Southern California Fires -- Live Thread 10/29

[nicmarlo]

ty, kahuna.

[null and void]

Pretty dangerous to go running around steep hills and cliffs in the dark.

[okimhere]

Thanks for that info. I had heard earlier that they were making their stand by Lake Silverwood. If/when they succeed, south Hesperia is spared. Pray, pray, pray! Thanks. And bless you all for this thread.

[PhiKapMom]

Heard the same thing about Running Springs. When I heard firestorms over the SB Mountains and winds gusting heavily, I shuddered at what lies ahead for those poor people.

[nicmarlo]

Firefighter killed battling Cedar fire
Two others critically injured in the blaze northeast of San Diego, bringing to 18 the number of people killed in the wildfires.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-wildfires,0,768332.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[Slip18]

Most of So. Orange County (Newport Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita) are in great shape except for the lack of sun. This is per my sister in Irvine. She said she finally saw blue sky this afternoon.

I specifically asked about Carlsbad (who was asking about that city). She said Carlsbad was in no danger.

[CedarDave]

MSNBC coming back up -- blank screen, but some audio (reporters asking for water).

[meyer]

And guys on the mountain are using their radios to discuss clothing.

As odd as that may sound, it is good for their minds to have some mindless chit-chat. It relaxes them a bit by taking their minds off of the tense situation at hand. Plus, they may have a short lull in action - that is good!

[CedarDave]

MSNBC coming back up -- blank screen, but some audio (reporters asking for water).

[spectr17]

Big Bear online scanner feed for CDF, cops, air attack etc.

Go to Yahoo.com and register if you're not a member. Once you register you can go into any chat room

In the text box of your chosen chatroom type:

/join the old fire scanner:1

This should take you directly to the room where there is a live feed of the Big Bear scanner that was abandoned today 10/29. Ther is also live chat there from other people affected by the Olf Fire in the Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Big Bear Area.

http://www.compucations.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=977

[Oorang]

Thanks for keeping these threads going. My heart goes out to all of you and what you are going through.

I live in a rural, wooded area of Washington, about 10 miles from the Gifford Pinchot Forest. The beetle kill is massive here as well (thanks enviro-wackos). It's a tinderbox waiting to happen.

These fires and all the loss just breaks my heart.

[lainie]

You're right :-) I'm just flapping my gums. er, fingers.

[wolficatZ]

It's back on....

[null and void]

I hope the Healthy Forest inititive gets through in time to prevet this from happening there.

[cmsgop]

My Mom said the same thing about the sky too.

[lainie]

Regarding the beetles, what should have been done about the infestation all along?

[ravinson]

Most of So. Orange County (Newport Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita) are in great shape except for the lack of sun. This is per my sister in Irvine. She said she finally saw blue sky this afternoon. I specifically asked about Carlsbad (who was asking about that city). She said Carlsbad was in no danger.

The winds are cooler westerlies now so the coast is safe and the areas east of the fires are now in danger.

[spectr17]

load up the HAM repeaters on Keller Peak, Santiago, Sunset, to hear the local HAMs.

List of channels for SoCal

http://www.qsl.net/ke6alv/

[nicmarlo]

First Firefighter Dies in Calif. Blazes

By ANDREW BRIDGES

LAKE ARROWHEAD, Calif. - Firefighters struggled desperately Wednesday to save emptied-out resort towns in Southern California's San Bernardino Mountains as 200-foot walls of flame engulfed dead and dried-out trees.

In San Diego County, the state's largest fire claimed another victim when a firefighting crew was overcome by flames, killing one and injuring three. It marked the first firefighter death since the series of blazes began last week.

"It just swept right over them. They probably didn't have time to get out of the way," San Diego County Sheriff's Sgt. Conrad Grayson said.

* * *

By early afternoon, homes were burning in the mountain community of CedarPines Park. The flames were expected to hit the town of Running Springs after crews weren't able to set backfires along a highway to protect the town. The fires also swept over mountain tops, forcing evacuations in parts of the high desert town of Hesperia.

"There's fire on so many fronts, it's not even manageable at this point," said Chris Cade, a fire prevention technician with the U.S. Forest Service, as he watched a pillar of smoke he estimated at 9,000 feet rise into a hazy sky thick with ash. "I am at a loss what you can do about it."

The fires have burned more than 620,000 acres and destroyed 2,100 homes. More than 12,000 firefighters and support crew were fighting what Gov. Gray Davis said may be the worst and costliest disaster California has ever faced. He estimated the cost at $2 billion so far.

The fires burned in a broken arc across Southern California, from Ventura County east to Los Angeles County and the San Bernardino Mountains and south to San Diego County.

About 100 fire engines encircled the historic mining town of Julian in the mountains of eastern San Diego County, hoping to save the popular weekend getaway community renowned for its vineyards and apple orchards.

However, some two dozen engines and water tenders that were headed to Julian were forced to turn back when flames swept over a highway. And as the winds picked up, floating embers sparked spot fires near the town of 3,500, forcing some crews to retreat.

South of Julian, about 90 percent of the homes had been destroyed in Cuyamaca, a lakeside town of about 160 residents. Charred cows lay by the side of the road and houses were reduced to little more than stone entryways....
http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2003/10/29/ap/Headlines/d7ug6vi80.txt