Huge Fire In Malibu (ca) *merged threads*

[JBean]

We're pretty close to each other. It's whipping up out there. I just talked to my friends in Irvine. They could see the flames earlier by Northwood.

I was at a nursery on Portola and the 241 yesterday tagging trees for my yard. I wonder if they will even be there or if they are in the fire area?

 

[PaperDoll]

Hubby and I just got back from Las Vegas today and the winds were fierce driving through the El Cajon Pass all the way to the 241 toll road. We are having winds where I live.

I noticed we have a fire somewhere near my area. I could smell it while at the grocery store. I haven't checked much on these fires, nor have I read much of this thread. I just wanted to report the winds were brutal..

 

[JBean]

Hubby and I just got back from Las Vegas today and the winds were fierce driving through the El Cajon Pass all the way to the 241 toll road. We are having winds where I live.

I noticed we have a fire somewhere near my area. I could smell it while at the grocery store. I haven't checked much on these fires, nor have I read much of this thread. I just wanted to report the winds were brutal..

HI PD. Fire on the 241 at Portola..you probably were very close to it.

 

[Gina_M]

I'm in Brea and it is very windy and hazy outside. I, too, hope it doesn't get like it did in 2003 - it was so smoky I could barely breathe! Prayers for everyone close to the fires.

 

[Jaded]

My friend lives in the canyon and they are watering their house down. She said there are no fire trucks there as they are all in Malibu. They are supposed to call every hour so we know that they are okay. They haven't been ordered to evacuate yet, and she said they think an arsonist may have started the fires there. It's a bad situation. She can hear other homes implode from the heat of the fire.

 

[Ca-Sun]

My friend lives in the canyon and they are watering their house down. She said there are no fire trucks there as they are all in Malibu. They are supposed to call every hour so we know that they are okay. They haven't been ordered to evacuate yet, and she said they think an arsonist may have started the fires there. It's a bad situation. She can hear other homes implode from the heat of the fire.

Which canyon, Jaded? So many fires, so much area. My daughter had to evacuate not long after the fire broke out in SD. Now we are all hoping that she will have a home to return to. It's so scary.

 

[lilpony]

It has been horrible where I live. It has been so horribly windy. It's like a fog of DIRT. It's so gross. You don't dare go outside. Do not open windows or doors or you house will be full of dirt. It's bad!

 

[Jaded]

Which canyon, Jaded? So many fires, so much area. My daughter had to evacuate not long after the fire broke out in SD. Now we are all hoping that she will have a home to return to. It's so scary.

The canyons off the 5 where the huge wreck and fire were in the tunnel. She called about an hour ago and the winds are so bad that they blew a cast iron grill across her yard. Her hubby is hosing down the house - he doesn't want to leave yet, so she has promised to keep us posted all night. They are going to sleep in shifts tonight.

 

[Ca-Sun]

The canyons off the 5 where the huge wreck and fire were in the tunnel. She called about an hour ago and the winds are so bad that they blew a cast iron grill across her yard. Her hubby is hosing down the house - he doesn't want to leave yet, so she has promised to keep us posted all night. They are going to sleep in shifts tonight.

Thanks. I didn't realize the winds were that bad. I hope your friend continues to be safe and doesn't have to evcuate.

 

[KrisNine]

I was at a nursery on Portola and the 241 yesterday tagging trees for my yard. I wonder if they will even be there or if they are in the fire area?

OC Register is saying that some nurseries were burned. Hicks Canyon. Looks like they are claiming the fire has been contained near Irvine, but it's still burning elsewhere.

 

[Ca-Sun]

JBean, Mama, lilpony, PaperDoll, Gina_M, KrisNine and everyone else in So. CA - I hope you are, and continue to be, safe. From the sounds of it, no matter where you are, the conditions aren't very good because of the winds, smoke and fires.

 

[KrisNine]

Thanks, Ca-Sun :blowkiss:

 

[CaliKid]

The Witch Creek fire on Hwy. 78 between Ramona and Santa Ysabel started this morning and has burned 8000 acres. They believe the fire started from downed power lines but the cause is under investigation. Structures and homes have burned, but the winds are so eratic they can't fight the fire from the air.

It has broken into two flanks, the southern pushing into southern Poway, the northern burning towards San Pasqual and Escondido. The ENTIRE city of Ramona (population 10,000 city and 30,000 in the outskirts, including San Diego Country Estates) is under mandatory evacuation order.

Ramona is in San Diego County's eastern backcountry and is all canyons and foothills with difficult, brushy terrain. We have very low humidity of under 10%. Winds are blowing at 45 mph w/ 60 mph gusts. Many horses and other animals have been rounded up, but the fire is burning so fast many had to be left. Santa Ana conditions are expected to continue until Wednesday morning, and this could turn into a major disaster along the lines of the Cedar fires of 2003 that burned 2200 homes.

 

[Gina_M]

How sad! Prayers for everyone in Ramona.

I've been thinking of moving somewhere a bit more rural, but out here it seems that rural areas are so prone to fires.

 

[Shazza]

Just been watching the fires on our news, prayers to all who live there, and to all the firefighters, hope the wind dies down so they can get the fires under control, prayers also to anyone from WS who live in the area.

 

[Bubble1421]

I live in Canyon Country near Camp Plenty & Soledad Canyon Rd. We didn't think we were close enough to the fires but out of no where the smoke started to get really thick. We started throwing things in boxes and in the cars with the rest of the neighbors. Within about 20-30 minutes of the thick smoke, some guy came down the street blaring his horn to let us know the fire was on the hill basically in our backyard. We threw the kids in the car and left. So far, the last I heard, our house was still ok. How it missed us, I don't know. There were 30-40 feet of flames shooting straight up over the houses as we left. I thought for sure our house was gone. We still aren't allowed back in the neighborhood though. What really upsets me through out all of this is that not once did the fire department or the police department come by to tell us to evacuate. Had the guy not come down the street honking, a lot of people wouldn't even have known to leave. No phone calls came, no loud speaker warnings.... nothing. My husband & sister stayed behind to water down the houses. They put out several fires on the hill side with the hoses. Not once did any fire truck come down in the neighborhood when the fire was approx 200 feet from the houses. 2 and a half hours later, one truck finally shows up. Then shortly after that, about 30 police cars came in the neighborhood forcing a mandatory evacuation. I am praying our house is still standing in the morning. At least my family is safe at this point. That is all that really matters. Everything else is replaceable.

 

[Ca-Sun]

That's really scary Bubble. I hope your home is waiting for you in the morning! My daughter had to evacuate too and she doesn't know if her home is still there or not. It's really hard to know what it is like until you experience it. I wish nobody ever had to know what it is like.

 

[Gina_M]

What we really need is a warning system like they have in the midwest for tornadoes. They have sirens permanently set up in certain locations, and if there is a tornado warning in the area, the sirens start blaring. It is extremely loud...you can't miss it! I think we should have that for the fires out here. Does this exist in any of the areas with high risk of fire?

Bubble - glad your family is safe! Hope your house is okay too.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

I live in Canyon Country near Camp Plenty & Soledad Canyon Rd. We didn't think we were close enough to the fires but out of no where the smoke started to get really thick. We started throwing things in boxes and in the cars with the rest of the neighbors. Within about 20-30 minutes of the thick smoke, some guy came down the street blaring his horn to let us know the fire was on the hill basically in our backyard. We threw the kids in the car and left. So far, the last I heard, our house was still ok. How it missed us, I don't know. There were 30-40 feet of flames shooting straight up over the houses as we left. I thought for sure our house was gone. We still aren't allowed back in the neighborhood though. What really upsets me through out all of this is that not once did the fire department or the police department come by to tell us to evacuate. Had the guy not come down the street honking, a lot of people wouldn't even have known to leave. No phone calls came, no loud speaker warnings.... nothing. My husband & sister stayed behind to water down the houses. They put out several fires on the hill side with the hoses. Not once did any fire truck come down in the neighborhood when the fire was approx 200 feet from the houses. 2 and a half hours later, one truck finally shows up. Then shortly after that, about 30 police cars came in the neighborhood forcing a mandatory evacuation. I am praying our house is still standing in the morning. At least my family is safe at this point. That is all that really matters. Everything else is replaceable.

OMG, Bubble! Thank God you got out when you did! My prayers are with you and everyone else affected by the fires. Everyone, please stay safe and be proactive like Bubble. One thing that's stuck in my head since Katrina is that you absolutely cannot trust the government to help you in a severe crisis.

I spent several years living in Orange County, back in the 80's and have many fond memories of CA and my CA friends. Prayers to all...

 

[JBean]

Good Morning all..what a mess everywhere

Orange County fire consumes about 4,000 acres

400 firefighters are battling flames threatening Irvine, Tustin.



BY THE NUMBERS
As of 1:25 a.m. Monday

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Where: Originated at Santiago Canyon and Silverado Canyon. Burned through Hicks Canyon toward Jeffery and Portola, now wind-driven in a south-westerly direction.
Road closures: Portola is closed between Jamboree and the 241 toll road; Jamboree between Chapman and Portola, northbound Irvine Boulevard all intersections; and 241 at Portola.
Acres burned: 3,800
Containment: 5 percent
Full containment expected: unknown
Full control: unknown.
Firefighters on scene: 400-plus
Aircraft: unknown
Cost to fight fire: Unknown.
Injuries: none
Structures burned: None.
Homes evacuated: No mandatory evacuations at this time. Residents of Orchard Hills and Portola Springs areas and the street of Amberhill in Irvine; Tustin north of Tustin Ranch Road and Pioneer; and the Lemon Heights and Cowan Heights (east of Newport Boulevard and Skyline Drive) areas may voluntarily evacuate to Lakeview Senior Center or El Modena High School. Horses can be evacuated to the Orange County Fair Grounds. Other residents are asked to stay at home with windows and doors closed.
Cause: Unknown.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/toll-road-county-1901269-orange-canyon[/FONT]