No fires "near" Marcie, from what I know.

The winds are so strong that if you live within 2-3 miles of an active fire, AND you live near any open vegetation, you need to be concerned because ashes/hot embers are triggering new fires. The fire nearby me, called the Santa Rosa Valley Fire, is contained and the wind is blowing the smoke the other way now but the smell is thick.

The roads in Malibu are closed so the traffic is diverted onto the Ventura Freeway - which is our main route in/out of our area.

It's going to be a wild and wooly week with high temperatures, dry conditions and lots of wind.

We all need to get together and pray, do a rain dance or whatever is needed to bring rain and calms the winds!

We are in the midst of a severe drought, but thankfully no fires. I can't begin to imagine how very frightening this has to be for all of you and your families/friends/animals. The smoke seeping in your homes has to be awful in itself.

Stay safe and please check in when you can! :hug:

This is just so bizarre. I am sorta in between Kathy and Denise and its not even windy here! I hear there are fires now burning in Ontario but no smoke here. Thoughts and prayers to all of you experiencing the fires, just stay safe.
--------------
Helen

Unbelievable. It's so windy & ashy but the scene with these fixed wing firefighting planes (thank you Quebec, Canada) along with about 6 helicopters is a wild sight. We heard that many units from Malibu are here & Malibu is still a mess. The problem is the fact that the high winds are relentless & cause flare-ups miles apart. We are so thankful for this incredible effort from the firefighters & pilots.

Hearing that Rancho Bernando is being hit with fire storms in San Diego County. Very sad.

We continue to hang in here...if only the winds would stop!!
Thank you all for "being here" for us.

San Diego sounds really bad right now. CNN is reporting 250,000 have evacuated in San Diego county. I work at the OC Fairgrounds and we are receiving evacuated horses and other animals from our colleagues at the SD Fairgrounds, which is at capacity, as well as a few from our local area.

For those asking about Fullerton - my parents live a few blocks from Marcie and all is well in that area.

Dena

Thinking about all of you and your animals and houses.

There was a piece on 60 Minutes last night about the fire-fighters in the west, and how they are all believers in global warming. That the fires high in the mountains are getting worse because the snow cover isn't lasting as long.

Very sad, stay safe.

Michele and Don and all the SOCAL LCTers.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We hope the winds die down and that the firefighters can make some progress. We are with you in spirit and know that we wish you all a safe outcome.
John and Kathy

Just heard from my daughter in San Diego. Several of her co-workers have lost their homes this morning from the fire storms & haven't heard from all of their family members. According to her company's emergency broadcast network, "Parts of San Diego County are in a state of rescue." Qualcomm Stadium already has 10,000 evacuees & increasing. (250,000 folks out of their homes, as Dena said.) My heart goes out to all of you in San Diego going through this.

My thoughts and prayers for all of you; it must be terrifying!

Is Todd affected also?

Our prayers are with y'all as well. We have been keeping a close eye on all of this. Not only do we have all our LCT friends, but our relatives and other friends are also spread across SOCAL from Malibu to San Diego!!! Yikes! It is heartbreaking to see what is going on!

The photos on CNN and FOX are horrifying! Please be safe, good wishes and prayers coming your way!!

We have never experienced a fire but I don't think that anything could be worse. The bottom floor of our house was flooded a few years ago but that was easy to replace.My daughter lives in Santa Barbara and they have smoke and ashes there.I feel so terrible for you people and what you are going through.

All of our thoughts and prayers are with you in this terrifying time.

Is the fire near the San Diego Wild Animal Park? My ignorance of SoCal geography is sad.

It's a wonderful place. I'm still sending good thoughts your way.

Oh my, Just catching up. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Please, please take care.

I am praying constantly, and thinking about all of you!

Laurie -

Hard to tell where the San Diego fire is actually...they are evacuating 250,000 and it's near Poway and Escondido and Rancho Santa Fe.

The local news is unbelievable here. People are walking around numb because even the fire departments are helpless. There is just not enough manpower.

My neighbor is a Fireman, stationed in Malibu but he's assigned to the Canyon Country fire. One of our clients flies the fire helicopters for LA City and he's up there but the fire is officially in LA County. We're waiting to hear from Frank's son, he's a Captain and he's probably being assigned out of his area.

I watched some helicopters pick up water on the way into work from a reservoir to work on the Malibu fire.

Denise, please know that you and Alan (and everyone affected) are also in our thoughts and prayers. These winds are amazing. There is now a fire in Arrowhead. Even though we are a safe distance from all the fires, we can "taste" and smell the smoke. I can just imagine how it is for everyone who is closer. Take care!

LOTS of prayers going out to our neighbors to the West. I just cannot believe how quickly this has escalated. Please stay safe and know that we are praying for you!!!

New fire now...heading from Michelle's fire to my area...geez...ENOUGH!

Lauri, your geography sense is on target! I heard earlier that one of the SD fires has been close to the Wild Animal Park and that they've evacuated some of the birds, condors, and small animals. What I heard is that they feel the large animals will be safe remaining in the park, as there is not a lot of dry brush and there are several ponds. I'm sure hoping for a good outcome for the WAP as well as all of those affected in San Diego.

Dena

Oh, I hope all the beautiful animals are OK. I so loved the WAP when my daughter were there a few years ago.

First, Alan and I wish to express heartfelt thanks for all the caring and concered posts and emails. The outpouring of LCT wishes and prayers for not only us, but everyone affected here in SOCAL, is tremendous and so greatly appreciated.

The winds in our, and Dena/Grant's, area have calmed considerably, I am so pleased to report. However, more winds are expected throughout SOCAL in the next day or two and new fires are starting in so many areas that it boggles the mind and shocks the senses when you see the blazes on the news. Greater relief is expected mid to end of the week, thank goodness!

Holding our LCT friends in our hearts and prayers that each of us comes out of this safe and unaffected.

Thank you so much!

Stevenson Ranch (Valencia-Santa Clarita) here is on fire. Firemen have been battling it like crazy for 2 hours now. Winds are horrific. I counted 3 fixed wings & 4 helicopters & they are winning the battle! (editing to add: If only the rest of the area fires would calm down...)Kathy, you're probably getting the smoke from this. It's still burning strongly. I know you all are tired of reading this. I keep saying, "This should be over within 24 hours.....if only the winds would STOP."

San Diego is a pitiful story. Messages from my daughter are so sad. Friends displaced, houses lost, animals in cars, horses & more horses, dogs leashed & snarling in Qualcomm Stadium, all getting helped but oh such a mess#&*!

Good news: The popular "ambassador" cheetah was safely evacuated from Wild Animal Park.
Adding, oh so good to hear from you, Denise!

Michele I doubt anyone here is tired of reading about the fires...please keep us posted on the status. My prayers go without ceasing for all of you!!! May the winds calm soon!!!! :hug:

Ditto Sue! My SoCal geography is really sorry, so will only know when we hear from you all!

Michele - NEVER tired of hearing about all of you - have son in SM we were worried sick - he is very calm -

Same here Michelle, please keep us posted. Back here in DC we get scant news, and few pictures and thats about it, no details. THanks for providing those. This is just so sad and we are worried about all our SOCAL LCT friends.

Hi Michele,

Good hearing from you, too, my friend! Please continue to remain safe. Hopefully and mercifully, calm will come soon.

It was just reported on World News that this is the worst fire disaster in San Diego history. Such frightening footage of that county, Stevenson Ranch and Lake Arrowhead. No part of SOCAL has skirted nature's wrath in one way or another.


Alan and I send lots of love and hugs to you and Don :hug:

Santa Monica is in absolutely no danger; The Malibu Fire is not even near Santa Monica. The north end of Malibu is what is burning - 10 miles north of Santa Monica.

The Santa Monica Mountains (which are not really in Santa Monica) are most in Danger but that will burn into Agoura/Calabasas/Westlake Village - the fire is burning north. The Stevenson Ranch/Corral/Santa Clarita fires are burning on the northern front of Los Angeles County into Ventura County - moving West. The Valencia/Magic fire is expected to burn towards Simi Valley/Oak Park/Moorpark/Thousand Oaks.(West and South)

The streets are somewhat empty. Businesses are closing - the air here is quite smokey and breathing affected.

There are 14 fires burning. 310 Square Miles Burned (from the news). Weather is expected to heat up tomorrow by 10 degrees at least.

In San Diego, the largest number of people are affected and being evacuated. Entire towns and communities;

Over 100 homes are lost in Lake Arrowhead and looters have been seen up there. People are being really stupid by not heeding evacuation orders.

Malibu just grounded all the planes and aerial fight.

The larger animals are the ones suffering; There is literally no space for them in many of the areas. The college near my office is housing horses from both Santa Clarita/Valencia and Malibu - the horse paddocks are full but they are tying them to the fences if you can get them there. They have a farm program. They will take other large animals if the ycan be transported

It's been too windy in a lot of areas to fight the fires aerially with the planes.

Michelle, your area has been lucky they could get the fixed wing craft up. When it gets dark they can't fly - too dangerous.

It's beyond belief if you were listening to the local news.

Wow Kathy. The fixed wings are still flying right now here for Stevenson Ranch. I guess they can see from the sunset/fire light being cast off. Loud engines overhead. Yes, this is all beyond belief.

Michele,

I had heard on the news on Sun. that many, if not all of these pilots are volunteers. They use night vision equipment. When swooping down closer towards the flames, it's so intense; the night vision equipment is able to flip up at that point and then go back into place, enabling the pilot to once again navigate in total darkness. These highly qualified pilots determine and choose just how late they will make these swoops.

The risk factor is incredible.

You know, Denise, THAT explains it! Don & I have been wondering how in the world these pilots in the fixed wings AND helicopters can do this & do it at night VOLUNTARILY. We heard that it's up to them - strictly their own choice to go for it. Unbelievable. We are seeing it before our bloodshot tired eyes right now. I'm so impressed & thankful for these pros!! I wish they would go to San Diego too!

They truly risk their lives to save so many. Selfless, brave and amazing individuals.

Amen.

I am shocked by the extent of the fires this season. I have lived in LA and seen what the Santa Ana winds can do, but this is unbelievable. All my lCT friends, please stay safe. I will be praying for all of you who are in the 4 county area.
Lynn

Michele.........

Never tire of hearing that our friends are safe.... albeit stressed out beyond belief. Please keep the info coming as long as you can SAFELY do it.
xoxoxo

There is nothing quite like this lct community. If the power of positive thinking has any effect, it certainly has it here, from the lctr's throughout the country straight down to southern cal.

Michelle & Don, Alan & Denise, Grant & Dena, Marcie & Tom, Kathy & Frank,

Marc and I are thinking about you and hope the best for all of you. I cannot imagine the fear you must be feeling. Please keep us posted and let us know your status as you can.

Years ago when we were in Florida there were great fires there and I can remember standing outside, seeing the embers floating all around and the smell of the smoke. As scary as it was, we didn't have a home in the way, like many of you all do. I simply cannot imagine being there and being able to do nothing but wait and see.

It is difficult to get news over here and I have been searching the internet for maps of the fires but can't find any. (Probably the fires are moving and changing so fast they can't even prepare maps.)

One of the areas of San Diego that is burnning used to be "my neck of the woods" when I lived there. It is so sad to see. I saw on the internet that 29 school disctricts are closed in San Diego County. So very very sad.

Hi Arlene,

I saw this site mentioned on CC today and with your limited coverage in Tokyo, thought it might be useful. I only glanced at it.

www.inciweb.org