2008 Annual Fire Thread

[Not Afraid]

I was just getting caught up on what's going on out there.

Sylmar and Monticito are bad, but there's a newer fire in Anaheim Hills?Brea area. Plus. there are lots of road closures.

Southern California fire road closures * (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/sylmar-fire-roa.html)

1:24 PM, November 15, 2008
* Updated below, as of 1:24 p.m.
The fire burning in the Sylmar area is expected to jam traffic through the day in the San Fernando Valley and beyond. Here's what's closed now:
-- 5 Freeway closed at Newhall Pass. Vehicles taken off the freeway northbound at San Fernando Mission Boulevard and southbound in Santa Clarita.
-- 210 Freeway closed in both directions from 5 Freeway through Sylmar.
-- 118 Freeway connection roads closed at the 405 Freeway.
-- 405 Freeway closed at 118 Freeway.
-- 14 Freeway closed at Newhall Pass.
-- Metrolink train service in north Valley area.
-- 91 Freeway closed at Green River Parkway in Yorba Linda.
--57 Freeway jammed in Brea because of smoke.
Updated: More closures from Los Angeles Police Department Media Relations Officer Julianne Sohn via City News Service. Northbound from each of the following intersections:
Bledsoe Street and Foothill Boulevard; Filbert Street and Foothill Boulevard; Rinaldi Street and Woodley Avenue; Balboa Boulevard and San Fernando Street; Hubbard Street and Eldridge Avenue; Eldridge Avenue and Sayre Street; Shablow Avenue and Gavina Avenue; Gavina Avenue and Hubbard Street; Foothill Boulevard and Osborne Street; Rinaldi Street and Balboa Boulevard; Foothill (210) Freeway northbound off-ramp at Osborne Street; and Osborne Street north of Foothill Boulevard.

[Not Afraid]

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mph-fire-orange-2229875-county-beach

I just talked to Kevin and Susan. They are heading home now. The Brea fire is very near their house.

[Disneyphile]

They just left our place and are heading home. We just heard on the radio that the area just to the east of theirs is starting evacuations.

[JWBear]

I just heard that Brea HS has burned!

I talked to my Mom (who is Anaheim Hills). She's ok for now. She's at Anaheim Hills Rd and Nohl Ranch Rd.

I have a niece in Corona Hills. I haven't heard from her.

[Not Afraid]

Just talked to Kevin. They are heading home. The voluntary evac is about 100 yards from their house, but he's feeling pretty confident that they will be ok. He'll update more when the gets home.,

[Andrew]

It's very dark and smoky at DLR.

[Not Afraid]

All I can say is, MA is going to be a LOT of fun.....if smoke inhalation is your idea of fun.

[Disneyphile]

All I can say is, MA is going to be a LOT of fun.....if smoke inhalation is your idea of fun.If the air is still this bad tomorrow morning, there's a really good chance we'll be dropping out.

I can't go outside right now without hacking up a lung.

[Kevy Baby]

Just arrived home. The way the winds are blowing, we're in pretty good shape. Ironically, there isn't much smoke right at our house - we are in some strange pocket. I'm going to walk around a little bit to assess.

[Andrew]

All I can say is, MA is going to be a LOT of fun.....if smoke inhalation is your idea of fun.

As long as the parks are open tomorrow, we're going on as scheduled. Bring water, and breath masks might be advised.

[Kevy Baby]

I just heard that Brea HS has burned!No

The fire is in the hills around the HS, but the school grounds themselves are fine. Brea HS was just built a few years ago and the were built to very strict fire codes.

[Not Afraid]

I heard from Mouseygirl. All roads are closed from Bakersfield to LA exxcept one. She was on it. For 2 1/2 hours.

She turned around and drove home. She told me to tell anyone that will be in LB, that she will miss everyone tonight.

[Kevy Baby]

I just realized that Mickey Lumbo is very close to the fire zone (Yorba Linda). I tried calling him, but have not been able to connect. I may try to head over there if I don't hear from him.

[~MS~]

My prayers are with all of you dealing with the burn zones and the smoke filled air right now. Stay safe.

[Disneyphile]

The smoke's cleared up a bit hear in Garden Grove. I think the wind changed direction.

I can breathe again!

Well, mostly.

[JWBear]

The fire is very close to my mom, but they haven't evacuated yet.

[Betty]

We're in Corona and are within a few minutes driving distance from green river - but no smoke around us. we're on the "good" side of the wind so it's all blowing away from us. Thankfully.

[Disneyphile]

They just announced Kevin and Susan's area for evac on NBC4, and it's shown on the OCRegister map.
:(

[CoasterMatt]

5 Freeway through Newhall Pass is open again.

[Kevy Baby]

They just announced Kevin and Susan's area for evac on NBC4, and it's shown on the OCRegister map.
:(I don't think that map (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/maps-msa-spn-1899879-google-msid) is accurate as the description (on another page) says "East of St College and North of Lambert". We are West of St College.

Also, we have not heard any notifications.

Most of the fire is on the other side of the 57 freeway from us.

[Mousey Girl]

5 Freeway through Newhall Pass is open again.

It figures. I just got home.

Normally it would take me about 2-2 1/2 hours to get to the O.C. area. Today it took me that long just to get to the half-way point. It took over an hour and a half to get from Castaic to Piru & 126.

It was eerie seeing the thick, black smoke hovering on the hills behind Magic Mountain. By behind I mean looking south from the 5.

When sitting in traffic I watched several different fire companies heading towards the Selmar fire. The ones that I could read were from Sacramento & Oakland. There was also lots of heavy equipment being moved towards the fire.

I was really looking forward to seeing everyone tonight. I just couldn't continue. By the time I called NA I had been in the car for over 3 hours and had gone only 100 miles from my house.


The air around here is starting to get pretty smokey. We will be getting the smoke from the Montecito fire.

[Kevy Baby]

I just heard that Brea HS has burned!

I talked to my Mom (who is Anaheim Hills). She's ok for now. She's at Anaheim Hills Rd and Nohl Ranch Rd.

I have a niece in Corona Hills. I haven't heard from her.

No

The fire is in the hills around the HS, but the school grounds themselves are fine. Brea HS was just built a few years ago and the were built to very strict fire codes.A little update from the OC Register site (http://bnews.freedomblogging.com/category/2008-orange-county-fires/safety/category/2008-orange-county-fires/damage/):

Torched Brea Canyon High looks like ‘moonscape’
November 15th, 2008, 4:40 pm by Candice Shih, Staff Writer

Brea Canyon Continuation High School, at 689 Wildcat Way in Brea, was significantly damaged, according to reporter Cindy McNatt.

“It looks like a moonscape,” she said. “It’s completely blackened with white powder on top.”

All are the windows are broken, the computers are on, and the phones are ringing, she said.

The concrete brick building facing the street is burned, but the rear was not.
Nearby Brea Olinda High School was spared from the fire at its northern edge, according to reporter Jon Cassidy.

[bewitched]

Here's hoping for more favorable winds-- Stay safe.

[Betty]

Is everyone okay?

[Kevy Baby]

I'm watching the news before venturing out. Other than very brown skies outside, we appear to be unscathed.




Although I see that the inaugural Pasadena Marathon scheduled for today has been cancelled.

[lindyhop]

Good call. Have you see how bad the sky looks towards the mountains? Dark brown is not a color you want to breath.

[Kevy Baby]

I mapped MickeyLumbo's house against the fire areas in Yorba Linda, and it looks like he should be okay. I just wish he would call so I knew for sure.

Now we get to commute to Diamond Bar for Grandma's birthday. This should be an adventure.

[BarTopDancer]

My OC geography sucks - how far is La Habra from the fires? I know it's pretty close to Brea.

[wendybeth]

Yikes- this is really distressing. I always breathe a sigh of relief when fall hits up here, as the likelihood of fire greatly diminishes. I'm so sorry for everyone who is being affected by this, and I'm worried about all my friends in the literal line of fire. Stay safe, okay? (And thanks for keeping everyone updated.)

[Kevy Baby]

My OC geography sucks - how far is La Habra from the fires? I know it's pretty close to Brea.

La Habra is the next town to the west of Brea. It is safe from the fires._________________BTW, I spole with MickeyLumbo. His mom was evacuated and he was in a voluntary evac area. He was packed up and ready to move out, but didn't. I will post more when I get home.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I played a gig last night smack dab between the 57 and 91. It was smoky enough that street signs were hard to read from a distance. And today... I feel like utter crap. Besides the burning eyes and throat, which never really went away, I've also been enjoying these nice big waves of nausea all day.

The best part is that the gig was a surprise party in an industrial warehouse, which was akin to playing inside a bong. They were expecting about 150 people and about 20 actually showed up. And I suspect all 20 of us feel similarly today. Blech.

[madmonkeygirl]

Icky. So glad we decided to stay put today. The smoke is so bad that i am having a hard time breathing. I'm gonna plan on getting a mask tomorrow when i go to work. Yes i hardly ever complain about smoke etc but this is just too freakin much. I think that's why i have a headache all day too. Have the a/c on but still smells from smoke. It's raining ash. MouseyGirl glad you decided to turn around. Sorry you had to miss the party but they were saying that route 126 was a mess and the I-5.

Glad Kevy and Susan were spared and safe.

So tempted to go to a hotel near the ocean or something south if the air is this bad i need to freakin breathe. I do know that Westlake (I wanna say Four Seasons Hotel) accepts dogs. So hmm.....

[MickeyLumbo]

we are safe and out of danger -- and very, very thankful! it was a very frightning afternoon/night though.

MBC and DPhile: I hope you are feeling better soon and that all recover from the smoke asap!

KevyBaby: Thank you so much for your devoted friendship. you rock!

I have just completed a breathing treatment after putting the computer back together.

folks, you know how we all wonder what we would take in an emergency if we had mere minutes to decide? think about it again, and make a plan. moments of caos does not lend for clear thinking. deciding which precious MouseEars to bring with is crazy, yet after the essentials and portraits of Walt and SBCastle... i was busy throwing collectable "stuff" in the truck and deciding which was treasure and which was not "as much treasure".

I will spare all of the details as there are many... but, one stunning event left me very very amazed.

only minutes after loading the truck and being ready to flee, the phone rang. on the other end was a calm and reasuring voice. the DLR FD! they were doing a welfare check on CM's in the danger zone!

i am so impressed and proud of the mouse!


xoxo

ML

[madmonkeygirl]

Glad you are ok and safe. If i had time to consider it wouldn't be too hard but if they said "get out" then i'd only have time to grab the animals and that's what's important. Material things are just that material and you can replace them (not photgraphs etc) but lives are more important than everything else is what i say. I've exchanged pictures with some friends so all my BJ collection pictures etc wouldn't be gone for good. I know the fires in 2003 i did make a little pile of things just incase we were to be evacuated (those fires were worse than the Sesnon fire was). And i was prepared.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Lickey!! I'm so glad that you're not only safe, but you had a moment to tell us that you're safe. Whew. That's awesome that the mouse called to check on you- it's nice to know there is still some caring in the world.

I definitely second the thought to plan the evac ahead of time- when the call comes, you won't have time to think about it, most likely.

I hope everybody can stay out of the way of smoke and flame. It's looking pretty smokey outside, even here in Camarillo. The sunsets are pretty, though.

[Kevy Baby]

I've exchanged pictures with some friends so all my BJ collection pictures etc wouldn't be gone for good.Good to know your porn would still be intact!

[madmonkeygirl]

LOL Kevy not porn Bon Jovi sorry should have been more specific lol...bad me....now my secret is out just kidding lol

[MouseWife]

LOL Kevy not porn Bon Jovi sorry should have been more specific lol...bad me....now my secret is out just kidding lol


LOL I knew what you meant! LOL

I was telling my niece who lives just thisclose to the fire that I know how hard it is to decide. My rock memorabilia {um, Chris Cornell mostly} or my kids photos? Hmm. Well, honestly, last time we had to pack up, I packed the family photos first.

I am glad that everyone is safe {but, ML you haven't really said all is well with your house?} and sorry that some are suffering from the smoke and ash.

Oh, mmg, I hope that you can find a place by the ocean for some fresh air. I remember last years fire, when we went back to work the a/c still smelled like smoke because the ash was up there being filtered through. blech!

And, don't forget, they'll probably suggest that you get your air filters {or whatever filters} changed in you vehicles. Nice, last year, Saturn did it for free as well as the Volkswagon dealer {I think}. THAT is good customer appreciation.

I hope the winds stay down. They said it takes 8-12 hours or something like that to official be over? Something in the humidity? I might be mixing up two news reports....:blush:

[madmonkeygirl]

They were saying that even once the fire's are contained that the air will linger with this junk in it. Ughhh....i can do without all this crap in my lungs. No way will i smoke now no way. I won't touch that stuff since the ash and smoke from the fires are filling my lungs. Horrible. I need clean air to survive.

Yeah it is tough to decide what to take and what not to take. Animals first then laptop and some autographed stuff more than likely if given the chance to grab that much.

[MouseWife]

You have a great point that I learned about pets, being able to transport them. Our Kitty was a house cat and so I had to obtain a carrier.

[Moonliner]

I'm glad every one here is doing at least OK.

I'm sorry for those not so lucky. Good morning America interviewed Christopher Lloyd (aka Dr. Emmit Brown) from the charred remains of his home this morning.

[Kevy Baby]

{but, ML you haven't really said all is well with your house?}He is fine. He and I spoke for a while yesterday/

[Snowflake]

Glad to read everyone is okay. I caught some of the footage on the news and was horrified.

[madmonkeygirl]

Yes sad that Christopher Llyod's house was destroyed in the fire. But glad that he's ok. Watching the footage of the people going back to the Oakridge mobile home park to see what is left of the mobile homes it's sad.

[Morrigoon]

only minutes after loading the truck and being ready to flee, the phone rang. on the other end was a calm and reasuring voice. the DLR FD! they were doing a welfare check on CM's in the danger zone!

i am so impressed and proud of the mouse!

WOW.

I know that on Saturday when I was at the "WWYC" meeting, they said that if anybody was in the danger zone and had "more important things to do" than to be there, that it was okay and they should go ahead and take care of what's important rather than be sitting in that meeting.

...But I never expected they'd go to the extent that they did for you. Truly impressive!

[Kevy Baby]

Good morning America interviewed Christopher Lloyd (aka Dr. Emmit Brown) from the charred remains of his home this morning.That sucks that his beautiful Craftsman style house in Pasadena (http://www.gamblehouse.org/)burned down. I'm glad we got to have a swanking there before it was destroyed.

[JWBear]

That sucks that his beautiful Craftsman style house in Pasadena (http://www.gamblehouse.org/)burned down. I'm glad we got to have a swanking there before it was destroyed.

Do not fvcking scare me like that!!! I almost had a heart attack! :eek:

[Moonliner]

Ahhhh! That was the house used as Doc's place in Back to the Future movies right?

I get it now.


In the interview he mentioned "All the memorabilia" he never got around to storing properly. I wonder what bits of movie history were lost.

[Kevy Baby]

Do not fvcking scare me like that!!! I almost had a heart attack! :eek:Sorry :( I thought my PS (in the "reason for changing") was enough to cover.

In the interview he mentioned "All the memorabilia" he never got around to storing properly. I wonder what bits of movie history were lost.Not the Flux Capacitor - it is safe and available for purchase (http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/Back-To-The-Future-Flux-Capacitor-Replica___311677).

[Betty]

just saw an interview on tv... he had a collection of classical albums (not exactly sure what that means), many art books, and darn it... there goes my short term memory apparently.

[BarTopDancer]

He had your short term memory too?

Wow.


Seriously, that really sucks.

It really sucks for everyone. :(

[Snowflake]

just saw an interview on tv... he had a collection of classical albums (not exactly sure what that means), many art books, and darn it... there goes my short term memory apparently.


I read that to mean, in ancient technology, classical music lps.

Le sigh, I love today's convenience, but I can still feel myself twinge as I get close to the old side changes.....

[bewitched]

I'm glad to see that everyone here is safe and sound!

[Kevy Baby]

I'm glad to see that everyone here is safe and sound!Well, I'm sure how sound ANY of us are, but we are safe.

[JWBear]

A little late, I know... But I finally got copies of the pictures Bill took of the ash on our patio the Sunday morning after the worst of the fires.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Posted/IMG_4260.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Posted/IMG_4265.jpg

This table is under cover.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/Posted/IMG_4268.jpg