So. Cal. Fires O/T

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Posted By: J Levine

I live in Santa Clarita and after two evacuations in twelve hours and being told that I had to stay this afternoon because the fire had my canyon closed at both ends, I am finally able to type a little. I know we have a fairly large number of posters who live in and around So. Cal. Not sure how close anyone else is but this has been very nerve racking the last 36 hours and it does not seem to be ending anytime soon. I hope everyone else from San Diego to Santa Barbara is doing well. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

BTW, packing for evacuation yesterday included my irreplacable papers and included many many pre-war baseball cards (trying to keep it on topic Leon).

Joshua

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Posted By: Cobby33

Our best- hang in there!

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Posted By: Kevin Saucier

I also live in SoCal (southbay) and am a former decorated firefighter. Currently I am on stand-by for volunteer emergency service. I was expecting the call today...sure it will come soon. My plan is to first start back-fires with 1980's cards before battling the flames (LOL).

I wish you and your family all the best, stay safe and please don’t take chances!



Kevin

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Posted By: barrysloate

It's the headline news story even in New York!

And my brother lives in Agoura Hills, but I think they are okay so far.

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Posted By: Steve

Doin' a rain dance for ya's. God speed to the Cali jakes.

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Posted By: dstudeba

Yesterday my whole collection was packed and stored in the basement of the San Diego County Courthouse. We should be fine, but you never know. Thanks for thinking of us it is pretty scary.

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Posted By: Steve Murray

I think for you to be perfectly safe you should ship your collection to me.

With that said I'll be thinking of all you guys out there in Southern California. Good luck.

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Posted By: jP

I live in Sylmar which is in the San Fernando Valley, kinda close to the 5 and 14 freeways. i live closer to the 210 freeway which isnt too far from the mountains there. Been glued to my tv the last few days, getting ready and got all my cards ready just incase. My thoughts are with all those that live in so.cal hope this all ends soon.

jP

my collection: http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/obaks/

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

Sending out the best of wishes and luck to you all.

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Posted By: Bob C

I am currently stuck at my father's home in North County San Diego just west of of Fallbrook. I came down Sunday for a family get together and tried to return yesterday but was turned back by CHP as they closed down I 15. I actually watched the fire jump the freeway waiting to exit and go back the other way. Looked like a war zone.
Woke up this morning and it now looked like a nuclear winter outside. Area completely covered in dense brown smoke with ashes falling from the sky. Surreal feel to it. Turns out the fire moved west overnight and is currently about 15 minutes away. We are now in a mandatory evacuation area. My dad is retired and lives alone, so I will try to get him up to my home in Palm Springs today, if possible. Really dicey down here right now.

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Posted By: Steve Dawson

I grew up in San Diego County (Santee) and my sister currently lives in Santa Clarita, so I'm definitely praying for all of you. I just wish I could get out there to help out a little

Stay safe!


Steve

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

So far, we're OK in Glendale. A few years ago we were on the verge of evacuation, with all the cards packed in the car, when the wind shifted. I can't recall so many fires at one time, and I've lived in So Cal all my life.

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Posted By: leon

Instead of locking this thread, which I really don't want to do, I just axed 3 political posts. Please keep all political garbage off of the board.....I don't care if you are left, right, or confused...(I am of the last variety)....thanks for your understanding.....

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Posted By: David Smith

I have a question.

Having only been to Northern California and NOT knowing what Southern California is like, why don't the Government or businesses erect poles or some other device that would spray mist into the air?? These poles or devices could be put on top or near the top of the hills and water could be pumped up to them. Then, when the wind is blowing, these could be turned on and the wind could carry the moisture along with it. That way, the air could be a little more saturated with water and that water could be carried to more places.

As it is now, I see Firemen with their hoses spraying huge amounts of water in small areas and helicopters dumping one big load of water on one small area. It seems to me like moisture, even in smaller amounts, spread over larger areas would be better for everybody.

If this idea were to work, it would be cheaper to build and maintain than what is going on now with all the people and equipment involved and all the buildings that are being destroyed. From a cost/benefit analysis, I am sure the insurance companies woud jump in and help pay for something like this.

Just a thought,

David

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Posted By: Betty

As one of the 250,000 displaced San Diegans, my pre-war cards came with me. The rest of my life long baseball collection stayed in the house (how do you move a room or more??)?
The main thing is we're alive, with friends and waiting for the winds of October to die down.

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Posted By: Fred C

I don't want anyone to think I don't care about the human side of this but does anyone ever wonder how many vintage cards are lost to natural diasasters every year? I've got to guess that fires are the worst for cards. Any thoughts?

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

Flood and fire have to be the biggest destroyer of cardboard, other than a phalanx of Mothers.

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Posted By: Chris Counts

Since I have lived in the coastal California hill country most of my life, I worry about fire more than anything, even theft. That's why my best cards are in safety deposit boxes and I can only look at the scans. David, as for your suggestion about spraying mist, the air here is so hot and dry right now that any water not applied directly to a fire or in its direct path would certainly evaporate quickly. As a former volunteer firefighter, it is my opinion that the problem causing the fires is twofold. First, builders keep putting up homes on steep hillsides covered with dense, flammable brush. And second, natural fires have been supressed for so long that fires are far more catastophic than they once were ...

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Posted By: Andrew S.

What about the cause of these fires? I heard that teenagers like to drive around out there and flip their cigarettes into the brush for kicks. Also, this might be the only way Al Qaeda can do any damage in the US and get away with it, by starting small brush fires along the road and then gleefully watching it devastate on television? There can't be any lower form of miscreant creature than an arsonist who would get thrills from these wildfires.

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

I have to doubt this is a terrorist attack.........

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Posted By: peter chao

I can't believe this...it seems like the fire is spreading.

Peter C.

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Posted By: CN

I wish everyone effected the best and hope nature just not get worse. They have predicting a major Hurricane for the NY tri-state area for quite a while and everyone knows we are not ready for it. I just pray that if anything gets destroyed in CA. it is only property and remember you have many board members willing to help if they can. CN

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Posted By: Cat

I live in Menifee (14 miles north of the San Diego County line). As I looked South today I saw two mushroom clouds of what looked to be recent fires. I had heard of the Pala fire yesterday but this smoke looked to recent for the Pala fire, although the location would have been about right. Later (noon-ish), another mushroom cloud of smoke came up to its West. I feel for all of you that are close to these fires. For those of you who don't live in SoCal...these fires just seem like they are everywhere.

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Posted By: Fred C

I flew into San Diego today and the flight pattern was close to one of the fires. Wow, what a mess. A few days ago it was supposed to be worse than today but it still looked ugly today. The fires from about 3 or 4 years ago were worse but then again this one isn't over yet. What the heck would you do if you only had a short time and limited space to gather belongings before an evacuation. I'd grab family photos, important papers and my favorite cards.

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Posted By: peter chao

Fred,

If I started grabbing my favorite cards in this type of emergency, my wife would slap me in the face and tell me to wake up and calm down. So consider yourself lucky.

Peter C.

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Posted By: Fred C

Peter,

I hate to say this but your priorities are all screwed up. The room my wife would take in the vehicle is room where I could put more cards... then there's also the life insurance policy that would pay off and get me that T206 Wagner I've always dreamed about... You can have your cake and eat it to if you plan correctly

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Posted By: dstudeba

Thanks for the offer Steve, next time I might take you up on it. And when the tidal wave comes across Lake Michigan I will do the same for you.

Looks like things are getting better thankfully.

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Posted By: peter chao

Finally, it looks like the fires are starting to die down.

Peter C.