2008 Annual Fire Thread

[Mousey Girl]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

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:

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]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

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.