Southern California Fires -- Live Thread 10/29

[lainie]

Makes me think of Saugus Cafe ;)

[Fitzcarraldo]

that's a keeper

[SCalGal]

We often forget about the police, the highway patrol, and animal control.... and they are all working their a$$es off... and not trained for fire like our FFs are.

And the utility company personell....

[BurbankKarl]

Yes, definitely see an accoutant, they spent 10 minutes on KCAL today talking about so many different aspects it made my head spin. They also interviewd Fair Plan officials who are mailing $20,000 checks today for last weeks victims

[azGOPgal]

That is an amazing sight to see.

I pray that things don't get worse for all of you in California. You all stay safe, and get a good nights sleep.

[SCalGal]

Malathion? GREAT stuff.

Illegal in CA. Rule: If it works, it's illegal.

[Fitzcarraldo]

scanner: "...heavy fog and drizzle all the way across the Rim..."

[BurbankKarl]

someone reporting that Rim of the World High School is socked in with fog and drizzle

[BookmanTheJanitor]

Are you talking about Cold Springs Tavern on Hwy. 154?

[spectr17]

From Mapman on our forum,

I work for CalTrans and was up on Hwy 18 today near Rim Of The World High School. We were asked to provide traffic control on the highway directly in front of the school. The parking lot was being used as a fire base to refill the helicopters. The ground crews would mix up the "Red Stuff" and fill a large reservoir/bladder, and then the helo's would drop down would dip out of it while hovering.

We were there to stop traffic while they filled up and departed over the highway. These guys were working the Arrowhead/Cedar Glen area.There was 3 single rotor skycranes, and one of the larger double rotor helo's. It was pretty impressive to watch. They were coming in about every 8-10 minutes for hours, taking breaks only to fill up with fuel at the old Norton tanker base.

I took way too many pictures of burned out homes along the 18, and of the helicopters. I will resize them when I have time and post a few. Those pilots and firefighters are true American heros, putting it all on the line to whip this fire.............

[lainie]

bizarro, just heard the same

[SCalGal]

Yes, definitely see an accoutant, they spent 10 minutes on KCAL today talking about so many different aspects it made my head spin.

At the FEMA sites after the northridge earthquake, the IRS had handouts... they will help. It doesn't have to be all that complicated, if they would explain it properly.

[BurbankKarl]

blog guy linked our thread

[It's me]

It's my understanding that nothing is standing near lake Cuyamaca.

[spectr17]

Small Group Of Big Bear Residents Refuses To Leave Mountain

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. 10.29.03, 5:35p

The Associated Press

Wildfires have closed in around this popular mountain resort town, forcing thousands of residents to flee in recent days, but a small group refused to leave Wednesday, insisting faith and firefighters would keep them safe.

The heart of Big Bear Valley, home to about 15,000 people, is usually mobbed with tourists in quaint cafes and specialty gift shops. This day it is eerily silent except for the clang of flags banging against poles outside empty businesses and homes.

A steady stream of vehicles loaded with couches, televisions and other household items has been snaking down the mountain along Highway 18 for days.

San Bernardino County sheriff's Deputy Jack Nelson drove through the city with his loudspeaker, announcing a mandatory evacuation and urging residents to evacuate.

"We're basically telling everyone to get out, but we can't push them out," Nelson said.

One of the few business still operating was OJ's Doughnut shop, which kept a steady supply of doughnuts and coffee flowing to sheriff's deputies and firefighters battling the wildfires.

A skeleton staff at KBHR-FM radio planned to broadcast fire reports until the last minute.

The group was going to stay until officials dismantled the emergency operations center in town, said Rick Herrick, president and general manager of the rock 'n' roll station.

For residents who stayed, authorities handed out yellow crime scene tape to put on their homes so that if flames came through, firefighters would know people were there.

Some who stayed propped ladders and garden hoses against their homes so they could quickly soak the roof if flames approached.

"Everyone is telling us to leave, but we're waiting 'til we see the flames," said Chrisann Maurer, as she watered down her yard and her house in heavy wind. "I'm afraid, but I've got a lot of faith. I just think there is enough people praying that we might be safe," she said.

Rik Hardesty and his wife Cheri said they didn't think it was time to leave yet.

"There are two things keeping us here," Rik Hardesty said, "faith, and the fact that the firefighters here are the baddest in the world."

Mark Peterson, a firefighter with Big Bear Lake Fire Department, called those who refused to leave "crazy."

He said the fire was moving toward Big Bear Lake from the southwest, northwest and west.

"It's incredible. They're rewriting history with this fire," Peterson said. "Nobody knows where this thing is going to go."

"This looks like a ghost town," Herrick said. "But it's our duty to get the information out. The signal is here and a lot of people who evacuated are tuned in because they're not able to get information specifically on Big Bear anywhere else."

[Irish Eyes]

Thanks for all your updates. We have been reading these threads for days. I am glad that you are safe you must have had quite a scare. We have family in the San Diego area also but all out of harms way (Cardiff) The last time we were in the area we took a look at the casinos in the area I am wondering if they are still standing.

[BurbankKarl]

scanner: fire is still 1/2 mile west of Keller Peak...no fire east

[onyx]

I'm doing okay, about the same as you. I am, however, thrilled that school is open tomorrow --- I am "toddlerd-out from 3 house-bound days! :-)

[spectr17]

Keller Peak is a commo site, worked many days there climbing the towers. CDF has equipmen there I think also. HAM too.

There is a fire lookout tower there that looks into the south, San Bernardino Valley

[BurbankKarl]

the guy is on the tower.....he said it was cold....

everyone seemed to cheer up hearing about drizzling....