Live Updating Thread: 2007 Southern California Firestorms

LA Times ^ | 9:35 AM PDT, October 21, 2007 | Associated Press

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

UPDATE: The city of Malibu is advising residents in Puerco Canyon to begin evacuating due to a wildfire driven by powerful winds. This area is north of Pacific Coast Highway and about 1 mile west of Pepperdine University. Residents along the beach on Malibu Road may soon be evacuated. Pacific Coast Highway is closed between Kanan-Dume Road and Topanga Canyon. Residents are advised to head to the west. Evacuation centers are being set up in the Zuma Beach area.

A wildfire driven by powerful winds in the Malibu Hills this morning threatened a university, destroyed at least one home and forced the evacuation of hundreds more, authorities said.

Related Stories
-	Wildfire burns 500 acres near Interstate 5
-	Santa Ana winds are sweeping the region

[ferri]

i have been hearing that on the online scanner. (yeah, i’m nosey...lol) also been hearing ‘Hispanic males’ trying to steal donations at evac. centers. classy.

[Brad’s Gramma]

You’re not being nosey. We appreciate all the help we’ve been getting from out of state Freepers!

[TChad]

Here’s a really good discussion on how to do fire ash cleanup.
http://www.escondido.org/wcfire/after/ashcleanup.pdf

Thanks for that link. Might as well just post the PDF contents here:

Safe Cleanup of Fire Ash

The recent fires have deposited large amounts of ash on indoor and outdoor surfaces in areas near the fire. Questions have been raised about possible dangers from contact with the ash and safe disposal procedures. The ash deposited by forest fires is relatively nontoxic and similar to ash that might be found in your fireplace. However, any ash will contain small amounts of cancer-causing chemicals. In addition, fire ash may be irritating to the skin, especially to those with sensitive skin. If the ash is breathed, it can be irritating to the nose and throat and may cause coughing. Exposure to ash in air might trigger asthmatic attacks in people who already have asthma. Therefore, in order to avoid possible health problems the following is recommended.

• Do not allow children to play in the ash.
• Wash ash off children’s toys before children play with them.
• Clean ash off house pets.
• Wear gloves, long sleeved shirts, and long pants and avoid skin contact.
• If you do get ash on your skin, wash it off as soon as possible.
• If you have a vegetable garden or fruit trees, wash the fruit or vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
• Avoid getting ash into the air as much as possible. Do not use leaf blowers or take other actions that will put ash into the air.
• Shop vacuums and other common vacuum cleaners do not filter out small particles, but rather blow such particles out the exhaust into the air where they can be breathed. The use of shop vacuums and other non-HEPA filter vacuums is not recommended. HEPA filter vacuums could be used, if available.
• Well fitting dust masks may provide some protection during cleanup. A mask rated N-95 or P-100 will be more effective than simpler dust or surgical masks in blocking particles from ash. In general, many ash particles are larger than those found in smoke; thus, wearing a dust mask can significantly reduce (but not completely eliminate) the amount of particles inhaled.
• Persons with heart or lung disease should consult their physician before using a mask during post-fire cleanup.
• Gentle sweeping of indoor and outdoor hard surfaces followed by wet mopping is the best procedure in most cases. A damp cloth or wet mop may be all that is needed on lightly dusted areas.
• If ash is wet down, use as little water as possible.
• Collected ash may be disposed of in the regular trash.
Ash may be stored in plastic bags or other containers that will prevent it from being disturbed.
• Do not wash ash into the storm drain system, because it is a violation of the San Diego Regional Storm Water Permit, Order No. 2007-0001.

Ash and debris inside burned structures may contain more toxic substances than forest fire ash because of the many synthetic and other materials present in buildings. Older buildings in particular may contain asbestos and lead. A more cautious approach should be taken in the removal of ash and other debris from inside burned structures.

[Brad’s Gramma]

(San Diego)

Evacuate:

Lake Henshaw, Mesa Grande, more
County officials have ordered the evacuation of Lake Henshaw, Mesa Grande and the La Jolla Indian Reservation because of fire danger.

Evacuees should take state Route 79 to S-2 to S-22 to Borrego High School.

[ferri]

i wish there was more i could do than listen and send up prayers. :(

[Brad’s Gramma]

Um. Prayers are MUCH MUCH MUCH appreciated!!!!!!!!

[al baby]

Hey BG I worked at my wife's auto parts joint today running a bunch of new electrical

OC fire is one of thier big accounts had to rush out 25 long handled squeegees to them

[Brad’s Gramma]

Do they want to come here & practise w/the windows?

:)

Oh! Gramps bought your pool equipment today! When may we expect you? LOL!!!!!

[cricket]

As to the name of arsonist or 'suspected arsonist' - as in, the name that is 'not named' - or the suspect, who seems to have 'no name'; we know, for sure, something politically correct is up; as the protective blinds go down.

What a pathetic commentary on a life that one can get pleasure or imagines some justification - if even a redemption - through the pain and suffering of so many.

[SE Mom]

What if..one neighborhood at a time- you all just rebelled? Pick a day and all of you go out and clean the scrub, removed dead wood etc:)

Wonder what “they” would do?

[al baby]

Are you talking about the riff raff or real palnts and trees ?

[SE Mom]

Riff raff! Aren’t there laws or restrictions keeping people from being able to do that? (I know, I’m hopelessly east coast!)

[La Enchiladita]

I really don’t think anyone is stopping people from clearing brush on or adjacent to their property... are they?

Most of these developments have homeowners’ associations, and I would think they would address it.

Maybe after some of the residents get settled back in, they can answer the questions re how brush clearance is handled in their neighborhoods.

In the meantime, these fires jumped all kinds of boundaries and preventive measures. The wind was so wild that live embers were blown great distances. There is a limit to what humans who want to live next to “beautiful nature” can do in the way of prevention, in home building and in brush clearance.

[SCalGal]

There is a limit to what humans who want to live next to “beautiful nature” can do in the way of prevention, in home building and in brush clearance.

The wind came up over the mts at 103mph... there's no way to stop the embers at that speed.

[La Enchiladita]

That is completely frightening... good point.

That is why two residents who would not evacuate were found dead in their home... they did not realize the speed at which the fire was travelling.

[SE Mom]

Agreed :)

[farmer18th]

I really don’t think anyone is stopping people from clearing brush on or adjacent to their property... are they?

On the contrary, in Perris and Hemet, California, some residents were, in fact, kept from clearing brush from around their homes due to the Stephen's Kangaroo Rat habitat. In the Lake Arrowhead area, cutting a single tree required a very cumbersome permit process for many years. (The ironic thing is that the fire departments have had to go in and virtually clear cut around homes to fight the fire.)

[TChad]

You know, one of those cats with the “mexican rake” was blowing ashes off the sidewalks and onto all the parked cars. When he saw me he offered to blow off my car.

Years ago I visited a beach on the mainland side of the Gulf of California. The paved road to the beach lead into a sand road that ran next to the water. That sand road was regularly smoothed by a Caterpillar tractor, operated by a man who I was told was a cousin of the local town's mayor.

Had he set his blade a few inches lower, the road would have become passable to all vehicles, but that was not his goal. The road smoothing was intended to deceive American tourists who were driving cars with low ground clearance into thinking that the road was passable. They got stuck in the sand, and he pulled them out -- for a fee, of course. After each car was extracted, the Cat operator would push the sand back into place, smooth it off, and wait for the next fly to visit his web.

Since this was Mexico, his fee was low, and he conducted his little racket with a smile on his face.

Apparently that version of Mexican capitalism continues today.

[Jaxmum]

Yes, after the Cedar Fire, a resident of Harbison Canyon was interviewed on KOGO radio. His house had burned down. He said a lady from the county came out several months ago and prevented him from clearing the brush and told him it was a habitat of the Least Bell’s Vireo. He was very angry and he shouted to the interviewer, “Hey lady- where’s your little bird now! They’re all burned up!”

Really sad, but funny too.

[SandRat]

Now for news on the care of the Refugees from the fire that You are Not Hearing. FRWN Does it Again!

Russell Sailors Help Victims in Need

NASNI Provides Shelter for Families Displaced by Raging Wildfires

Ronald Reagan Sailors Make Room for Families Displaced by Fire

Naval Special Warfare Pulls Together to Help Evacuees of San Diego Fires