San Diego County wildfires

[Budsters Mom]

Hello angels,

Several large fires and many small ones are raging out of control in the County of San Diego. Many homes have been lost and many more are threatened. I can see the smoke from my house, but right now we are safe. Fire is heading toward my area from three directions. All schools in San Diego County have been closed for tomorrow and probably Friday. I will not be reporting to work tomorrow. San Diego County has been declared a state of emergency. Please pray for the many people who have lost their homes and are staying in evacuation centers. One is a few miles from me.

Kathy

[Robert]

Praying for them and all others in troubles way.

[labblab]

Oh me too, Kathy! I am so worried for your family -- please keep us updated as you can throughout the day.

Marianne

[mytil]

Oh Kathy,

Also from me as well. This is horrible. Please be safe and check in when you can.

Terry

[Squirt's Mom]

Hope all remains well with your family and home. Please check in when you can.

[Budsters Mom]

I just lost a very long update when I tried to post it.:o

Anyway, we are fine for now. Air quality is bad. There is ash flying everywhere.

Weather calls for high (Santa Anna) winds and temps from 104-106 today. Very dangerous conditions. Most of the fires remain 0% contained. More fires are expected to erupt today.

Many displaced pets and wildlife unable to escape. :o

Very tired, up all night watching the news and going outside to watch for flames on the mountains. We are surrounded by very dry mountains on three sides. :o

More later.

[Budsters Mom]

It's a 106 degrees right now. :eek::eek::eek:The power grid is overworked and has been surging off and on for the last few hours. If we lose power, we lose our AC and it's damn hot!!! At least we have AC, so we are better off than many.

The fires rage on. The smoke doesn't seem to be worsening, so that is hopeful. Rosie is oblivious to all the turmoil. She is just thrilled that I'm home with her today. Crazy little monkey girl! :)

Love you all,
Kathy

[addy]

Oh no I hope you are ok and I hope Sonja is ok too:eek::eek::eek::eek:

[Harley PoMMom]

Tons of prayers being said and sent for you and the people of San Diego. Please do let us know how you are doing, when you can.

Love and hugs, Lori

[mcdavis]

Praying for you, your family and all those affected. I hope they manage to get control of things soon.

Pleased to hear that little Rosie is doing well and not worried.

Stay safe

[mytil]

Oh Kathy,

Praying you and yours continue to be safe. Are you thinking of evacuating at this point? Watched on the news, very bad situation.

T.

[apollo6]

thank you all for posting about the fires. We have over 9 fires throughout the county. I am not near the fires, but it could change.
Over 13,000+ have been evacuated. Some homes have been lost.
They have shelters for pets, dogs, etc. horses. grateful for that.
We need your prayers.
Sonja

[Budsters Mom]

So good to hear from you Sonja. I am relied to hear that you are okay. ((((Hugs))))

Evacuating is still a possibility at this point. This is the 4th time that we have had to prepare to evacuate. The wind seems to be blowing in the opposite direction for now because the air is a little clearer to breathe. We are at the west end of town and are surrounded by very dry mountains on three sides. It's hard to stop a fire being fueled by dry brush, high winds and scorching temperatures. Firefighter are being spread very thin from battling so many fires throughout the county. The military from Miramar Marine base are helping by flying helicopter and planes and dropping water. They also have the capacity to fly through the night. Firefighters are arriving from nearby states to help. Everything is being done that can be done at this point. I am feeling confident that my area will be saved. I'm sure that others with charred home have thought that too.:o

My biggest concern is for tomorrow. My school district has reopened school for tomorrow, so I have to go to work. I am nervous about leaving my folks (in the eighties) and Rosie. Neither of them hear well and may not hear an evacuation call. One time the neighbor's fence caught on fire (a cigarette). My dad slept through the whole thing. Firetrucks, sheriff's and a paramedic arrived with sirens blaring. He never heard them!:eek::eek::eek: I am worried!!

Thanks for all the love and support angels.

[Trish]

EEEEEK!!! :eek::eek: Hope you and your whole families are safe Kathy and Sonja, scary times. xx

[Tina]

Kathy, this is just awful. I am thinking about you and Sonja and praying that they get the fires contained and that you all remain safe.

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper

[Squirt's Mom]

Sonja - good to hear from you and know ya'll are safe so far!

Kathy - I think I would tell the school to go jump in a lake til the threat is gone if the fire is that close. The school area may not be as threatened as it sounds like your area is.

Ya'll please take care and be ready to go asap...and keep checking in. I heard the number of wildfires there so far this year, which is only 5 months old, and it was unreal!

[mytil]

Sonja, good to hear you are okay.

Kathy - I would call in and not go into work - extenuating circumstances and I am sure they will understand.

Terry

[Budsters Mom]

I have been up all night again monitoring fire activity. I went outside a few minutes ago (4:00 AM) to check for flames. None in site at the moment and the air smells somewhat better. Possibly less ash. The power grid is still unstable with many surges. I can hear helicopters circling. That doesn't mean the fire is close. I can always hear them in the distance.

I am feeling exactly the same way that I did when Buddy was dying and I had to leave him to go to work. Déjà vu. I don't get it. Why in the hell are they reopening the schools on Friday when it's going to be stifling hot again and fire danger is still present? Just stressed and venting!

We are okay for now. I hope Sonja is too.

[labblab]

Man, I don't get it, either. That just seems nuts to reopen school today! :confused: :mad:

It's the same dumb logic that helped bring Atlanta to its knees (and made us a national laughingstock) during our snowstorm this winter. They knew the storm was coming but let the schools open anyway, and that made the traffic issues a gazillion times worse. For us, it was mainly inconvenience. For you guys, this could be life-threatening. I just don't get it!!

[Trish]

I hope they change their minds when it becomes light and realise it is too dangerous to have all the kids and you in school. Hopefully your work is not too far from your home so you can dash home if needed. Hoping for some rain for you and these fires subside soon xx

[Budsters Mom]

The kids are in school because the schools do not get money from the state unless their butts are in their chairs. It is all about $$$$. We are one if the few districts county wide that returned today.:o Air quality is poor, so it's an inside day.

My folks didn't want me to stay home with them. There are sick of me hovering.;) Rosie will alert them if someone knocks on the door. She is very good about that. If we lose power, I'm going home. I live only 6 miles from work, with no freeways. I can get home in ten minutes if need be.

My car didn't start this morning due to so much ash. I need to pick up a new air filter on the way home. I had to take a car from the garage. I am coughing up a lung , my chest hurts and my ears are plugged due to the poor air. We have asthmatics in this school. I don't get it.

The fires are still raging on. They are starting to get partial containment on a few of them, so progress is being made. It's a little cooler today, ONLY 100 degrees. :eek: Pray that no new fires break out today.

Thanks for the love and prayers.
Kathy

[lulusmom]

Can you imagine if any of these were your home?

813

[Budsters Mom]

Oh yes Glynda. If I were sleeping, I would be seeing that in my dreams. We have come very close a few times with walls of fire a few blocks away. My heart and prayers go out to everyone who have suffered loses and to the poor displaced pets and wildlife. I know how blessed we are to have escaped fire multiple times. Right now, we are not threatened, but helicopters carrying water continue to circle. Thank god for all our first responder angels who are fighting for our lives and property at the expense of their own property and loved ones. True angels indeed. Right now I am in an air conditioned building away from toxic fumes. I am much better off than many.

[lulusmom]

I've been there too a few times. At night, I could see what looked like a single flame skipping across the hillsides. It wasn't until I talked to firefighters that some of those flames were animals on fire who were running and igniting the brush as they ran. It made me sick to my stomach.

[Budsters Mom]

I did not need that visual Glynda! I have seen that too, but didn't know what it was. Those poor innocent animals. :o:(

[Budsters Mom]

Very tired, but finally home. It is 98 degrees here now at 5:30 PM. The power held, though still glitchy, so my folks and Rosie were fine. I haven't slept for the last two nights. Exhaustion has taken over.

The helicopters are still circling and scooping up water at a small lake near me. Air quality sucks, very heavy with smoke and ash.

I haven't had a chance to read the current fire reports or watch the news. There were still 9 major fires burning throughout SD County this morning.

[lulusmom]

There were too many fires popping up in different areas within a very short period. I believe most, if not all, are arson. Arsonists are twisted human beings who get off on setting fires. Even if the first one wasn't arson, a news report on a fire will set an arsonist in motion. Working in insurance for all these years, I've seen this happen many, many times.

[molly muffin]

Good lord, I don't know how I manged to miss this thread. I was wondering how close the fires were too you and Sonja. :(
Dang scary stuff fire.
Do you have an escape route planned? Things that you need to have with you packed in a carry case? briefcase that sort of thing?
I know I am a worry wart and a planner both. Just want you to have everything in your head of how to get out and where to go if it gets too close.

hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin

[Budsters Mom]

We are okay for now. Many of the fires are still burning out of control. As long as I can hear the helicopters circling and scooping water, at least one of the fires remains a threat. Emergency services are stretched very thin. Helicopters would not be hanging around if there wasn't an immediate need for them.

My folks remain unaffected by all of this. They are not concerned at all. I am the one hyperventilating and staying up all night. :o Cooler weather is in the forecast for next week. It should be in the mid to high 70s. Hopefully the fires will be easier to contain then. We are doing as well as can be expected considering we're surrounded by a ring of fire and the air quality is at toxic levels. What we need is a few good rainstorms. Send those storms this way ladies! ;)

[mytil]

Oh Kathy,

I am reading about how hard it is to breathe - very scary!!! Is it at a point where you are having to wear masks?

Oh I will gladly send you a big rainstorm. I am still under a flash flood watch due to the heavy rains.

Please stay safe and try to catch a power nap.

Terry

[Budsters Mom]

I'm not sure what's happening fire wise this morning, but it doesn't look good. I took Rosie out to potty and the smoke is thicker. I also heard about six or seven sirens during the five minutes I was outside. They were rushing toward the 52 Freeway.

Terry, masks do not help much with the air-quality. They help filter large particles. Most of the airborne toxins are fine particulates and flow right through the masks. It's best to stay inside away from doors and windows and run the AC if you have it. There are designated cool zones all over the county where people can go to escape the heat and smoke.

LIVE UPDATE...... An alert just came across the screen as I was listening to the news. A new has fire broken west of Santee Lakes. That is about half-mile from me down the street! So far only a little over an acre has burned. First responders are already on the scene with others on the way. That would explain the sirens and increase in smoke. I regularly walk Rosie there. There is plenty of water available in the lakes for the helicopters to scoop. Pray that it is contained quickly because it is VERY Close to hundreds of homes on a couple of sides and thousands of miles of dry brush on mountains the other way. If the fire gets really going through that brush, it will be very difficult to stop! Once fueled, if the wind shifts, we are in trouble! OMG!!!! My entire area could be evacuated later today. :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[molly muffin]

Keep us informed and get the vehicles ready to go!! That is way too close for comfort Kathy.
Do you have a place to go in case of evacuation?

Sharlene and molly muffin

[mcdavis]

Prayers for you and everyone affected Kathy.
Stay safe

[Budsters Mom]

No where local to go except for the emergency shelters like everyone else. Waiting and watching for now.

[addy]

Kathy, I hate to read this that it is so close to you. The pictures on the news are awful and to think that some fires might have been started on purpose, what kind of sick person does that?

Can you take Rosie to the shelter too if you have to evacuate? Can you post from your cell phone or email from your phone or call one of us so we know you are ok?


Dont wait to long, if you have to get out, GET OUT!!!!

[Budsters Mom]

ROSIE GOES WHERE I GO!!!!! I will not leave her anywhere! Many of the shelters are better about pets this time. They learned from the last disaster. Woe to anyone that tries to block Rosie. Mama bear will eat them alive!;):D

Hey, I have to maintain my sense of humor!:D

I can post from my iPad mini or my iPad. Most shelters are set up in local schools and have Wifi. I am in cell phone communication with one of you lovely angels. I talked with her a little while ago. She will post for me if I'm unable to do so. If we lose power and it is very glitchy right now, I will still have access via my cell phone, unless the nearby tower goes up in flames.

[Budsters Mom]

live update……

SANTEE LAKES FIRE HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 30 ACRES AS OF NOW. NO STRUCTURES ARE THREATENED FOR THE MOMENT. It has burned more than 30 acres in a little over an hour. Two big planes are currently dropping fire retardant and many helicopters are using Santee Lakes to scoop water.

[Harley PoMMom]

OMG, Kathy, please stay safe and be careful, will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how things are going when you can.

[molly muffin]

Crimey!! Be careful!
Sharlene

[Woodydog]

Goddness Kathy please be safe :eek:

[addy]

Geez Louise, this is not good:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[mcdavis]

That's scary, although I am pleased to hear that they take pets at the shelters.
Hoping for rain for your area

[Budsters Mom]

My folks are not taking this situation seriously. I am frustrated and exhausted beyond belief. They took off to go to breakfast and run errands this morning in the midst of all of this, when we have been instructed to stand by.:eek: Their response, you'll take care of it. We're not worried. I want to put a harness on them like I do Rosie! I have been working my ass off all day on no sleep for three days, trying to be as prepared as possible in the event we need to evacuate. They return and go off to take their naps oblivious to any danger. :o I could scream, but nobody would care!

I did manage to get Rosie bathed and her face trimmed this morning. She is much more cooperative than my folks! She has allergies and has been scratching due so much ash in the air. I'm going to put frontline on her after I pretreat her with Benadryl at dinner. I hate to do it because frontline makes her itch for two or three days and I have to continue to medicate her with Benadryl, so I avoid it when possible. Buddy was the same way. Frontline is probably better than risking her getting fleas if we end up at a motel or a shelter with other dogs. She has flea allergy dermatitis also. One flea can have her scratching for months. It is odd that I would have two babies in a row with the same condition. Rosie's allergies are not as severe as Buddy's. She doesn't have the asthma aspect. She doesn't wheeze and have a hard time breathing. Rosie just scratches the heck out of herself. I have finally got all of her's itching issues resolved and do not want to start up with that again.

Firefighters are continuing to try to surround the Santee Lakes fire. They are now calling it the Sycamore Canyon fire. Several thousand acres of very dry brush surround the city of Santee. helicopters and airplanes are continuing to fight the fire from the air. Cal fire, the US Marines, as well as fire fighters from several states are arriving to help with this and other fires. Situation is still precarious. No structures have been lost thus far, thanks to the many men and women out there fighting this fire. I will update as available.

Love you all,

[Budsters Mom]

Yes, let's all pray for rain for San Diego County. In the mist of this severe drought, that would truly be a miracle! Our angels have lots of power. Let's do it!;)

[Trish]

Hey Kathy, sorry you remain so concerned about this fire. I was just reading they hope they are dying down now, that would be awesome if it was true! I we all hate to think of you having to evacuate! Awful things these wild fires and cannot understand people that would set them. Just despicable!


Flynny and me are doing a RAIN DANCE for Kathy and Rose!!!

[Budsters Mom]

Keep dancing Trish and Flynny boy. We need all the help we can get! Maybe we should ask the Native American tribes in our area to do a rain dance also. It couldn't hurt. :p

This is a new fire that started this morning. It is practically in my backyard. Yes, it has to be arson with so many fires spread through the county.

[labblab]

Kathy, I've been Googling your TV stations and newspapers all day to try to follow what all's going on. So glad you're safe for right now!! I remember how helpless we felt two years ago when we were caught in the Colorado wildfires. The choppers overhead and the smoke and the orange glow, and never knowing for certain whether the line would hold or break...:( :( :eek:

Sending all positive energy your way, at least for cooler temps and onshore winds if rain is not possible. Please stay safe!

[lulusmom]

I just checked the San Diego station websites for an update and there is some very good news....they have a handle on the Santee/Sycamore Canyon fire and right now are mopping up. At 1:30, officials said they had held this fire to only 15 acres and they expect 100% containment by 4:00. Good job firefighters!

[Trish]

Yay, good news... I hope the air quality is improving where you are Kathy. Must be so hard for people with respiratory conditions. x

[molly muffin]

Excellent news!!!

sharlene

[lulusmom]

Just visited the Cal Fire website and it looks like firefighters have either contained or have gained the upper hand on all of the fires in S.D. County. Thank goodness.

http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current?pc=5&cp=2

[Trish]

Thank goodness!!! Hopefully Kathy will be able to get a good sleep tonight without keeping one eye open! Ohhhh maybe our rain dance worked!!! Good job firefighters... :D

[addy]

how do you spell relief:):):):)

big sigh, thank goodness

[molly muffin]

how do you spell relief:):):):)

Rain!! :) :) :)

This is welcome news Glynda. Seemed it was touch and go there for awhile!

Sharlene

[Budsters Mom]

You guys are awesome! :p:):D A migraine hit, so I lied down for a little while. What did I expect on no sleep? Anyway, I logged on to the forum before getting up. What a wonderful surprise Glynda!:) Yes, our first responders are amazing! The pressure was definitely getting to me. I'm going to take Rosie out to potty, so I'll check the air-quality.

Love you all. Thanks for staying with me the last few days.
Kathy

[Budsters Mom]

The helicopters are still circling dropping water. The smoke in the air is still very thick, so air quality remains poor. It's going to take quite a while for that to change with so many fires in the county. The power grid is still unstable. We continue to have many glitches in our power, but it has held today once again. :p Tough last few days.

[Budsters Mom]

Santee Lakes Update for this evening, copied from News 7/39.....

A brush fire that sparked in Sycamore Canyon Saturday morning, north of Santee Lakes and on the edge of East Miramar, is now fully contained, Cal Fire officials confirmed Saturday evening.
Heartland Fire & Rescue said the blaze, one of many ravaging San Diego County this week, began around 8:20 a.m. in heavy vegetation northwest of Santee Lakes Boulevard and appeared to be moving northwest as of 9:30 a.m., officials said.

Full Coverage: San Diego's May Firestorm
By 10:15 a.m., it had scorched approximately 15 to 30 acres, but the forward rate of spread had stopped, Kendal Bortisser of Cal Fire confirmed. He said no structures were threatened.
Several strike teams, fire engines and air support crews were called in to tackle the fire. Firefighting units from the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Fire Department also assisted.
Smoke could be seen off State Route 52 and State Route 125, as well as surrounding streets like Strathmore.

Saturday Update: San Diego Fires
Still, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said crews appeared to have a solid handle on the fire and no evacuations had been ordered.
At 1:30 p.m., officials gave an update and said the fire had been held to about 15 acres and 100 percent containment was expected by 4 p.m. Fire units remained on scene mopping up hot spots and monitoring the area for possible flare-ups.
By 4:50 p.m., Cal Fire officials confirmed the blaze was 100 percent contained.

[mytil]

Very good to hear!!!!

[Budsters Mom]

Overcast and much cooler this morning. The air is starting to clear. :) Yay!!!!!! :):):)

[Squirt's Mom]

Good news, Kathy! :cool: Praying for rain in your area!

[addy]

we are all still doing rain dances:):)

seems like you have a breather, thank goodness. Sorry you had so much scare and worry. I hope it is over now

[labblab]

A giant "WHEW!!!!!" from me, too!! :) :) :)

[Budsters Mom]

Yes, a much needed break for now. :p We still have an arsonist on the loose and more fires burning. They have a handle on most of them now. Pray that the arsonist is caught before he/she decides to move on to another very dry county.:o According to statistics, arsonists are usually male.

It is cooler today and the air has cleared enough to open the windows and doors. Rosie is finally able to go out in the backyard and hunt lizards. She hasn't been able to go out except to potty since last Wednesday. She has way too much energy to be trapped inside 24/7.

I might stay home tomorrow. I am still wound very tight and need to decompress more before state testing starts on Wednesday. We'll see.

[molly muffin]

I hope they catch that son of a &*^%% soon. Arsonists are despicable. We had one here not long ago, last week, only he wasn't setting fire to dry land (we've been too wet for that) but instead, to unlocked cars, and inside garages even, if he could get in, did area, I think he got 4 cars and one home. They have him on a camera and his picture is posted, so I hope he too is caught soon.

Yes, this has been very stressful for you. I can't even begin to imagine how awful it has been.

sharlene

[mcdavis]

Whew - pleased to see things are getting sorted, and seriously hope they manage to catch those (keep my thoughts to myself :mad:) arsonists soon.