Huge fires...SoCal...1/2 mile from me

[crayonblue]

Packed and ready to go if evacuated. Fire is moving fast with 30-40mph Santa Ana winds. Please pray for everyone!!!!

[Tondi G]

Hope your home remains safe and that you don't have to be evacuated. Keeping you in my thoughts. Let us know how you are doing.

[Tenasparkl]

Be safe! This heat and those winds sure aren't helping. I hope everything is fine.

[AnnieW625]

Saw the ones in RSF and RB on the news last night. I sit right next to a few people who drive up here from SD everyday so I hope their homes are okay as well.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Yikes! I saw that on the news. Very best thoughts with you, your family and neighbors!

[elektra]

Hope everyone stays safe.

[mommylamb]

Very scary. Be safe!

[momkay]

Packed and ready to go if evacuated. Fire is moving fast with 30-40mph Santa Ana winds. Please pray for everyone!!!!

Stay safe !! I live very close to where the fire originated yesterday

[crayonblue]

So far 100 acres burned in two hours in business/residential area. My house is sooooo smoky. Leaving.

[brittone2]

Stay safe. Your family will be in our thoughts, and we hope they can get the fire under control ASAP.

[crayonblue]

DD1 requested that I grab her American Girl doll collection. So, it's me and a bunch of dolls in the car! DH has all the important paperwork.

[wencit]

Thinking of you and all your neighbors!

[Momit]

Stay safe. Sending good thoughts your way. Hope those winds die down and they can get the fires under control quickly!

[anonomom]

Yikes! Hope they get it under control quickly.

[egoldber]

Stay safe!!!!!!

[Twoboos]

P&PT to you and your neighbors! MIL is nearby and I think she is packed up just in case she gets the word to go.

I hope they can bring these under control before there is any property damage. The high heat + Santa Ana + dry eucalyptus is scary.

[crayonblue]

News is saying 30 buildings (some houses) burned.

[Twoboos]

News is saying 30 buildings (some houses) burned.

Ugh, I was listening to NPR a couple of hours ago and at that point there was no property damage (which they said was miraculous). :(

[jgenie]

Praying for you. Hope everyone is safe.

[AnnieW625]

and to make matters worse right now I-5 is closed both ways between San Onofre and the end of Camp Pendleton and reverse. ABC 10's website in San Diego has some good up to the minute updates. The 15 South is pretty clear from the 91 right now. 15 North isn't too bad right now either.

[crayonblue]

We were evacuated. Police came through neighborhood with bullhorns. Fire is now spreading through neighborhoods! Ugh!!!

DH said he woke up with a jolt at 6am, heart pounding, and felt like he should pray.

[California]

Oh no! The news was so good this morning too. Going to go read updates now. Hope the firefighters get it under control soon.

[maestramommy]

:hug: Prayers! Stay safe!

[dream135]

Stay safe.

[TwinFoxes]

Sending you prayers. Thank goodness you evacuated, it's the smart thing to do. :hug:

[Tenasparkl]

Sending you prayers. Thank goodness you evacuated, it's the smart thing to do. :hug:

Agreed!

[zag95]

Sending thoughts your way- Glad you are safe and evacuated. How scary. Take care

[trentsmom]

Sending prayers!

[happymom]

How scary. I'm glad you're out and safe!

[daniele_ut]

One of my good friends was evacuated by the police about an hour ago. She has 4 young kids and is 26 weeks pregnant with twins. I feel awful for her. She just posted that the fire jumped the dry canyon and is basically in their backyard.

Stay safe and I will add you to my prayers!


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[AJP]

Stay safe! We are praying for you!

[Ceepa]

Just seeing this. Hope you guys are in a safe place now and that your home is spared.

[NCGrandma]

Photos on the national news were really scary. Stay safe everyone.


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[Indianamom2]

Ugh....that's terrifying. Please be safe and remember that if worst comes to worst, you and your family are more important than any house or possession. Stay safe and I'll keep you in my prayers.

[MelissaTC]

Thinking of you. Please be safe.

[larig]

sending PTs. Be safe!!! And update when and if you can.

[Mommy_Mea]

Be safe! So scary!

[zukeypur]

Thinking of you. A family friend lost their home on Sunday in the Texas Panhandle.

[crayonblue]

Anybody have a rec for an air purifier I can order from Amazon tonight? I smell horribly like smoke so I'm thinking our house is gonna stink!!! Going for dinner and will continue waiting for evacuation info.

[citymama]

Stay safe!

[lmh2402]

sending p&pts - please keep safe

[TwinFoxes]

Anybody have a rec for an air purifier I can order from Amazon tonight? I smell horribly like smoke so I'm thinking our house is gonna stink!!! Going for dinner and will continue waiting for evacuation info.

Just looked at consumer reports, this was their best buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Whirlpool-Whispure-Purifier-Cleaner-AP51030K/dp/B00440EKRG

[megs4413]

Thinking about you and praying they get the fires under control!

[Twoboos]

OMG. A couple are burning very close to MIL's house (like walking distance), she is being evacuated. She is in a complete panic. ETA: OK wait it looks like that one's now under control, but she's still on high alert.

P&PT, please. Crayonblue glad you guys are OK!!

[AnnieW625]

Make sure you get one from this list:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/aircleaners/certified.htm

Again thinking about you guys and everyone else affected.

[elbenn]

Crayonblue, glad you guys are okay! I have this air purifier and it is very quiet. http://www.amazon.com/Winix-WAC5500-Cleaner-PlasmaWave-Technology/dp/B004WT39QW/ref=pd_sim_hg_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=19HC3KXGPR0ATFXZ92TE

[Kindra178]

Austin Air. We have a Jr. Healthmate in all the bedrooms. Makes a huge difference.

Hope you guys are ok. Very scary and sad for all in your area.

[mikala]

I'm thinking of you too. I just looked at some of the news photos and was stunned by the number and size of the fires.

[TxCat]

PTs that you stay safe.

[crayonblue]

Our area's evacuation hasn't been lifted yet so we are staying with DH's parents. They have fires within a few miles too so I'm kind of freaked. But there are no hotels available with NINE different fires burning.

Thanks for the air purifier recs! About to order one.

[dcmom2b3]

Thinking of you, crayonblue. Stay safe!!

[WatchingThemGrow]

This air cleaner is expensive, but it works REALLY well. We bought two during our moldy rental phase in 2012. http://www.amazon.com/IQAir%C2%AE-Edition-HealthPro%C2%AE-Plus-Purifier/dp/B002VXDCHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400150431&sr=8-1&keywords=iq+air

It will turn the air over in the whole place pretty quickly. Also, we have one similar to this that remediation companies use after fires and such. It (obviously) industrial and really works to clean it up. http://www.amazon.com/Dri-Eaz-DefendAir-HEPA-500-Purifier/dp/B00AB25016/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400150683&sr=8-1&keywords=air+scrubber

[Pennylane]

How scary, Be safe!

[lkoala]

This air cleaner is expensive, but it works REALLY well. We bought two during our moldy rental phase in 2012. http://www.amazon.com/IQAir%C2%AE-Edition-HealthPro%C2%AE-Plus-Purifier/dp/B002VXDCHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400150431&sr=8-1&keywords=iq+air

I've got this one too and it works great! The various filters are expensive though but last quite a while.

[crayonblue]

Thanks all. We are heading home. That was quite a wild day.

[AnnieW625]

Yay! :)

[wendibird22]

Glad you all and your home are safe. I was watching the ABC World News last night and couldn't get over the images. This seemed so much scarier than footage I've seen in prior years. Continue P&PT for you and those living in your area.

[crayonblue]

Here's someone's video of the fire near us. This fire got to within 1/2 a mile of us. Bad language so mute the sound if you need to.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=fYril_YyaQM

Multiply that times 9 as there were 9 fires spread out around the area. A few reports have suggested that the fires may have been intentional and are being investigated for criminal activity. :(

[Philly Mom]

Glad to hear you are home! Get some rest.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Wow. That footage is intense!

[TwinFoxes]

Here's someone's video of the fire near us. This fire got to within 1/2 a mile of us. Bad language so mute the sound if you need to.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=fYril_YyaQM

Multiply that times 9 as there were 9 fires spread out around the area. A few reports have suggested that the fires may have been intentional and are being investigated for criminal activity. :(

There is a lot of uncleared brush there. Is the county still supposed to clear it? I remember they used to (I grew up in SD). I'm very happy your house is safe. I feel awful for those not so lucky. Unsolicited advice, be sure to plant ice plants or other succulents on your property.

[bisous]

Holy cow! That is close. We were watching the fires carefully as my Dad lives very near the Bernardo fire. He also mentioned the possibility of a criminal element. So evil to cause so much damage and potential loss of life. :(

[zag95]

OMG- that is just heartbreaking- and some of those people are stupid to just stand there- practically right near the fire!!! It could shift in a second.

Hope everyone in the area is safe.

[crayonblue]

There is a lot of uncleared brush there. Is the county still supposed to clear it? I remember they used to (I grew up in SD). I'm very happy your house is safe. I feel awful for those not so lucky. Unsolicited advice, be sure to plant ice plants or other succulents on your property.

I don't know what the county does about uncleared brush. They seem to be working on the landscape 365 days per year! Strangely I never even noticed all that dried brush until seeing this video and I drive by it every day, multiple times.

I will definitely mention the plants to our landlord!

Now we are watching the fires to the east in San Marcos.

This has all been super informative to me. How when 10,000 acres burn, the firefighters let the brush burn and focus on fortifying the structures. So the whole mountainside may be burning and nothing being done while the firefighters prepare the areas it is headed for.

[crayonblue]

The authorities are saying we are likely to have a bad summer/fall with fires since this is starting in May!

Maybe I should remind my inlaws NOT to shoot off fireworks in their SoCal backyard in the middle of the summer like they did two years ago. Rolls eyes.

[TwinFoxes]

OP, this might be helpful.
http://www.readyforwildfire.org/landscaping

[pinay]

I've lived in SD since 1999 and have very vivid memories of the 2003 and 2007 fires. We are thankfully not in a threatened area, but my brother used to live in the area of Escondido that is now being evacuated. So scary watching the live feeds on the news- I have to turn it off after a while because its just too much for me and the kids.

I don't think there is a county-wide policy to do brush clearing anymore- it's actually better to let some of the dead stuff burn off so the fuel gets spent and they can focus their energies on protecting structures. I believe some cities have brush clearing programs in place and actually even cite people who don't take care of hazardous situations on their properties, but it varies from city to city.

[essnce629]

Stay safe everyone! I'm from San Diego and have friends who live and work in Carlsbad, Escondido, and Rancho Bernardo but so far everyone has been able to stay put. I do have some FB friends from high school who have been evacuated though.

Yesterday up here in LA there was a fire off the freeway near the exit to DS1's school. They shut part of the freeway down and I was 30 minutes late picking him up!

[speo]

Stay safe!! We didn't get evacuated, but we were way too close for comfort last when fires came through our neighborhood. We could easily see the flames from our windows.

I too am very surprised by the brush clearance. In my county, the fire department is known for being VERY strict about their brush clearance requirements. It does not look like that the open space abutting that subdivision in the footage. That land should have been cleared by the HOA or possibly the open space agency (if any) that holds title to the land.

[ShanaMama]

Many PT. ​I hope everyone stays safe. That clip was terrifying!

[TwinFoxes]

I too am very surprised by the brush clearance. In my county, the fire department is known for being VERY strict about their brush clearance requirements. It does not look like that the open space abutting that subdivision in the footage. That land should have been cleared by the HOA or possibly the open space agency (if any) that holds title to the land.

I agree. I mean, I'm not expecting the canyons to be cleared, but the hills next to houses, definitely! Of course, maybe it was scheduled for later in the year, this fire happened so early.

[AnnieW625]

......Maybe I should remind my inlaws NOT to shoot off fireworks in their SoCal backyard in the middle of the summer like they did two years ago. Rolls eyes.

My neighbors do this too with illegal fireworks on our street and we don't have much dry brush areas where we live, but people still have wood shingles on their roofs so each year on the 4th people are always up on their roof spraying it down. Even some have gotten close to our roof and it makes me nervous even though we have a non wood shingle roof.

There is smoke up here today at work and we are a good 50 miles north of the Camp Pendleton fires. It stinks.

[crayonblue]

I agree. I mean, I'm not expecting the canyons to be cleared, but the hills next to houses, definitely! Of course, maybe it was scheduled for later in the year, this fire happened so early.

I took a look down the hill behind our house and I am happy to say that it is entirely ice plant. :) We live in an older neighborhood. Some of those neighborhoods in the video are very new. In fact the apartment complex that burned is right next to new construction that isn't even finished yet.

[crayonblue]

Austin Air. We have a Jr. Healthmate in all the bedrooms. Makes a huge difference.

Hope you guys are ok. Very scary and sad for all in your area.

Thanks Kindra178, we went with this one. It seems to be helping a lot!