Hi everyone.

Thanks for your good wishes. Nanabee, we're in PQ too.

Paula,I'm glad you're OK. I would have called you, but your number is still on my computer, which is in the back of my car!

itsv, sorry about your aunt's house.

We are in the huge group that's north of 56. Yesterday morning about 5:15am my son,who lives in an apartment in Rancho Bernardo,called to tell me he was being evacuated and he was coming to my house. I got up, turned the tv on, and discovered that we were also on the mandatory evacuation list. So, as soon as he arrived here, we loaded our cars up and headed to Qualcomm Stadium.

We were there for about seven hours. They have about as many volunteers as there are evacuees. They're using the club level for special medical needs.The whole thingwas in theprecess of geting set up while we were there, but there was a LOT of food donated by various businesses,drinks, and inside the stadium you could sit in the shade (the temps were in the high 80s) and watch the television monitors for updated news.

We managed to get rooms in The King's Inn, a hotel in (the awful!) Hotel Circle. I did try the Marriott, Doubletree first, but they were already full. Also, we have a Maltese puppy and most of the niceplaces don't want pets. i also thought that hotels would jack their room rates up, but they have ALL offered reduced rates to evacuees.Our hotel has smallish rooms, tiny bathrooms, but is very,very clean. There's a Mexican restaurant where we had the worst Mexican food ever last night. Also a breakfast place which was very good this morning.

My son's apartment complex in Rancho Bernardo burned. Not all of the buildings, but they don't know yet if their apartment is still here. Not knowing is the worst.

Our house is fine. We're there now,although we're not officially allowed back yet as thewinds are beginning to change and the fire may change direction.We're going to sleep at the hotel again tonight.

Over 513,000 (yes, that number is correct!) homes have been evacuated. That's a LOT of people.

Our firefighters are absolutely fantastic.Lots of support has started arriving today, but for over thirty-six hours they had precious few breaks and, because of the winds, no air support.

The air everywhere in San Diego county is bad.If you don't have to come right now, please reshedule your trip for a better time. :)

Good to hear from you, Barbara. Glad you and yours are safe!

Thanks, starrsville.

My son just came home. He just found out that his apartment was completely destroyed.There's absolutely nothing left.

Oh, Barbara, I am so sorry.
I saw on the Today Show this morning a couple who just saw the remains of their home. They had been married for 25 years and had just moved from northern California because they thought it would be "safer" from fire. They had such a good attitude and laughed at themselves for talking about starting over - before the fire. But, they definitely did not mean THAT way. His 81 year old mother - who was dog-sitting while they were in Vegas - got out with the dogs. For that they were grateful. I have no idea what it will be like for your son - but at least he is safe. Cyber hugs and God bless your family.

My daughter used to work in Rancho Bernardo - whew! I am very glad she not there now !

How awful for those of you living this nightmare - I just cant imagine how awful it must be

Hi Barbara, I am so sorry about your son's apartment but thankfully he is safe. From everything I have read the volunteers are wonderful, thank goodness for that. We have many firefighters from our county down you way. This is a nightmare and you sure have the best thoughts and prayers from us here in Northern California.

I am so glad that you are at your daughter's home Paula. May everyone be safe and as comfortable as possible.

commented on this in the lounge but wanted to say (((San Diego)))) I am so sorry.

I am in OC and we are dealing with a few fires but nothing like San Diego.

Barbara-It's good to hear from you. I was so worried about you when I woke up Monday morning and saw all the evacuations in your area. I am glad you are safe but am so sorry to hear about your son's apartment.

dawn-I saw that there were some new fires in Trabuco Canyon area. Where do you live in OC?

They are talking about letting people back into Fallbrook tomorrow. I sure hope so. I do know my house is safe but they just don't want people in the town until they feel everything is secured. A couple of my friends who live on the west side of Fallbrook stayed so I've been able to talk to them. The area that burned was on the east side.

It's just such a terrible and scary thing. I am so grateful for everything the firefighters, law enforcement, etc have been doing. The media has also been good about keeping things relatively up to date.

paula, I'm glad your house is OK. On TV last night they kept mentioning the 20,000 avocado trees that have burned (I guess they're going up in price!) and I kept thinking, but what about Paula's house!!!

An update on my son's stuff-they brought home a singed drawer from a bedside table which had all the important papers they should have taken with them, but didn't :) the papers were soaking, but have dried quite nicely, except his passport which he'll have to replace. They only had five minutes yesterday, but should get to go back in a couple of days or so and they're hopeful that the contents of a dresser which was inside a closet may be in a similar wet, but OK state. Other than that,however, it seems to be all gone.

Funnily enough, just a week and a half ago there was an Emergency Preparedness Fair at my local park. My daughter and I went and I bought backpacks which have enough survival stuff for two people for 72hrs for my sons and me to keep in our cars. My sons laughed at me, but did put them into their vehicles. The laughing has stopped. They used some of the stuff in the last couple of days. LOL!

We had to be in SoCal on Monday for a funeral. Took two hours to drive from Agora to the 405 (about 20 miles) Monday morning. Yesterday, we saw convoys of fire vehicles on the road and again today on I-5 there were more support vehicles as well as Red Cross mobiles. Sure wish we'd had National Guard support, too. Prayers to all.

The National Guard is here too.

Paula - My address is Trabuco Canyon. We live in a gate community called Coto De Caza - we back to the Cleavland National Forest.

Nanabee and Barbara - I moved from P.Q. about 10 years ago to OC. Barbara I wonder if you were on the PopWarner when we lived there?

We live in Sabre Springs and I've been a nervous wreck ever since the fires started. Thankfully, we didn't have to evacuate. I feel terrible for everyone who has lost their home and belongings.

Hi sunshine! Lucky you!!

They lifted our mandatory evacuation order a couple of hours ago, thank goodness. The freeway was very busy with people returning home from Qualcomm and other places.

dawn, I think my son played Pop Warner from 95-99.

Hi Barbara,

We moved to Orange County in August of 1997. Our children went to Park Village Elementary school and played ball (little league). Our little league coach, Joe Olivas, was very big in PopWarner at the time.

dawn, I know Joe! My son did Little League too, but we were National and you'd be American, right? It's all different now. My kids went to Deer Canyon.

Oh, Barbara, what an ordeal -- particularly for your son. I'm so glad to hear they weren't price gouging at the hotels. They stepped in here in Florida about that during hurricane evacuations and now no one would DARE to raise their prices then.

Whew, sunshine you were close.
It's nice to hear everyone is back at home.

My heart goes out to people who have lost so much.

Seems that everyone has just been hanging on the past couple of days. Plus, who hasn't had at least a little headache and sinus problems?

Today has been a big sigh of relief. All of our friends have gone home and my cats are recovering from the visiting cats and dogs.
My dog seems to miss her little buddy, though.

Barbara, I'm so sorry to hear about your son's apartment. But very happy that your house is ok.

My sister lives in Valley Center and has been staying with a friend in Escondido. She got the horses out and to a safe location (for now). Her husband snuck back to check on their house today and to pick up some things, and it's ok for now, but the fire is burning in the canyon near their house, so they are now in greater danger. The air support showed up this evening, so that should help, but I don't think they can fly at night.

I'm glad the rest of you are doing ok.