We've been evacuated.

[selawela]

Hey, everyone. Do i have a story for you all. Some of you are aware that I live in Santa Clarita, and there's a horrible situation here with the fires that are going on.

We have evacuated, and we are now at JonJon's house in a safer place. We are all okay. I'll write you all back when I have some time to give you some more info, but for now, please keep all of us in Santa Clarita and other parts of California in your thoughts and prayers. It is just awful what's going on here.

I have my family together, my dear Luke, and my laptop and my camera...I'm good!

Take care, everyone,
Sela

[billz]

Hang in there Sela .... our thoughts are with you, your family and neighbors. Be safe.

Bill

[Tina_B]

Sela
I am glad you are safe with family. The combinaton of fire and the wind are awful. Stay safe and out of harms way. You are North of LA ?
Tina B

[Storm1]

Oh Sela & I just pm'd you ! Take care I do hope your home will not get touched. I will be thinking positive thoughts & praying for you all.
Love & hugs Storm

[smiles]

Be safe Sela, my prayer and thoughts are with you and your family. Take care and update us as soon as you can.

[AP_Photos]

You're in our thoughts and prayers. May your family be kept safe from harms way.

They called out a couple strike teams from here to go down and had mandatory restaffing of all stations & equipment (and we're 13-14 hours from there).

[Ric Cisson]

If I am not mistaken, this is the second time this year that Santa Clarita has been threatened by wildfires. I went through there in June and again in August and that area, if you have never been there, is just one huge tenderbox just waiting to explode. I know the drought conditions in the Southeast are bad, but the droughts here in the West have been running now for a decade and there is no relief in sight. All of California foothill and mountain areas, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico in the past few years have had explosions in the number and intensity of wildfires.

Sela our prayers go out to you and yours and all the folks in Santa Clarita. Keep us posted.

[qcocoq]

I'm sure thinking about you. I can see an orange glow in the distance. I'm glad you're all together and comfortable. Don't worry about the fire. You're a good paved distance away. On the other hand, I heard a stampede of horses is headed in your direction.

[bayhli]

So glad to hear you are in a safer place Sela.

We've been following it on the news here in Canada and my thoughts went out to my forum friends. Such an awful thing for so many, with no immediate relief in the winds forcasted.

Stay well....

[quillabee9]

Sela, Glad you are safe. You guys are really getting the "hits" what with the big accident and now this. God Bless.

[Wendy]

Hi Sela ...

So sorry to hear the news ... but really glad that you are safe ..

Wendy :)

[Lorri]

Sela, I am glad to hear you and your family are safe. You--and the entire fire situation out there--are in the prayers of many people. Please keep us posted here on the forum as to how things are going.

[Cmcburnett]

Sela, my heart goes out to all and I will keep you guys in my prayers.

[msbrad]

Glad you are safe Sela and let us know where you are.
I saw on the morning news things spread since yesterday:eek:
Are there any others of us affected in that area. Please check in.
Crossing fingers...it gets better soon.
m

[nkeevers]

Sela, so sorry to hear you had to evacuate! I was just reading in the paper this morning about the horrible fires out there! And they said none are contained and just depending on the wind?? Hope something is done soon.

Glad you are okay and will send prayers your way.

[Diana]

We're keeping you and your neighbors in our hearts and prayers. What a horrible situation in that area. So glad you are safe.

Diana

[jazzfisher]

I've had about 2 hours of sleep, I'm packing up & will only be on the computer until I have to take it apart to pack. John is out of town so I'm here alone & somewhat scared. I haven't been told to leave yet, but the fire is right in the hills where I drive to work--maybe 5 miles from here. The winds are blowing west-I'm west--I don't know exactly where to go because the ocean is only 4 miles from here & then there are no more options.
The winds have been howling all night instead of dying down like they usually do with a Santa Ana Wind like this, And they expect the winds to be worst as the sun comes up--and last until Wed----not good.
Sela, I'm glad you're safe, I was in Santa Clarita for the 1st time in Feb-until then I didn't know where that was. Be safe.

[NMarti]

Sela
I'm so glad you are safe. Take care and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed.

Sherry
I'm so sorry to hear that. It must be so awful to be there and alone and have to deal with that. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as well.

[quillabee9]

Sherry, for heaven's sake protect yourself. god Bless.

[mom to 4]

Sela:

I am so sorry to hear about those fires. Glad you are safe, I didn't know that was your location. You have the most important things around you. Try not to worry about everything else. It is all stuff! YOU and family, pooch, camera, and laptop are safe. That is what is important.

I will keep you (and everything you own) in my prayers. That doesn't sound right, but I am sure you know what I mean!

[msbrad]

Thanks for letting us know about you too Sherry.
Going to switch to an msn site and see if any changes are imminent
m

[swalkr]

Sela, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and all who live is such a volatile area. Hopefully you will be back home in a short period. Your family is safe, which is the most important thing.

[jazzfisher]

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/index.html

Try this for local San Diego live news

I just took some photos will try to get them up ASAP

[selawela]

I will properly thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers when I can just settle a bit here, but I wanted to do a quick update. Spent the night in castaic with jonjon's family, one of our members. my husband and i came to our house early this morning to find the hills surrounding our neighborhood on fire. very, very scary. we are literally surrounded by hills, and they were all on fire early this morning....but the good news is that i belived the worst of it is over right now for us. the next canyon over is in trouble, however.

we live right in the plum canyon and bouquet canyon area. there were the super scoopers and helicopters dropping water all morning. crazy, crazy!!!!

i am going to download a couple of pictures for you...i'll be back!

sela

[deedeeO]

Sela and Sherry, thinking of both of you....as if we have enough problems out here worrying about the big quake to occur. Stay safe....my home is open up here in Bay...

PS.. my neighbor is a fireman and heading down there today to help out!!!

[selawela]

standing in my driveway

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1A3RHXsb9fZQTv48qWOu6leGBUXPXl1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1A3RHXsb9fZQTv48qWOu6leGBUXPXl1)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/18rctiyZn79vUkOhlT6WaS2gcHdO_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=18rctiyZn79vUkOhlT6WaS2gcHdO)

i'll be back later. gotta go!
thanks, everyone!!!
sela

[qcocoq]

Leave it to you to break the lines and get pictures for us! Stay safe. Sherry, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you as well.

[Ric Cisson]

Sherry, is the Witch Creek Fire west of Julian, and was there not a fire up in that area within the last couple of years that threatened Julian? I have friends that lived in Julian, and after the last fire, they left for Bend, Or.

[Jerrilyn]

I understand and my heart is with you. We had to evacuate for Katrina and were without power for a month. Awful destruction, but the house was spared. I'm so glad your family is together. That is the main thing. I will keep you in my prayers. Here's a hug ( :) ) to get you through.

[selawela]

oh, boy...we are now back in the house. our neighborhood for the time being is now safe. the winds have shifted and are blowing away from my house. however, the next neighborhood is now in danger. i specifically live in saugus, which is in the santa clarita valley, in the plum canyon/bouquet canyon area...just to give you an idea of where i am.

now, as to how i feel about you all, with your thoughts and prayers coming this way...i just can't explain it right now... i need time to be able to express myself properly, what all of your kind words means to me. for once i am speechless...coco, don't laugh!

I'll be back you guys, and keep you update....i am so tired.

sela

[Echo9er]

Stay tough. Be well.

You and yours are in my thoughts.

[selawela]

i'm back on mandatory evacuation....please pray for us all!

i'll be in touch!
got laptop!

God bless

sela

[Cmcburnett]

Sela, my prayers are w/you and everyone effected by the fire.:( I am so sorry. I think we are destroying our planet. Our county is running out of water and your's is burning. I don't know what to think, global warming or just folks not taking care of resources God has blessed us with.

[msbrad]

Hang in there Sela.
Just heard from hubby who spoke to his daughter and grandson out there.
As of noon EST, they are just 5 mi south of the evac zone.
She's there alone with the 3 year old. Her hubby (marines) deployed to guess where across the pond.
m

[selawela]

i'm back..wow!!!!!! mandatory evac cancelled in my neighbhorhood. sister-in-law on her way to my house. she's under mandatory evac. guys, it's crazy here!!!! got a great picture that I am going to post next of the super scooper!!!!! unbelievable!
sela

[selawela]

okay...the view from my house.

Thank you, Canada, for the super scoopers!!!!!!!!http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1LGxMNtg2tCichq2sIf5LmQgABIR0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1LGxMNtg2tCichq2sIf5LmQgABIR0)
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1fJqedD329L24OBOZRlRFWTkDrw_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1fJqedD329L24OBOZRlRFWTkDrw)
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1yZK42B7iYOSHja5Wbv65LwyRovsrd1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1yZK42B7iYOSHja5Wbv65LwyRovsrd1)

[selawela]

Sherry, please post and give us an update on your situation..
Sela

[ladybug]

your pictures are amazing. I pray that you all are safe. And that the situation improves.

[chas3stix]

Sela,
Glad you're all safe.
Chas

[msbrad]

Sela, glad you are safe and evac was cancelled for you.
Anyone heard from Sherry??

And step daughter and grandson as of 1 hour ago...mandatory evacuation.
Please keep praying everyone.
m

[Kathy]

Must be terrifying !!!!! :eek: Just saw a story on the news here about the fires. It seems like a very bleak situation. Glad to hear that you are safe Sela. Stay that way okay !!!!

Kathy

[Punkinsmom]

Hope you come thru this terrible situation on the safe side with no losses!

[pixlbandit]

Sherry, Sela,
Stay safe. Belongings can be replaced or done without, but people can't. Keep your animals safe too.

While my place of residence is not in danger, the satellite campus where I teach 2 days a week is just at the edge of the Orange County fire.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1VSzRYyaZcAl98PmSKtxFPz8FUWc_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1VSzRYyaZcAl98PmSKtxFPz8FUWc)

The campus buildings are at the bottom, middle, where the tiny red X is (you can't see this on the thumbnail). My students live in areas all around and I have a friend due west of the fire area. They were on voluntary evacuation which got canceled earlier today. Since the campus is on a former Marine base which is largely paved over and has had almost all of the empty wooden buildings razed (800 of them) and the debris carted off, it is unlikely to burn.

Although this particular fire in Orange County was arson, the areas in Southern California which are burning are desert chapparel (sp) that normally and naturally burns--even without help. We have simply moved the areas in which we live into the danger zones and pay the price.
Vicki

[jonjon]

Sela and the group,

I am typing this post with a hose in my hand. Here are some backyard photos.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1m50Of8RAvT657voVQdibhN71kO8_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1m50Of8RAvT657voVQdibhN71kO8)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1gIn19kwuaOHCxn4CsLtlIHF8nGsLX_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1gIn19kwuaOHCxn4CsLtlIHF8nGsLX)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1HPCrXedoMurZtmekgcDp6hePdoBA_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1HPCrXedoMurZtmekgcDp6hePdoBA)

[selawela]

Hello, everyone.

Well, we are here in our house safe, and hopefully staying put. The winds have died downed tremendously right now as of 7:36 p.m. Pacific Time. As long as the winds are calm, we'll be okay in our neighborhood.

Last night we spent the night at JonJon's place with his family. When we left them early this morning to come back to our house, their fire situation didn't seem too bad. However, as of right now, their situation has changed, and they are ready to evacuate if need be.

The biggest area of concern in our valley right now is the Stevenson Ranch area. I don't believe there have been any lost houses, thank goodness, but the brush area that is burning is just huge. Just heard on the news that we are getting lots of help being sent our way from Arizona, Nevada, and other states. Also, I just heard that tomorrow is supposed to be the worst day concerning the high winds...not good! I just can't imagine the situation getting worse than it has been the last two days.

I am worried about Sherry. Haven't heard from her at all. Sherry, if you are reading this, let us know you are okay.

Forum friends, thank you so much for all your support during this very scary time. I appreciate all your kind words that I have received from you all. I thank God that my family is safe.

I'll post tomorrow and let you know what tomorrow brings.

Sela

[Wags374]

Sure hope everyone is staying alert - and is prepared to evacuate at a moments notice if necessary.

I was working as a 911 dispatcher during a big flood here. I worked until I collapsed and was forced to go to my doctors office where they discovered I had severe pnemonia - doctor drove me home himself after I refused to be admitted to the hospital. Hubby was out of town, and my animals and home were in danger. Fortunately the water stopped right at our back fence, becuase it would have been all I could do to get my animals loaded and out of there. One of my 911 supervisors had word that the levy near her home was about to break and she had a chance to go home to try to salvage something before it did, but she chose to stay on and keep working. The whole lower level of her home flooded about an hour later.

Since most dispatch centers use equipement that is specific to their center, dispatchers from other places can't even come in to help them out. I imagine those poor folks are working some very, very long hours - and they may losing their homes while there. :(

[selawela]

Sela and the group,

I am typing this post with a hose in my hand. Here are some backyard photos.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1m50Of8RAvT657voVQdibhN71kO8_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1m50Of8RAvT657voVQdibhN71kO8)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1gIn19kwuaOHCxn4CsLtlIHF8nGsLX_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1gIn19kwuaOHCxn4CsLtlIHF8nGsLX)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1HPCrXedoMurZtmekgcDp6hePdoBA_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1HPCrXedoMurZtmekgcDp6hePdoBA)
Oh, my gosh, Jon! We were just standing there last night looking into the distance, and now look! Wow!

By the way, typing, posting, and hosing down the yard. Now that's multi-tasking!!! Good job, JonJon!

Now get in the house and be safe!

Talk to you tomorrow!
Sela

[AngelicKim]

Sela, I have been keeping up with the fires in your area and the drought in Georgia and praying for all of you to be safe and this to all end soon without more loss.

JonJon, what horrifying images. I can only imagine what you all are going through.

Be safe and take care of yourselves and your families. I will continue to prayer for all of our forum friends who are in the areas of the fires and droughts.

[NMarti]

I have emailed Sherry but no reply. I am keeping her in my thoughts and prayers. I know she was evacuating and may not have internet available now so let's hope she is safe in a hotel or friends house.

[selawela]

I have emailed Sherry but no reply. I am keeping her in my thoughts and prayers. I know she was evacuating and may not have internet available now so let's hope she is safe in a hotel or friends house.

Thank You, Nancy!

I was hoping to hear some news of her situation before going calling it a night. We'll just have to have faith that she is safe somewhere and will be home soon.

Sela

[vawitt]

Sela - glad to hear you are safe and have your fam all together. Hang in there....

~Val in IL

[Cmcburnett]

Seala and Jon Jon, everyone in the forum are thinking of you guys and hoping things turn for the better soon. Terrifying indeed. My heart and prayers goes out to everyone.:(

[nkeevers]

Sela, thanks for the update and pictures! Our prayers are with you and everyone during this tragic time! Glad to hear you are back in your home and hope the wind doesn't pick up like they say! You take care!

[selawela]

Quick update...it is now 7:25 a.m., Tuesday morning. My neighborhood is calm right now. I am actually going out for a scouting expedition in my neighborhood, which I haven't been able to do since Sunday. I just heard in the news that the my fire is laying down pretty good right now. However, no winds yet. I'll report back later.

Again, you all are so wonderful....THANK YOU, FORUM FRIENDS!

Sela

[NMarti]

I heard from Sherry (jazzfisher). She is staying with a friend. She does not know if her house is okay or not. She will be in touch as soon as possible.

[Vesta]

Sela , Jon Jon, Sherry.

I am so sorry for your situations right now. Some seem to be getting better. Hope all went well with your home and others in the area Sherry. but most of all glad you are all okay.

Vesta

[AP_Photos]

I will continue to keep you all in my prayers. I've been listening to our local scanner traffic, they're sending a "strike team" of local volunteers down today, they should be leaving shortly. As well as already sending pretty much all of our state/fed resources. Hopefully this will all start slowing down soon...God Bless all of you.

[selawela]

Hey, everyone...got another update.

Great news, my neighborhood is in great shape at this time...no fires, no flare-ups. I believe that Sherry is now safe, as I see, but I sure do pray that her house is okay.

JonJon's place is in good shape. He hasn't been able to post today...he had to go in to work today. The fire is now burning away from their home at this time.

Let's see now, what else..oh, I just got some news that Coco, AKA QcocoQ, who is about 20 minutes north of us in Acton, had a fire just a bit ago, but they seem to have that under control for the time being.

Right now I am actually trying to get some "real work" done that will be due tomorrow, so I'll be in touch!

Thanks, everyone, for your continued support and loving concern for us.

Sela

[chas3stix]

Sela,
Thanks for the update. Our thoughts and prayers are with you,JonJon and Sherry.
Chas

[nkeevers]

Sela, thanks for the update! I'm so glad to hear you are all doing okay!

[kimh]

Sela, Hope things are improving for you.
You're in my thoughts.
kimh

[Storm1]

Watching the news . Our big Mars Bomber is on its way down to help you. :)
That makes me feel good
Storm

[Edmund]

Collectively we can all make a difference. Our prayers are with you all during this terrible crisis.
Eddie

[smiles]

Thanks for the update Sela for the update, glad to know things are ok! I will keep you'll in my prayers. Please let the others know that we are praying for them and their safety.

[billz]

I heard from Lee Otsubo today ... he has been evacuated and is safe. It's unimaginable to see the scope of this disaster. My thoughts and support go to all of our friends in southern Cal.

Bill

[selawela]

Watching the news . Our big Mars Bomber is on its way down to help you. :)
That makes me feel good
Storm


Yeah, Storm! The Mars Bomber....awesome!!!!!! I got a great picture of the The Bombardier Canadair 415 amphibious aircraft Superscooper...thank you again for that!!!!! That one saved our neighborhood!!!!!! Check this out.... (http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/bombardier_415/index.html#bombardier_4151)
Sela

[pixlbandit]

Bill, thanks for the update on Lee Otsubo, he has been conspicuously absent so I have been concerned. Not yet having read this thread, I posted a query in another one.
Vicki

[LeeOtsubo]

I heard from Lee Otsubo today ... he has been evacuated and is safe. It's unimaginable to see the scope of this disaster. My thoughts and support go to all of our friends in southern Cal.

Bill

Hi All,
I finally remembered to check this site. My wife and I have evacuated twice along with our grumpy, geriatric cat. The first time, we packed up our RV and moved to a SD County campground. The CG was evacuated yesterday so we moved to the Pechanga RV Resort & Casino in Temecula, about 20 miles north. We're now on alert to possibly be evacuated again if the Pala and Poomacha fires start this way.

On the way up, we had a CHP escort through burned areas of Pala Mesa and Rainbow (the Rice Fire). It looked like my vision of a nuclear winter. The winds were still gusting up to 50-60mph in places and the RV was rockin' & rollin'.

The casino has been wonderful. They're letting all refugees stay for free including full hookups. Their hotel is completely filled and they're now letting people stay in their conference center.

Our house is in a U-shaped pocket with fires to the north, south and east. At one point, there was also a fire to the west but that was knocked down yesterday. As long as the winds die down today as forecast, we should be OK. Also, we're next to a golf course so there's plenty of water hazards for the choppers to dip IF the winds don't keep them grounded.

We have both WiFi and Verizon Wireless Broadband so we're connected. Too bad there's nothing useful to connect to. All the news is basically a mix of BS, conjecture and hyperbole.

We took a quick inventory this morning and decided there wasn't anything at the house that we'd really miss except my photo portfolio and my old Pentax Spotmatic. In fact, if looters get in, we're hoping they take a lot of time struggling with the now empty safe. LOL!

That's all for now from Ground Zero + 5 miles.

[NickLewis]

Glad to hear you're OK, Lee! I hope your home makes it. I can't imagine how you must be feeling.

But you left your portfolio behind! :D Couldn't you have made room for it by leaving something less important behind. Your wife, perhaps.......;)

Gotta keep the cat......

Nick

[selawela]

Hi, Lee:

I'm so glad to hear that you are okay! Take care of yourselves, and I pray that your house will be saved. Please know that you are in my thoughts.

Sela

[Rusty]

I've been offline for 4 days; just back. This is really a scary thread.

I'm thankful that you, Sela, now seem to be OK.

Sherry, I sure hope things turn out well for you.

Lee, please let us know how you fare.

We have a lot of forum friends in that area.

Rusty

[GaryK]

I got an email from Sherry this morn .. I forgot to check what time she sent it. :(


She said she was going back home in the next day or so. So far so good.
If I hear anything different I'll post.

[NMarti]

Thanks Gary. I had not heard from her further so I was getting a bit concerned. I knew she was safe but not about her house. Sounds like she came out okay.

[Byron Gale]

I know that Bob Benner also hails from San Diego... hoping he is OK, too.

[Shari]

I haven't been able to get on for a few days but after watching the news came to see how our friends are making out. Sela, JonJon, Sherry, Lee and Bob my thoughts are with you. The most important is you and your loved ones being together and SAFE. British Columbia has sent our big bomber to help - along with our prayers. Just know I am thinking of you all and wishing you personally a safe outcome from this horrible and frightening situation.
Shari

[Wags374]

Glad to hear that for the moment anyway everyone and their homes are okay.

Photos are the one thing I would miss most - but fortuantely about 80% of them are backed up on-line now. Still have a bunch of older ones to scan in.

[selawela]

Hey, everyone! The nightmare in Santa Clarita is now over! No flare-ups, no winds!

The horrible situation continues south of us in Orange County and San Diego. All of you down there, please take good care!

Sela

[Cmcburnett]

Sela great news. I'm so glad for you and your family.

[chas3stix]

Good news,Sela.
Glad to hear it. Any word how long it will be before you're allowed to go home?
Chas

[chas3stix]

Lee,
Happy to hear you're safe for the time being. I didn't know that Temecula was threatened.
What a nice place....and the vineyards....:)
Chas

[Teacher617]

So many forum friends in harm's way ... stay safe and let us know how you are faring. I'm just one state over in AZ, so if you need a place to lay your head ...

Tricia

[mom to 4]

Tricia:

What an incredibly kind offer! it's amazing how many of us feel so close to our "brothers" and "sisters" on this forum. Lets hope everyones home and belongings are safe!!!

God bless!

[selawela]

Tricia:

What an incredibly kind offer! it's amazing how many of us feel so close to our "brothers" and "sisters" on this forum. Lets hope everyones home and belongings are safe!!!

God bless!

Hi, Colleen: You said it perfectly, "It's amazing how many of us feel so close..."

You are 100 percent right!

Sela

[mom to 4]

Sela:

How are you holding up. I haven't gone through all the posts here yet. Have you heard anything about your home yet?

You are in my prayers, "sis"!

[quillabee9]

So glad to hear the winds are starting to die down and that everyone is safe. Be careful as the winds turn around and start coming back, even if at a lower velocity. Our prayers continue. God Bless.

[jazzfisher]

Hi all & thank you for all your thoughts!!!
They lifted the evac for my area today and I just got the computer back up & together. My direct next door neighbor stayed thru it-she said they could see the Del Dios fire (Witch Creek, I think) from our front lawn-it got within 2 miles of the house but through the firefighters hard work & the whim of nature-the house is still here.
I didn't sleep all Sunday night the wind was so strong, it reminded me of being in a tornado, sounded like a freight train, shook the house--except like a tornado it didn't pass through-it just kept going.
I stayed with a girlfriend in Oceanside (next to Camp Pendleton)-we could walk across the street to the ocean (figured I could jump in if the fire got that far). The Ocean & sky were very strangely colored due to all the ash--but the idiot surfers were out in droves--the top of the waves were tinged brownish-red & the air was filled with ashes--looked like a snow drift. Breathing here will not be good for a quite a while.
San Diego has handled evrything so smoothly-very few incidents even with so many people evacated. My sister also had to evacuate from Escondido to Temecula--but is home again.
Glad to hear all are safe.

[pixlbandit]

Among all the bad of the fires themselves, it is good to hear that you are well and that your home was not lost or damaged. I was just talking to one of my students tonight here in Orange County who had the Santiago fire come right up to his and his neighbors' back yards--scary. They can go home now but don't want to be there because there is still so much ash falling from ongoing burn areas to the north and east of them. May everyone return to some feeling of normalcy as soon as possible. The grass and the shrubs will return quickly, but I wonder how long it will be before there are any wildlife populations returning--although most people won't miss the gophers.
Vicki

[jordan]

May your family be kept safe from harms way.

[NMarti]

Sherry
I'm so glad to hear you are safe and your house was spared. Glad to have you back with us.

[jazzfisher]

Nancy,
Thank you! I'm back to work-but reality hasn't quite set in yet.
I took some photos-although I did not actually see any fire this time. I will see if I have anything worth posting later.

[jazzfisher]

Here's a few photos

http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/Go.aspx?AID=62468&AT=3&VID=186756&ABID=96357

[pixlbandit]

Oh, that sky and air is horrible, Sherry! Ours is bad enough that they closed our satellite campus today, but only a fraction of what your pictures show. You probably feel like you'll never get the smell out of your head.
Vicki

[jazzfisher]

Right now I have a terrible terrible headache from it. I'm staying indoors as much as possible--but there is really no escape. And I'm a "healthy" person imagine the children & elderly:(

[NMarti]

Sherry
Those are some fantastic - and frightening - shots. I would not last 1 hour in that smoke. I sure hope it clears soon.

[jazzfisher]

Well, the good news is that the winds are now coming from the west (wet & humid), the bad news is now they are blowing all the ash that was blown out to sea back over land again--combining with the ash we already have in the air.

[JulieM]

Sherry, those are amazing shots. The one of the helicopters flying over the surfers is really something. Thanks for sharing them...

[jazzfisher]

Julie,
We were so happy to see them, no planes could fly that first day & night--which could have made such a difference but it was too dangerous for them.
Anyone remember Apocolyse Now--that's exactly what it looked like--I didn't change any colors in those photos--that's what it was like in person

[selawela]

Glad you are home now, Sherry!

Take care,
Sela

[virgo1]

Sherry,
I'm so relieved my cyber twin is safe. Hopefully the air quality will improve soon. The photos are something else, scary.:eek:
Eva;)

[Jancy]

I just read all these posts and I cannot believe what you have all been going through. My thoughts are with you all. I am so glad to hear you are all safe! On a second note I cannot believe the amazing photos you all have taken during this time-just incredible. Please stay stafe and thinking of you all!!!
Jancy

[smiles]

Sherry, those pictures truely amazing and sobering! Please be safe out there, I haev been trying to keep up with the news to see how it is going out there. My prayers and thoughts to those effected bu this horrific event. Thanks for sharing those photo's.

[chas3stix]

Amazing photos Sherry. Glad you're okay. Thanks for the update.
Chas

[jazzfisher]

Thanks to my forum family for all the love & support from all of us here in So. Cal!:)