So, Calif. Fodorites.. fire threat
 

I talked to my husband a short while ago. He is working in the Ventura area, and said the winds were pretty bad, and the smoke was noticeable and it was quite dusty.

How is everyone closer to the L.A. area? Take care and hope you are out of harm's way. J.((F))

We had planned a day at the Santa Barbara Zoo yesterday and cancelled due to the high winds... they were predicting up to 60 MPH... even today it's still very gusty here (I'm in Pizmo Beach) and kinda warm. The pictures of Malibu were awful... this is the time of year and it sure is dry...

Good thoughts for all of those closwer to the fires.

topping. Has anyone talked to friends or relatives who have had to evacuate today? J.

San Diego County has two huge, and growing rapidly, fires burning. The entire town of Ramona is now under a mandatory evacuation order. Also, just this minute, the San Pasqual Valley, which is where the Wild Animal Park is located. Evacuation centers are Poway High School on Espola Road and Escondido high School on N. Broadway. All Ramona schools will be closed tomorrow. Poway Unified schools will also be closed tomorrow.

The dense smoke from these fires has been blown by the very strong winds all the way to the coast. Ash is falling like snow.

Further south, close to the border, the other fire began near Potrero and has also spread rapidly.

I hope any Fodorites who live in these areas are safe. If you have a chance, please post and let the rest of us San Diego people know if we can help you.

The evacuation Center at Poway High School is closing and moving to Mira Mesa High School on Mira Mesa Blvd at Reagan Road. Residents in the north-east corner of Poway (where the high school is) have been advised to evacuate, but it is not mandatory at this time.

San Diego County courts will be closed tomorrow.

I think it's so sweet of you to ask.
Thank you for your concern.

We live in Ventura county near the Moorpark fire but safe at this point. We are unfortunately prone to fires here.

The winds yesterday and today are unreal. Yesterday a 10 or 12 foot trampoline came flying into our backyard from a neighbor's home and barely missed the window to our family room like a frisbee (I didnot see it happen) If not for being blocked by our neighbors metal gazelbo that had also blown over, it would have broken the window. Sheeesh!

I am also concerned for my three (indoor) dogs one especially hates the wind.

Hope all the others a safe & sound.

Barbara! Sounds like you are ok. I wasn't sure if you are in the north county so i was worried. My daughter & son-in-law are with us here at the beach area but they are concerned about their home.

I posted earlier to find out how you are - so good to hear you on this post!

It is forcast to be worse than the Cedar fires we had four years ago. We had many friends who lost homes and everything they owned in Scripps Ranch.

So sorry for those who are dealing with this.

RBCal~ how are you doing? Hope you are well.

Barbara~ my sister used to live in Escondido, on a hillside where last year's fire caused evacuation.
She is in Houston now, but I know she must be worried about her friends in the old neighborhood. Take care, J.

My thoughts are with all Southern Californians at this trying time.

We were driving yesterday on I-5 and saw the plumes of smoke from the Castaic fire. We saw it just over the ridge from some homes and then about 15 minutes later at a different part of the hill we saw the fire crest the top of the hill and come leaping down the canyons towards I-5. It was amazing how fast the fire could travel.

At the time we left LA there were only three fires burning - Castaic, Malibu, and Porter Ranch. By the time we got back home to the Bay Area there were a dozen fires going and had spread to San Diego county.

The winds were the highest we had ever seen. Saturday night when we started dinner on the Third Street Promanade in Santa Monica it was just breezy, but by the time we finished dinner it was really blowing. Our car was buffed from side to side with ferocious blasts at the most unexpected times. It was hairy driving on the freeway. And yesterday, it was really blowing over the Tehachapis.

Thinking of you, Southern Californiaians, and wishing you and yours safety and good health through this crisis.

ttt.

Glad to hear that our San Diego friends are all right for now. Barbara, have you heard any more about the wild animal park? I sure hope they have plans in place to take care of the critters.

We drove from Nipomo this morning to attend a funeral in Redondo Beach. The winds were fierce! We left Nipomo at 6am, hit Ventura by 8:30. Started to take 118, but the winds were so bad we decided to cut down the 23 to the 101. It took us 2 hours to travel the 25 miles from Agora Hills to the 405--but only 30 minutes down the 405 to Redondo. It's very smokey here--we've had friends who evacuated from Malibu--trying to find places for the horses. Keep everyone in your prayers. We just hope we can get back to the Bay Area Wed.

Where in the Whirl is Matt Lauer?

~ just checking in...

Hoping those who posted earlier are safe and doing as well as possible. I can't imagine the air quality right now. Best to everyone, J.((L))

Hi Guys:

My co worker lives in Santa Clarita (near Magic Mountain) and was allowed to re enter their house today after 3 days of evacuation

Horrible news, she reports a neighbor died when he did not make it out of the house and he suffered burnes.

I did not hear this on the news?

I pray for this poor man and his family.

amsdon~ that's heartbreaking about the coworker's neighbor who didn't get out. So many in danger. I saw footage of two horses running loose on a road with fire approaching and my heart stood still.

All we can do is pray that it gets better, and the brave firefighters and emergency service personnel get some help from other states' resources and a change in the weather.
Bless you all, J.

My in-laws had to evacuate (they're in Poway) and my brother was told to, but he thinks they made a mistake. My nephew is a firefighter there and of course our thoughts and prayers are with everyone there. It's so sad, but goes to show how little control we have.

I don't think any of us in S. CA can think about anything besides the terrible fires and all that is happening to our friends and neighbors. I do not know anyone who does not know someone who has been evacuated or has lost their home. I large state has become a very small state. Thanks for all your concern everyone!!

Gosh yes we pray they will be safe too. I especially thank all the people who work as firefighters. This time my own home was not threatened. You are right though a minute is all it takes and a change in the wind...we have seen it many times.

Keep us posted on your relatives please.

My daughter lives in La Jolla. She recommends this website: signonsandiego.com.

It has information on evacuations, road closures, shelters, addresses of homes that were lost, and current news, pics, and video from the fires. It has an excellent map feature that allows you to see the fires in red and the evacuated areas in yellow. You can zoom out and get a feel for the scope of the fires and zoom in to view streets.

Hope everyone is safe.