California Fires

“Do we know anyone in that area? Hope you are all OK if so.”

“i think grey davis is starting them to get back at arnold...


hope nobody here looses their homes....”

“The fires are spreading as I type this on Sunday morning. A few years of drought, a bark beetle infestation that has killed a huge number of trees, the dry chapparel vegitation, and the famous Santa Ana winds are all contributing to the disaster. The losses are mainly homes immediately adjacent to the base of the mountains and the immediate foothill areas (nice places to live, but fires can be devistating).

Lots of homes at the base of the San Gabriel Mtns have been burned to the ground in the communities of La Verne, Claremont & San Dimas (about 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles). Farther east in the popular San Bernardino Mtns the fires are nearing the resort community of Lake Arrowhead. All roads leading into the SB Mtns have been closed. The Big Bear Lake resort area and the popular San Gorgonio Wilderness are in the east/ SE parts of the SB Mtn range and haven't been directly effected (at least not yet). About 100 homes in the northern end of the city of San Bernardino (at the base of the mtns) burned down last night. In all, about 50,000 acres have burned so far.

Most LA TT'ers are not directly effected. Biggest effect is probably similar to what I'm experiencing; I live 60-100 miles away at the beach and am experiencing a light dusting of cold ash is falling from the sky, smoke is turning the morning sky a burnt orange color, and the smell of smoke is quite strong.”

“Mother Nature flexing control again, I love/hate it when she does that.”

“I just got a phone message from my hunting buddy. The power went out in the area of his Lake Arrowhead cabin, and they had a manditory evacuation at 2:00 a.m. as the fires were cutting off the exits. He barely got out. He said the smoke has turned the sun orange so it looks like they are on another planet.”

“It's California, as good as another planet.”

“The fires in both the San gabriel & SanBernardino Mtns. have merged and formed one gigantic fire that keeps on growing. ITs starting to head east across the SB Mtns, from the Lake Arrowhead area in the western part of the range towards the Big Bear area; Big bear might be evacuated tonight. Total area burned in So Cal is well over 100,000 acres and growing. Its going to be one of (if not the biggest) fire disasters in the So Cal area.

Shawn's comment is not far off the mark - the smoke over the LA basin does make it look like another planet! No offense taken at the comment - I known the TT'rs are a highly sarcastic bunch and really don't want any good hiking territory destroyed anywhere in North America.”

“come on, you're all thinking it.....i'll sat it...

IT'S BUSH's FAULT!”

“come on, you're all thinking it.....i'll say it...

IT'S BUSH's FAULT!”

“I thought everything was Clinton and the media's fault.”

“I think the quote was something like, "If they won't vote for me, I'll burn 'em out."

Does that sound right Dewd?”

“I looked at the red sun this afternoon, casting an orange glow on everything, and thought, "This is after only three years of Bush's enviromental policies."


8^)”

“Terrible situation. Over 650 homes have burned and there is smoke everywhere. Went to the Edwards Air Show in the Mojave Desert today and could see the fires from the other side. Fires are in five counties.

The sun was very red, like nav said...eerie looking.

12 people dead so far.

Not sure if WLD is close to the fire in Claremont. Also, not sure how far tarbubble is from the fires down that way.”

“My sister's in San Diego. They have been told to prepare for evacuation....the fire is 15 minutes from their house.”

“this is getting bad, over 350 homes gone and 13 people have died.
I can't imangine what it must be like for some of the TT'ers and others that live there. Just be safe!!”

“It stratdewd's fault.”

“I thought it was 350 homes, hhhmmmm

still sucks
why is it strats fault?”

“Most of the fires are in mountainous or rural areas, but in several cases the wind blew the fire into residential areas and caused wildfires that took out neighborhoods. Probably the worst fire situation I can remember.

Looks like arson in a lot of cases. In one case it was reported a lost hiker set off a flare. That person may need to be removed from the gene pool.”

“"still sucks
why is it strats fault?"
Murderous Leeches
08:11:26 AM

I'll come up with something.....”

“I know several people in the area. I'm not sure how close it is to them. I hope everything turns out ok.”

“My brother-in-law lives in San Diego--central--on Sunday, he said the fires were just 5 miles from him.

Haven't heard an update.”

“it's awful, just awful. my car is slowly turning grey from the rain of ash. Phil is right, over 600 homes have burned - we currently have 10 fires burning in S. Cal. i know people who were evacuated from San Bernardino. their apartment complex butts right up to the foothills and i have no doubt it's burned down. they are not rich (he's in the military and they have 4 kids) and i doubt they had renter's insurance. but they were smart and started packing up their important things before the fire got close.

none of the fires are near me, but it's paranoia time. i live right on a huge eucalyptus belt, and the ground is covered with dry, dead leaves and branches. if another arsonist decides to have fun, my home would be toast.”

“Geeez! What a year! We burned all summer in Montana and now California is on fire. We've had record heat and draught up here breaking some records from the 30's. It looks like the jet stream is shooting down there (CA) later in the week with (hopefully) some cooler, wetter air.”

“we have the Santa Ana winds going on right now (hot and dry), the winds make bad fires worse”

“It's a very bad situation out here in the San Bernardino/Ontario area. Those that live in the high desert headed back home while they can still get through the Cajon Pass.

I believe they suspect arson for many of the fires.”

“Do the Santa Ana winds come from the east or west or just all around?”

“It sounds like Florida in '98. Hundreds of homes and hundreds of thousands of acres burned. Some areas burned so hot that it killed the soil. All organic material burned out, and all bacteria and soil based critters were killed. My big fear for out west is the erosion that may take place in the hilly areas if the fire damage is extreme.”

“hadn't even thought about that. flood season is in the spring.”

“Tom - The Santa Ana winds are special high-pressure area condition that send the winds from the North East, across the desert and then over the mountains. They warm, dry air from the desert picks up speed as it comes over the mountains and thru the passes. Unfortunately, the Santa Ana winds usually correspond to the warmest, dryest times of the year and can accelerate fires tremendously.

When there are no fires, mild Santa Ana winds really clear up the air and you can have some tremendous views. However, when they are strong they stir up dust and/or fuel fires.”

“We have something like that in the winter up here along the Rocky Mountain front called Chinook Winds. The winds will come over the Rockies from the west and as they drop over the front the lower elevation causes the pressure to rise and heat up. They're usually strong and warm.
I witnessed the Santa Ana winds when we were down in Pomona in 2000. When we flew in over the mountains, the LA basin was choked in smog; we could'nt see the mountains from below. Over the next 24 hours the winds kicked up and cleared out the valley, but the dust kicked up as well.”

“Has anyone heard yet if Pat Robertson is laying blame for the fires on Southern California being a modern Soddom and Gomorrah? I remember hearing him us that line on his flock after the Northridge earthquake.”

“LOL, i wondered when somebody'd crack a Pat joke.

if you go to drudgereport.com right now, he has an incredible satellite photo of the fires. check it out.”

“Wow! That satellite photo is really something. If you flip it around it looks like MT this summer. We're supposed to fly into Ontario next week (Thurs). I wonder if we can get in?”

“so far as i know, ONT is still in operation. i'll keep praying, and hopefully by next week the fires will be contained - or even bettr, OUT.”

“Here is a pretty good map (pdf).”

“It's pretty bad here in San Diego. Most people not going to work - mayor requested employers to close business's to keep the main roads open for firefighters. There are 3 main fires, lots of others, and now they are worried about the 3 joining into a massive firestorm. I was sent home from work due to the air quality- anybody who has worked at a car dealership knows that they usually don't close for ANY reason!! I work in north coastal SD, and it is relatively far away from the fires and still the air was FULL of ash and breathing was uncomfortable. I am home (north inland) and the sky is a yellowish brown and you can't see very far at all. The Cedar fire (the biggest one) is about 5 miles away and it is pretty scary wondering if/when I will have to leave my apt. Hope everybody gets through this. It's so sad to see what has happend to so many homes and lives.”

“Lake Arrowhead area in the western part of the range towards the Big Bear area; Big bear might be evacuated tonight. I hear from a friend that they will be evacuating before tonight!! Just in.”

“sheesh, i'm glad my parents sold their property in Big Bear!”

“I think it's snowing outside - no, wait - it's ashes flying through the air.”

“Just got some bad news...
my friend's house was a total loss due to the fires. However, he and his wife are ok. Weird Fate: his best friend's house (which is his next door neighbor)did not burn.”

“I think I saw that on Foxnews Mtn Mo. Did your friend help save his mom's house?

I hope all our fellow TT'rs are OK, and am saddened by the loss of lives, homes and wilderness.”

“God's punishment for electing a Republican governor.

A hunter is in custody for lighting a signal fire, which igniting the San Diego blaze and forcing thousands of residents to flee reports CBS News Correspondent Bill Whitaker.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/24/national/main579865.shtml”

“I have a cabin at Snow Valley which is between Running Springs and Big Bear.One spark and it's toast ,but all the 60 years of memories will still be there.Hope the weather changrs soon.”

“The are evacuating most of those mountain communities around Lake Arrowhead. Hopefully the fire won't get to the dead trees left behind from the bark beetles. Even the green stuff is dry up there.

salebored - Good luck. You don't hear much about cabins by Snow Valley.”

“Phil, when we went to the SGW last month and i saw all of those dead trees, my first thought was "what happens if a fire starts?" oh, Phil, it's going to be an inferno. it's enough to make me sick, just thinking about it.”

“A wildfire in the San Bernardinos would not be pretty.”

“From what I have heard - Lake Arrowhead may burn today.”