California is on fire again.

**M&M's Mommy** · 10-23-2007, 12:48 PM

Checking in from Orange County, CA. The Irvine fire was abut 10 miles from my company, so we had to close yesterday due to heavy smoke. Today it's much better.

I heard on the news that there are 20 different wild fire in Ca at one point. In San Diego, more than 500 houses were burned to dust. Hopefully the fires will be contained soon, and no more damages will be done.

**Edwina's Secretary** · 10-23-2007, 01:09 PM

I just spoke with my partner who had to evacuate her home due to the Irvine fire. She told me of the wild animals....deer, coyotes, etc....running down the hills in advance of the fire. Where will they go????

**cassiesmom** · 10-23-2007, 01:22 PM

Just checking on California PT'ers ... I was listening to the news last night on my car radio, driving in the rain, and there were reports of heavy rain in New Orleans. California is too dry and NOLA is too wet. I wish they could cancel each other out somehow.

**Logan** · 10-23-2007, 01:52 PM

All I can do from SC is pray for all of those in harm's way in CA. We don't have rain now, but we have had some the last two days. We needed it, but I would rather have it out there with the fires.

I"m so glad you are all safe, so far. Please keep our old friend, Jackie, and her family (in San Diego) in your prayers. Her husband has been ill. As of this morning, they are ok, but are waching the reports, closely.

Logan

***LabLoverKEB*** · 10-23-2007, 02:38 PM

Praying for all of our PT members in Southern California...
Logan, how is Jackie? I was thinking about her just the other day... How are Perry & Daisy? I will be keeping her husband in my prayers!

**Catsnclay** · 10-23-2007, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Edwina's Secretary

I just spoke with my partner who had to evacuate her home due to the Irvine fire. She told me of the wild animals....deer, coyotes, etc....running down the hills in advance of the fire. Where will they go????

That really makes you wonder, doesn't it? > so sad

for these poor wild creatures <

I have often wondered, if I had 30mins. to evacuate, WHAT would I gather up and take?????

Hmmmm........ interesting..............

What would/do you take???

**cmayer31** · 10-23-2007, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by Catsnclay

That really makes you wonder, doesn't it? > so sad

for these poor wild creatures <

I have often wondered, if I had 30mins. to evacuate, WHAT would I gather up and take?????

Hmmmm........ interesting..............

What would/do you take???

I got to do it twice yesterday

.

From my house with the mandatory evacuation I grabbed my home insurance policy, my bank statements, my two check books, Frankie's crate, her bed, her food, a lot of bottled water, a sleeping bag and a pillow. I also keep my camping gear in two totes, one for the tent and camp supplies and the other for the kitchen and cooking supplies, so I put those in the back of my truck in case I couldn't find a place to stay. All in all I was out of the house in under 20 minutes.

From my parent's house, they were out of town, I grabbed the home insurance, classic car insurance, Riley's crate, her bed, her food, Bailey's cage, her food, Jasper's travel carrier, her food, more water, all the pictures that I knew were irreplaceable to my parents, and my mom's jewelry. I was out of their house in about 30 minutes.

After the fires died down early yesterday evening I began the process of moving the classic cars from my parent's house to a friends house a ways north of us. Luckily they were able to gather a few drivers and we moved them all at once, except mine which wouldn't start due to a low battery. All in all I think everything was successful. Got the important things on the first trip out and then came back for the important but still replaceable things of value.

Right now we're just trying to stay out of the ash and smoke. The fire seems content to burn a couple miles south of us, but I guess it's moving slowly north of the mall right now. Luckily we have full air support for the first time and it seems like things are better today. The fires are still not contained at all, so it's a waiting game. My parents have people at their house and I have my roommates evacuated families and pets at mine, so hopefully our area won't get evacuated again.

I hope everyone else has had a bit of time to breathe safely and isn't in, or hasn't been in immediate threat due to the fires. I'll keep my fingers crossed that we all come out of this covered in ash and nothing more severe.

**RICHARD** · 10-23-2007, 03:57 PM

A little hint about what to take if yor have to go.

The CPU on the computer is paramount. Don't eff around with the monitor or keyboard. I saw some people with speakers, keyboards and monitors in their arms. You can get those anywhere.....the info on the hard drive is what you want.

I have two boxes, Edward's sleeping hangout, on my desk. THey are filled with all the important papers.

I grab his arse, toss him in his cage and then the boxes go. It's all I need.

-----------------------------

It's hot and dry here in the valley. The sunshine is orange tinged...

The sound of helicopters has kept me up all night long. WHUPWHUPWHUP.

I am pretty good at knowing who is who for a long time. I can tell the Bell Rangers from the Firehawks from the Hueys. But it's almost scheduled now.

The Firehawk pilots usually fly over the house and make a lazy right hand spiral to the pad. The wind has forced them to approach from the south and plop straight in.

I don't mind the Fire choppers, it's the dang news flights.

Two TV stations fly out of the small airport.....They run their engines for about 20 minutes before they take off.....theirs is a noisy high pitched turbine engine that grates on the nerves after a few.

**beeniesmom** · 10-23-2007, 04:42 PM

I've been glued to the tv all day.
Prayers that the winds will stop and rain will come.
This is so sad.

**gini** · 10-23-2007, 05:35 PM

Rain? What is that?? Seriously, we will start getting rain just when we don't need it - and the thought of the mud slides to come gives me the chills.

I live miles in each direction from all of the many fires - but this morning the sky was a muddy beige. I ran my finger over my patio table that had just been cleaned yesterday - and I could write my name in the soot.

I have been sneezing all day.

Trish, I am so glad to hear that you are home and your babies are alright.
I pray that your home is alright too!

**sasvermont** · 10-23-2007, 06:48 PM

I, too, have been watching the news about the fires. I hope only the best for these people, much the same hopes I had (have) for the hurricane Katrina victims. And I thought I had (have) problems. Such destruction.

I wish we would spend more money on prevention from the damages of flooding and fires and less on war. 46 billion requested by Bush just yesterday. 46 billion more.

My heart goes out to the CA population as well as their loved ones sharing their horrors.

**gini** · 10-23-2007, 06:57 PM

Yes, I noticed that word too - BILLION!!!!

There was a newscast this morning from the Fire Department Chief in Orange County. He asked to vent. After the 2003 fires in San Diego County -
a "blue ribbon" committee was formed to study what needed to be done for the future to prevent so much damage and loss of life.

48 points were recommended as a result of that study.

Not one - NOT ONE - of them have been implemented.

It seems as though our priorities are really messed up.