CA - Wind-Driven Thomas Fire Explodes to 31,000 Acres; 150 Structures Destroyed, 2017

[margarita25]

"Get prepared for wildfire before it strikes by following Ready, Set, Go!

Be Ready: Create and maintain defensible space and harden your home against flying embers.

Get Set: Prepare your family and home ahead of time for the possibility of having to evacuate.

Be Ready to GO!: Take the evacuation steps necessary to give your family and home the best chance of surviving a wildfire."

http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Ready-Set-Go-Campaign/

 

[margarita25]

"A number of agencies rushed to the area to help douse the fire including crews from*Camp Pendleton. About 700 firefighters are battling the blaze.

A number of firefighting aircraft were also dropping water and fire retardant on the flames throughout the day, and two helicopters were expected to continue into the night.

A helicopter leased by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. that can drop up to 2,650 gallons of water — the equivalent to five fire engines — was dispatched around noon to help fight the blaze.

The copter can be airborne within 15 minutes and takes only 45 seconds to refill its tanks, said SDG&E spokeswoman Helen Gao."

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-diego-county-fire-20171207-story.html

 

[FindHG]

IQuestion, how are you, what's the latest?

IQ I hope you're alright. Continued concern for you, your DH and neighbors. Good to see you here
((((((hugs))))))) :heartbeat:

Now evacuating portions of Fillmore as the OTHER side of the Thomas fire spreads.
MULTIPLE instances of arson today. WTF is wrong with People??? About noon some crazy person in a pickup through something on fire out of his truck window and started a brush fire in Moorpark. Like 2 miles from the only highschool and a middle school. My kids go there!!!
Now tonight, it seems that someone has been lighting trees on fire throughout Oxnard and El Rio. One of them was right on 101. As soon as one goes out, more trees a couple miles away catch on fire.
What horrible disregard for human life. I have not read back in the thread and have only glanced at the news...I saw a fire in SD I think earlier...all sleuths ok? IQ I never heard back and can't get you off my mind. Katy, how are your friends and family? I am going to volunteer somewhere this weekend so please let me know if I can help you first.
Margarita thank you so much for the updates and your care and concern.
Sending love to everyone.

Great to hear from you. I wonder what Foxfire would say about the arsonists you describe? Stay Safe!
((((((((hugs))))))))):heartbeat:

My sons paternal grandparents are elderly and in Oceanside. They are packed and ready to go. Sending love and (((((Hugs)))))) to all affected by these fires.

LaborDayRN
Wishing them safety and luck through this
:heartbeat:

 

[mistivon]

Now evacuating portions of Fillmore as the OTHER side of the Thomas fire spreads.
MULTIPLE instances of arson today. WTF is wrong with People??? About noon some crazy person in a pickup through something on fire out of his truck window and started a brush fire in Moorpark. Like 2 miles from the only highschool and a middle school. My kids go there!!!
Now tonight, it seems that someone has been lighting trees on fire throughout Oxnard and El Rio. One of them was right on 101. As soon as one goes out, more trees a couple miles away catch on fire.
What horrible disregard for human life. I have not read back in the thread and have only glanced at the news...I saw a fire in SD I think earlier...all sleuths ok? IQ I never heard back and can't get you off my mind. Katy, how are your friends and family? I am going to volunteer somewhere this weekend so please let me know if I can help you first.
Margarita thank you so much for the updates and your care and concern.
Sending love to everyone.

 

[margarita25]

(I feel so guilty being here in my comfie jammies in my own home eating a hot meal )

 

[Lilibet]

Now evacuating portions of Fillmore as the OTHER side of the Thomas fire spreads.
MULTIPLE instances of arson today. WTF is wrong with People??? About noon some crazy person in a pickup through something on fire out of his truck window and started a brush fire in Moorpark. Like 2 miles from the only highschool and a middle school. My kids go there!!!
Now tonight, it seems that someone has been lighting trees on fire throughout Oxnard and El Rio. One of them was right on 101. As soon as one goes out, more trees a couple miles away catch on fire.
What horrible disregard for human life. I have not read back in the thread and have only glanced at the news...I saw a fire in SD I think earlier...all sleuths ok? IQ I never heard back and can't get you off my mind. Katy, how are your friends and family? I am going to volunteer somewhere this weekend so please let me know if I can help you first.
Margarita thank you so much for the updates and your care and concern.
Sending love to everyone.

Thanks so much for checking in, mistivon. That’s horrible about the arsonists. Sickos!! Stay safe and thanks for whatever volunteer work you do. What a great attitude you have! Hugs!

 

[margarita25]

Thanks so much for checking in, mistivon. That’s horrible about the arsonists. Sickos!! Stay safe and thanks for whatever volunteer work you do. What a great attitude you have! Hugs!

Yes, those arsonists, saw it during NorCal too, infuriating!

 

[LaborDayRN]

Aw man, I hate to hear this, but I'm glad they are packed and ready to go! In the NorCal fires, Santa Rosa specifically, many people didn't have any warning.

raying:

Hugs LDRN! Hoping your son's grandparents will not be affected!

Thanks Margarita. They are able to go at a moments notice. They have important papers, medications and pictures ready.

 

[Lilibet]

(I feel so guilty being here in my comfie jammies in my own home eating a hot meal )

Yes. Jammies here too. I’m trying to figure out what time zone you’re in that you’d be eating a hot meal at 11:15 PST!!

 

[citigirl]

I'm late to this thread and have read only the first few pages and the last few pages - will try to catch up tomorrow. I am in Highland Park, which seems like one of the safest areas at the moment.

My heart goes out to those of you who have evacuated, or are afraid tonight. I have friends and family in all these affected areas, including the new ones near San Diego. The alarms that sounded on my cell last night scared the daylights out of me. My son lived in Lake View Terrace until last week, when he moved in here with me. I am so happy he is safe now (he's in college).

Are those of you in the area who haven't been affected feeling the need to prepare in some way?

 

[margarita25]

"Traffic was thick in the area. California Highway Patrol Officer Mary Bailer said drivers should avoid the area if they can.

“There are just miles of traffic on the 76, so if you don’t need to be on the 76, stay off of it,” she said.

The temperature in the area was about 80 degrees. Humidity was about four percent."

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-diego-county-fire-20171207-story.html

 

[LaborDayRN]

IQ I hope you're alright. Continued concern for you, your DH and neighbors. Good to see you here
((((((hugs))))))) :heartbeat:

Mistivon Hoping you're doing okay too.



LaborDayRN
Wishing them safety and luck through this
:heartbeat:

Thank you FindHG. Hopefully the evacuation will not extend to them, but I'm glad they are ready to go.

 

[mistivon]

I do, too, Margarita. Survivors guilt. I just need a breath. I have been the designated reporter lol for several FB groups and have been listening to the scanner round the clock for the last 72 hours. I need to step back...then I think how lucky I am to have the luxury to do that.
I feel guilty, also, because I was very involved in Mariahs case and then missed her viewing. I don't even know if there were more arrests...i feel like I've let her down too.
I just feel like I need to help. Now that my family is safe (barring a new and close fire) I want to do what I can to help anyone who needs it.
My heart just hurts.

 

[margarita25]

19,200 without power as winds kick up in San Diego
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-fi-outages-wildfire-20171207-story.html

"The number of residents left without power in the San Diego area grew throughout the day but appeared to level off Thursday evening as firefighters battled against the fast-moving Lilac Fire in North County that charred 4,100 acres and injured three civilians.

As of 8:08 p.m., San Diego Gas & Electric shut off the power for about 12,000 customers due to safety reasons as high winds and dry conditions have put the area at risk.In addition, another 7,200 in the SDG&E service territory are without electricity due to various conditions under investigation by the utility.The total of about 19,200 customers without power more than doubled between noon and 2:30 p.m. Thursday but remained steady into the evening hours.At 6:57 p.m., 576 customers in the Oceanside/ San Luis Rey/ Ocean Hills area had the power shut off. SDG&E crews estimated the electricity will remain down until Monday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m.Other areas affected included parts of Descanso, Pine Hills, and Buckman Springs as well as North County communities such as Valley Center, Santa Ysabel and Palomar Mountain.SDG&E’s*outage map*shows power shutoffs concentrated in the backcountry and North County areas but during the course of the day and part of the night, some outages were reported in more urban areas.Shortly before 3 p.m. more than 5,000 in the Torrey Pines/Sorrento Valley/University City lost power but by 5:30 p.m. the area was not listed on the SDG&E outage map.The story was similar for more than 2,800 customers in the Fletcher Hills/El Cajon, Santee/Carlton Hills area whose power was cut at 2:54 p.m. But by 5:30 p.m. the area was not listed on the SDG&E outage map."

 

[mistivon]

((LabordayRN))

 

[margarita25]

(Speaking above of utilities, this came up in NorCal, from a liability aspect.)

 

[margarita25]

I do, too, Margarita. Survivors guilt. I just need a breath. I have been the designated reporter lol for several FB groups and have been listening to the scanner round the clock for the last 72 hours. I need to step back...then I think how lucky I am to have the luxury to do that.
I feel guilty, also, because I was very involved in Mariahs case and then missed her viewing. I don't even know if there were more arrests...i feel like I've let her down too.
I just feel like I need to help. Now that my family is safe (barring a new and close fire) I want to do what I can to help anyone who needs it.
My heart just hurts.

I had the opportunity to talk to a family member (brother) extensively post fires who was in Santa Rosa during all of it (yes, I never divulged this on WS at the time.) He told me the same thing, about having survivor's guilt, how he wished/feels like he should have knocked on more people's doors, driven by and "honked his horn" more...

 

[mistivon]

I'm late to this thread and have read only the first few pages and the last few pages - will try to catch up tomorrow. I am in Highland Park, which seems like one of the safest areas at the moment.

My heart goes out to those of you who have evacuated, or are afraid tonight. I have friends and family in all these affected areas, including the new ones near San Diego. The alarms that sounded on my cell last night scared the daylights out of me. My son lived in Lake View Terrace until last week, when he moved in here with me. I am so happy he is safe now (he's in college).

Are those of you in the area who haven't been affected feeling the need to prepare in some way?

Everyone I know from Thousand Oaks to Northridge have a go bag packed. A fire can start anywhere, any second. Since now we see how quickly things can go bad, I think everyone sleeps with one eye open. Where is Highland Park?

 

[margarita25]

Winds to turn onshore Friday, complicating the battle against Lilac fire
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/weather/sd-me-lilac-onshores-20171207-story.html

"Tfirefighters who are battling the Lilac wildfire in the Bonsall area will have to cope with wildly swirling winds on Friday due to a change in the weather.

The wildfire was spread on Thursday afternoon by Santa Ana winds out of the east. On Friday, the Santa Anas will collide with newly forming winds out of the west.

“The collision of these winds could make things very swirly for the firefighters,” said Mark Moede, a weather service forecaster.

“The west wind will reach the coast at about 10 a.m. Friday, and they should begin blowing across the Lilac-Bonsall areas about 1 p.m. The onshores will only be blowing 8-16 mph, but that’s still enough to spread a wildfire.”

Moede also said that, “While the winds will be weaker across much of the county, they will still be strong on Friday morning in parts of East County, like Sill Hill, where they blew at 88 mph on Thursday. There will still be strong winds along eastern Interstate 8.”

A red flag warning will remain in effect until late Sunday, meaning that the county will experience a full week of Santa Ana winds — something forecasters regard as a “once-in-a-decade” event."

 

[margarita25]

Series of earthquakes hits inland San Diego County
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-earthquakes-san-diego-20171207-story.html

"Inland San Diego County has experienced a series of small earthquakes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Julian area was hit by a 4.0 magnitude quake Wednesday afternoon, followed by a 3.0 quake and two 3.6 quakes. The latest one occurred at 2:32 a.m. Thursday."