Da Goddess

Day 4 of the San Diego Fires

As of last night, I hadn't heard from a couple of the cops I know. One lives in an area that was under attack from the Cedar Fire. Today, still nothing. I keep hoping that his home is safe and that he is too. Most likely, he's been at work since this began. Hopefully, he wasn't one of those out fighting the fires with nothing more than a mask for protection.

Jim the paramedic/firefighter worked 32 hours battling the blaze before getting a chance to sleep for 6. He went back out after that rest break to help fight the walls of fire all across the county. He's been trucked from area to area to try and help contain what could be contained. This morning, my friend Sandi called to tell me she was able to go pick him up and bring him home for (maybe) a day of rest. He'll be back out again, in harm's way, all too soon. Thankfully, Jim still has a home to which he can return. One fireman lost his house while he was out on the firelines.

The air has cleared quite a bit in my neighborhood, though there's still enough smoke and ash blowing around to make breathing difficult. I'm carrying around my inhalers. I meant to grab a mask from work last night on my way out, but I figured there would be others who needed them more.

Local hospitals are still operating under state the emergency disaster plan, though gradually, more procedures are being performed. The basic idea is to keep as many resources available because of continually changing conditions.

The winds are coming, predominantly, from the west, but as I sit here and watch the trees outside, I can see them bend and blow in every direction from time to time.

I went to pick up my son this morning. As I drove over the hill and into Poway (all of a mile), there were thicker pockets of smoke. Some seemed oppressive at times. After grabbing Little Dude, we stopped at my sister's to drop off some things and to check in with them. My dad wasn't there and I promised my sister I would go check on him.

At my dad's house, which had been evacuated on Sunday, I could see a hill not more than 150 yards away - scorched. Houses down at the end of the main cross street leading to my dad's burned on Sunday. One of them, the home bought by some former neighbors from Mira Mesa. They had serious damage to their home. For some, like Sgt. Mom's folks, they lost everything.

Driving up the road to return home, we passed areas that were completely black and gray.

Up in High Valley, one of the areas in Poway that was engulfed in flames on Sunday night, Tooth Rock was surrounded by nothing but destruction. From the memory banks came recollections of 4 wheeling up to the rock and drinking and making out late at night. Other kids won't be doing that for quite a long time now. I don't know what's become of the homes in that area, I didn't drive back there. I saw Tooth Rock from a road to the west. I didn't go into those areas because I don't belong there. I don't know people back there anymore and I'd only add to the congestion and confusion.

I can tell you that San Diego Gas and Electric crews are out and working diligently to restore power to areas still without. We saw them everywhere.

Up into the mountains, some towns no longer exist. Cuyamaca, where I camped frequently as a Girl Scout, is gone. GONE. Not just a collection of businesses and houses, Cuyamaca was home to spectacular wilderness. Wildlife regularly wandered through campgrounds and yards of local citizens.

Once, when I was camping there, we had a mountain lion walk through our camp. It wasn't concerned with any of us humans. Deer, on the periphery of camp, scattered at the sight of the big cat, which caused the cat to set off on a chase. It was amazing to watch. That won't be happening again there for a couple of years.

While we, down here in the suburbs, now have cleaner air to breathe and are no longer in danger of flames consuming everything in sight, others to the south, east, and north of us are fleeing their homes amid the black smoke and heat of the fire.

The one thing that holds true in this situation, no matter where the fire strikes, one's fortune is influenced by fickle winds.

Please be safe. Stay indoors. Drink lots of fluids. Evacuate when you're told. If you're under voluntary evacuation at the moment, or think you might be, pack up the cars and trucks NOW. Don't wait. Take the word VOLUNTARY to mean "Get out while you can - before the rush."

Just now, at 2:15pm, three one firefighters have has been reported dead and several others injured. Shifting winds blew the fire right back on them as they worked one ridge of the fire up near Julian/Santa Ysabel/Wynola. Up until now, we've been remarkably lucky to have not lost any rescue workers. Please keep their families and coworkers in you thoughts and prayers.

2:34pm, Ramona's being evacuated again due to shifting winds.

4:10pm, Navy, fire dept. and county 'copters dropping water on hot spots on I-15 at Miramar Rd.

4:45pm, my friend Deputy Dawg called to let me know he was home and safe. Fire burned within 75 feet of his home. Like everyone working the fires, he's exhausted.

6:50pm, spoke with a friend whose son was just relieved from the fireline. He's safe and resting for a few hours.

Today's 4 or 5 photos are up in Greg's gallery since mine doesn't work.

Lt. Citizen Smash still has the most complete list of updates on his site.

Emese Gaal has some stunning photos up as well as links to all the San Diego bloggers' photos of the fires.

Joe Crawford has a list of all San Diego Bloggers doing a little fire blogging.

Map of burned/burning areas - updated at 10am today.

Need help with cleaning up all that ash once it stops falling?

City of San Diego Emergency Fire Information

The American Red Cross advises that persons wishing to donate money to the fire disaster relief fund can call 1-800-HELPNOW or log on to its web site. The Red Cross is not set up to accept donations of food.

Why are these fires so hard to control? Click on that link for a detailed, interactive look at what's involved in fighting wildfires.

Posted by DaGoddess at October 29, 2003 02:35 PM