wgm
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posted on October 26, 2003 04:47:58 AM new
My heart goes out to those affected by the fires in California. It has got to be a horrible, horrible feeling to leave your home, not knowing what is going to happen.
We evacuate here for hurricanes, but that is nothing compared to what part of California is going through right now.
We lost our home in a fire in the middle of the night this past Memorial Day (electrical fire). We were lucky to get out with the pajamas we had on, but thankfully everyone made it out safely. It was absolutely the worst thing I have ever been through in my life. I thank God everytime I look at my my little boy that we made it out.
I watched our home burn, with years of memories in flames and it was a hurt I can't explain.
I just can't imagine having to leave my home, knowing there is a good possibility it will burn - and having to sit and wait. Everytime I watch the news, my heart just breaks for those of you going through this...
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
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wgm
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posted on October 26, 2003 04:55:27 AM new
this is an except from an article I read this morning...
Gerald Moyeda, 52, of San Bernardino, had little hope that the home he'd just signed papers for on Friday survived the flames.
"I'm basically telling myself, it's gone," he said.
After hosing down the roof and removing firewood, he had to flee the home south of Quail Canyon. Embers were landing in his yard and homes two houses away were burning.
"The smoke was so thick I had to leave. I had to drive two to three miles an hour. You just couldn't see anything."
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
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CBlev65252
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posted on October 26, 2003 05:36:14 AM new
I could not even begin to imagine how horrible it must be to lose your home to a fire. Fire is one of the things I fear the most. We have a fire alarm system hooked up to our alarm system and even that doesn't make me feel 100% safe, especially during these cold months with the furnace running. But, to know that a fire is raging toward your home has got to be the worst!
wgm
I'm glad to know you and your family escaped unharmed!
Cheryl
He has his own throne (Revelation 13:2) and his own worshipers (Revelation 13:4).
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wgm
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posted on October 26, 2003 05:53:41 AM new
Me too, Cheryl. Fire is the one thing I have always been frightened of the most.
I, like a lot of other people, have read about fires (before mine), and stopped to think how horrible it would be if we lost our home. I'm sure everyone does it. The "imagined" feeling doesn't even touch it - it's so personal, if that makes any sense.
We had a bug zapper hanging from the eave on the back of the sunroom that shorted out at the outlet. The fire spread down the back wall of the house and the attic by the time we woke up. When we got outside the entire roof was blazing. The fire dept responded very quickly. We probably would have been able to salvage some things, but after the fire dept left and we left, the fire reignited and no one was there.
I had auctions end that night, as well as new auctions that had just gone on. I had pulled everything that had sold so I could package it up the next day, and unfortunately lost everything. My best friend lives in New York and is also a seller, so I gave her all my passwords to refund money, send emails, cancel auctions, etc. - she was a lifesaver. At that point, the last thing I wanted to do was sit at a computer and retell the horrific night to my buyers. It took me a good bit of the summer to get over it. I still don't sleep the night through - I am constantly getting up to check things.
We just moved in a new home (and it's been chaos trying to unpack, keep up with a 6-yr old and eBay - and just came down with the flu this week!!!), and I had extra smoke detectors installed, in addition to purchasing three fire extinguishers for the house.
What was really strange in our fire is that the electricity stayed on until we got the front door open - then it went out. God's way of making sure we made it out 
I don't know if it was stress, shock or what, but I don't recall hearing the smoke detectors. People are telling me you could hear them to the road, but I never did.
I guess the most chilling thing was when the fire chief told us "another five minutes and no one would have made it out". Those words play over and over again in my head every day.
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
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CBlev65252
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posted on October 26, 2003 06:44:54 AM new
The nice thing about having a smoke alarm hooked up to the home alarm is that when the battery is low, the alarm lets off an annoying sound. You cannot turn it off and are forced to change the batteries. Also, if there is a fire, the detector sends a signal to our alarm company who in turns sends out the fire department. It cost us a little bit extra to have this feature, but it's worth it. The alarm is so loud you can hear it clear down the street.
Cheryl
He has his own throne (Revelation 13:2) and his own worshipers (Revelation 13:4).
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sanmar
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posted on October 26, 2003 09:46:08 AM new
Unless you live out here in CA, you can't realize how dry it is. I am not in the fire area but nevertheless it is as dry here as anywhere. Here in Santa Maria, we have had .01 inches of rain since July 1. We are in no danger of fire as thew Santa Maria Valley is all tilled fields.
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neroter12
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posted on October 26, 2003 11:21:24 AM new
I too, was thinking of all the Californian's with those awful fires.
Will have to send a mojo or do a rain dance for those out there! It must be horrible to lose everything you own from something so uncontrolable.
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 12:27:35 PM new
Please do all the rain dances you can. The orange light coming thru my windows and fine layer of ash all over everything is a clear sign we are in desperate need. I am in downtown San Diego, far from the fires but just came back from a trip to the store with ash and the beginning of what promises to be one doozy of a sinus headache. I truly fel for those out in the fire areas, just talked to a friend whose house is near the lines but so far thay seem to be safe. I can feel the Santa Anas kicking in from here though and the inland to coast movement of the smoke is a sure sign that things are going to get worse before they get better.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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dejapooh
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posted on October 26, 2003 01:17:42 PM new
I am in thousand Oaks, CA, and we live about 3 miles from where the Simi Fire got to last night. Still here Typing...
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. B. Franklin
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 01:34:07 PM new
For those that are interested in just how much damage some of these fires are doing here is a link to one of the local news sites and photos.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=sandiegocountywildfires&page=1
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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wgm
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posted on October 26, 2003 01:45:54 PM new
http://www.signonsandiego.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=sandiegocountywildfires&page=1
Fenix, thank you for sharing the photos. You and everyone else out there are in my thoughts - we need a miracle right now...
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
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wgm
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posted on October 26, 2003 02:02:23 PM new
fenix - how far are you from the fires?
dejapooh - are they getting some control of the fires near you?
It looks like Rancho Cucamonga (sp) is really getting hit hard. I have had several buyers from there, and just hope they are alright.
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
[ edited by wgm on Oct 26, 2003 02:07 PM ]
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 02:44:40 PM new
I am actually downtown and completely safe from the fires, Just not from the smoke and ash. You can't really leave the area because all but one highway has been shut done and now a small plane has apparently crashed on one of it's connecters.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 02:49:28 PM new
Point of irony. - The county office of air quality and safety has been shut down due to hazardous air quality.
Photo Op missed - Store owner on the corner where everyone is wearing masks to filter out the smoke standing outside with the mask around his neck smoking a cigarrette.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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neroter12
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posted on October 26, 2003 02:54:19 PM new
fenix, I'm gonna try. Let me know if you get rain by Tuesday!
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 03:28:53 PM new
Nero - add Mexico into that Rain Dance too - the fire has now jumped the border and they have nowhere near the resources we do to fight it.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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wgm
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posted on October 26, 2003 03:44:43 PM new
no word yet from dejapooh 
fenix, I had to laugh at your "point of irony" and "Photo Op missed" (especially the latter).
Definitely not good news for Mexico.
Are they giving any projections there as to when they will have the fires contained? It is horrible - just horrible. Glad you are alright though
Sure wish dejapooh and some of the other SoCal posters would report in so we know they are alright...
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 04:24:06 PM new
I don't know about the northern fires but the two major ones down here they have no idea on. The winds are still blowing but starting to calm. The are hoping to be able to get some of it under control this evening. It's now traveling thru the hills. The fire that jumped the border could breally become a mess if it travels east or west and the jumps back starting a fire up in a new area especially since this is a fenced section of the border which keeps teams from the different countries from being able to help each other out much if needed. Depending on where the fire jumped, those hills are densly populated with homes that are really nothing more than fuel for a fire. I was trying to see some coverage on the fire there since I get 7 channels out of TJ but either they are not that bad or the locals are not able to breaak in on the national broadcasts.
On this side, Qualcomm Stadium has been turned into a shelter location and there are more people there now than have been there for the Chargers all season.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Oct 26, 2003 05:09 PM ]
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celebrity8x10s
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posted on October 26, 2003 04:31:19 PM new
My brother-in-law has been on the lines for 3 days fighting the San Bernadino fire. He called my sister this morning, and said he's never seen anything like it. With the winds over 50 mph, he said they had little chance to put the fire out. He said, visibility in some areas, was cut to about 6 inches. It looks like the winds have died down a bit, so perhaps things will start looking brighter. Since everyone's praying for those homeowners out there, how about saying a little prayer for those firefighters as well?
Thanks
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davebraun
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posted on October 26, 2003 04:31:45 PM new
I'm in the San Francisco Bay area. It is unseasonably warm today about 90 degrees and there is a prevailing dry wind. The fire danger is posted as high. Humidity is very low.
Republican, the other white meat!
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local
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posted on October 26, 2003 05:04:06 PM new
This is surreal in So Cal. I can't believe that while I am typing this, I am looking out the window at flames 2 ridges over from my house. We are packed to evacuate if we have to. Of course how do you fit all of the eBay stuff in 2 vehicles! We took the highest value things & hope for the best. Why am I typing this? Because I had to do something besides watch the flames. I'm afraid it will be a long night. If we have to leave, we will.
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wgm
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posted on October 26, 2003 05:10:29 PM new
celebrity - the firefighters are definitely in my prayers too.
local - I feel so awful for you! I pray things will make a turn for the better and you will pull through the fires safely. I don't know how you are even typing - I would be a nervous wreck! Hopefully there are a lot of firefighters in your area.
dave - including you in my thoughts and prayers too
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it." - A Few Good Men
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 05:18:25 PM new
Celeb - I have nothing but love for those fire fighters out there on the lines and wish them all a safe night!
Local - Stay safe - please update us when you can and I hope everything works out for the best for you!! BTW - what area are you in?
Of interest to football fans. San Diegos mayor has appealed to the NFL to relocate tomorrow nights game scheduled for San Diego to free up emergncy workers (not to mention that the stadium isn now serving as an evacuation center). The Dolphins and Chargers have joined that plea based on health issues. Looks like it'll be Tuesday in Phoenix or Oakland.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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local
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posted on October 26, 2003 05:25:29 PM new
Thanks to all for your kind words. It is getting dark now & it will be a long night. I live in Escondido - north of San Diego & South of the Valley Center fire. We have our ebay sales packed & ready to go in our vehicles.
It will be a long night watching the flames. But if it gets to the ridge behind our house - we're out of here.
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 05:34:32 PM new
Local - I feel for you - this has got to have felt like the longest day of your life being so close. I'm glad that you at least feel safe enough to stay for now. I hope it remains that way. From here it feels like the winds have died down a lot (ash fall has lessened dramatically). Are you near the ridge that they have been talking about on NBC? (Hoping since they are saying that they are getting that one under some semblance of control).
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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local
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posted on October 26, 2003 05:41:13 PM new
I don't know if it is the same ridge or not. They have really been fighting this one with air support. Of course now that it is dark, we'll just have to wait & see. We hope it gets under control.
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 05:47:30 PM new
I was surprised, not to mention glad, to hear that the air support finally got in. I know there was some controversy with the Super Scoopers this year with our Bureau of Homeland Security since they are leased for the fire season from a Canadian company and require Canadian pilots as a term of the lease. I'm going to have to see if I can find something on that one. I remember one of the canucks around here mentioned something about it during the Canadian fires earlier this year.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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kiara
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posted on October 26, 2003 06:14:38 PM new
Hi fenix
That was me from this thread.
http://www.vendio.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&id=526178&thread=526074
There were the worst fires ever this summer along the Canada/US border with lots of smoke and ash for the entire summer. Many people lost their homes.
I'm sorry to hear about the bad fires in California. Please take care, everyone. Stay safe!
[ edited by kiara on Oct 26, 2003 06:15 PM ]
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fenix03
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posted on October 26, 2003 06:39:57 PM new
Thanks Kiara! I wasn't sure if it was you or Krafty that had mentioned the situaation and I didn't wwant to name the wrong person  Hopefully Arnold can talk "Californias greatest friend" into overturning that little piece of stupidity. Right now we need the planes desperately.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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local
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posted on October 26, 2003 07:26:22 PM new
Hi fenix03,
Yes the ridge that they are showing in flames on tv is 2 ridges away. They are trying to make a stand there according to tv.
[ edited by local on Oct 26, 2003 08:05 PM ]
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