to save was my passport and my H-1 work visa. I think everything else is gone."

Yuan Ling, 43, a chemical engineer who rents a home across the street from the apartments, said her family left shortly after dawn, as white smoke flooded the house.

"We were one of the last in our neighborhood to leave; we were hoping it would improve," Ms. Ling said.

Ms. Ling, a native of Shanghai, said that her visiting in-laws were struck by the orderly procession of cars, even in gridlocked traffic with flames dancing along the side of the road, and by the kindness of donors and volunteers at the stadium.

"I thought, this is amazing," Ms. Ling said. "This kind of thing would never happen in China."

Victor and Janelle Charles woke up in their Rancho Bernardo condominium before dawn struggling for breath. They watched the flames crest the high hill behind their house and waited until it ignited a tall cross standing about 50 yards away.

"When I saw the cross was ablaze, that's when I said, 'O.K., we need to go,'" said Mr. Charles. He and his wife lived in the condo for seven years, but they packed in only 10 minutes and fled down the hill in their car as winds whipped embers across the road.

Carl DeMaio, 33, evacuated his home at dawn, drove straight to Qualcomm Stadium and started organizing volunteers who arrived even before city officials did. Mr. DeMaio, who is the president of a nonpartisan government watchdog organization, organized at least 400 volunteers and tons of donated food, mattresses, blankets and other gifts.

"How many of you have set up a tent before?" he said, addressing a queue of volunteers. A few hands shot up. "Come with me. We have a few Boy Scouts who can supervise you."

Sandra Pedregal, a 46-year-old college instructor, was one of the dozens of volunteers that Mr. DeMaio herded into different stations around the stadium Monday.

"I have a really bad back and can't do any heavy lifting, but I speak Spanish and am really good with animals," Ms. Pedregal said.

"Go to Section H," Mr. DeMaio said.

Mr. DeMaio owns three houses, and two of them, including his home, were in burn zones.

"From everything I've heard, it's probably gone," Mr. DeMaio said of his home. "But you know what, I really can't think of that right now."

source

Edited October 23, 2007 by devilette

[no name 1]

if it is so bad, why people who are in that area are still online instead of getting outta dodge?

None of us need to be evacuated, but hey, nice of you to question us.

Post #2 is not political - it's about the CAUSE of fires. Just stop starting stuff. PERIOD.

[jundp 191]

I send a prayer to all of you affected by the fires. I don't care if you're rich, poor, single, have a family. It's still awful to be affected by something like this, and it matters naught if you lose your home and you're rich or you lose you're home and you're poor. Everyone is suffering, imo.

Both my brothers live in LA and I haven't heard from them yet. My family is getting pretty tired of natural disasters! Earthquakes, hurricanes, fires. Sheesh.

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

I send a prayer to all of you affected by the fires. I don't care if you're rich, poor, single, have a family. It's still awful to be affected by something like this, and it matters naught if you lose your home and you're rich or you lose you're home and you're poor. Everyone is suffering, imo.

Both my brothers live in LA and I haven't heard from them yet. My family is getting pretty tired of natural disasters! Earthquakes, hurricanes, fires. Sheesh.

(((hug)))

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

California Fire map

You can literally zoom in on any wildfire location and click on the latest information.

Thought it might be useful

[NavarreMan 10]

Charles,

For one time try and refrain from being such a #######. This is not political. People’s lives and homes and jobs are at stake. Try to be just a little human will you. You should be happy it's not your home or job at risk.

and while you are on about it not being political, check out post #2 - no one commented in a hostile manner on that one did they? and guess what, it's political too. spare me your self rightous bs.

if it is so bad, why people who are in that area are still online instead of getting outta dodge?

Gee Charles...

Let me think, unusually warm climate, no rain, strong winds, sounds like a recipe for disaster. Now, please tell me how your remark about sounding like a republican is even remotely related to this situation. Did you take a possible explanation for the cause of these fires as a personal attack on you?

For God's sake man, just wish everyone well and leave it. We will respect you for that.

California Fire map

You can literally zoom in on any wildfire location and click on the latest information.

Thought it might be useful

Thanks. Good info.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Geez - It was a comment on a 60 Minutes report, not an inflammatory remark.

[jundp 191]

California Fire map

You can literally zoom in on any wildfire location and click on the latest information.

Thought it might be useful

Thanks!

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

The original interactive map was created by the LA Times and is much easier to navigate, and is bigger so its easier to read. Seems varying news and blog sites thought it so useful they all chose to use it.

To get to it, click here, and select Interactive Google Map under the main picture and headline. It's a pop-up so I don't know how to link it to here other than to simply tell you about it.

Annie