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Post by bc2ca on Dec 17, 2017 15:32:45 GMT
Our local fire (Lilac Fire) was controlled quickly and is officially out after 10 days. I haven't heard anything about the north LA fires for days and assume they are mostly contained and evacuation orders are lifted.
There are many people who have lost homes and are still in shelters or staying with friends/family. I didn't realize our library was set up as the Local Assistance Center when I drove into a full parking lot last week. It was great to see state, county, city and veterans services there to make sure people affected knew what resources are available to help them.
The Thomas Fire is continuing to threaten communities and grow. It is such difficult terrain with lots of steep hillsides and much of it inaccessible by road. I saw some of the coverage last night and every driveway had a fire truck. The firefighters are focused on saving houses by cutting fuel and clearing defensible areas around the homes and letting the hillsides burn. They are working so hard and not getting a break from the weather.
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Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,969
Jun 25, 2014 23:13:23 GMT
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Post by Nanner on Dec 17, 2017 15:42:16 GMT
That's terrible.
We could see the big smoke clouds below when we flew into LAX last weekend.
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Post by malibou on Dec 17, 2017 16:27:50 GMT
They are hoping to connect the Thomas fire to ones that burned in the past several years, as there is less fuel and those old scars act as a breaks.
Looks like we will be continuing with the Santa Ana winds thru today.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Dec 17, 2017 16:49:15 GMT
It has been a very long week for me so far. I’m in Idaho, but my DH still lives in our house in Santa Paula and my in laws live in the hills of Ventura. Both were evacuated, but have since been let back home and the houses are fine. My in laws were very lucky, the house above them burned and several in their neighborhood burned, but theirs was spared. It’s been a very helpless feeling watching this unfold from another state. Prayers to everyone affected. My DH took this from the balcony of the bedroom as he was evacuated. Oh Nink, that's so awful. My girlfriend raced to get home to grab her things, she lives in SP too. Thank goodness they were spared too. I was so happy Painted Pony Farm survived. The owner stayed behind after the wife was evacuated and he fought off alone. The fire is not near being over, it marches on to Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. I went to a party on Saturday night in Ventura and everyone there sadly, knew people/family who lost homes. Its surrreal to drive into town and see hillsides that once were dotted with homes. One of our former channel 10 newscasters left us and moved to Santa Barbara. She's a diehard Buckeye fan. Anyway, I follow her on facebook because she was just amazing and we miss her on the news and she just posted yesterday that they had to evacuate. I can't imagine.
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Post by dewryce on Dec 18, 2017 6:50:55 GMT
katybee I hope your brother and his home are doing ok.
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oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,003
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Dec 18, 2017 16:04:01 GMT
Katybee, prayers for your brother and all of Santa Barbara and Montecito. This horrific fire will just not quit. We stood on the overpass yesterday to pay our respects to the fallen firefighter as his procession past through our town on the 101. it was very moving. this is looking North; the smoke on the horizon is the fires in Santa Barbara.
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Post by bc2ca on Dec 19, 2017 3:58:09 GMT
oh yvonne, we were traveling north on the 15 through San Diego County and every overpass was filled with firefighters and members of the public. The firefighters were climbing onto the roofs of their trucks and we knew the procession was near, so bypassed our exit and pulled over with many other cars to watch as the procession passed. So incredibly sad. katybee, I hope your brother and family are safe. flanz, I hope your house has been spared, too.
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oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,003
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Dec 19, 2017 14:22:02 GMT
oh yvonne , we were traveling north on the 15 through San Diego County and every overpass was filled with firefighters and members of the public. The firefighters were climbing onto the roofs of their trucks and we knew the procession was near, so bypassed our exit and pulled over with many other cars to watch as the procession passed. So incredibly sad. katybee , I hope your brother and family are safe. flanz , I hope your house has been spared, too. Oh bc2, that makes me so happy to read, I didn't catch the news footage of the procession but I'd hoped that every single overpass and highway was filled. I hope his wife and loved ones saw how sad we are over their devastating loss. My niece hostesses at a Mexican restaurant in Oxnard, and she says every time a group of firefighters walks in, the entire restaurant gives them standing ovations. Someone always offers to pick up the tab, but the restaurant already does so she told me people then buy them dessert. One of the firefighters told my niece that they have never felt so welcomed as they have been by the folks in Ventura/V county. There are signs hung every where you go, and people even wrote on the backs of their car windows 'thank you firefighters".
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Post by dewryce on Dec 19, 2017 14:33:05 GMT
oh yvonne , we were traveling north on the 15 through San Diego County and every overpass was filled with firefighters and members of the public. The firefighters were climbing onto the roofs of their trucks and we knew the procession was near, so bypassed our exit and pulled over with many other cars to watch as the procession passed. So incredibly sad. katybee , I hope your brother and family are safe. flanz , I hope your house has been spared, too. Oh bc2, that makes me so happy to read, I didn't catch the news footage of the procession but I'd hoped that every single overpass and highway was filled. I hope his wife and loved ones saw how sad we are over their devastating loss. My niece hostesses at a Mexican restaurant in Oxnard, and she says every time a group of firefighters walks in, the entire restaurant gives them standing ovations. Someone always offers to pick up the tab, but the restaurant already does so she told me people then buy them dessert. One of the firefighters told my niece that they have never felt so welcomed as they have been by the folks in Ventura/V county. There are signs hung every where you go, and people even wrote on the backs of their car windows 'thank you firefighters". That's wonderful, how heartwarming!
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oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,003
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Dec 19, 2017 14:35:11 GMT
It is heartwarming. I was pulling into Ventura the first weekend of the fires to check on my parents and by the time I got to the house the tears were just spilling over. The signs, the signs were hung every where.
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Post by flanz on Dec 19, 2017 18:06:07 GMT
Thanks to all of you concerned about us affected by the Thomas Fire, whether or not you have family and friends involved. <3 <3 <3 Checking in from my mom's in Canada. It's good to log on here and read your comments and updates. I spent almost all of Saturday glued to non-stop coverage on our local tv station, frightened for so very many loved ones still there, grateful for the news crews bringing us news. My heart hurts for all who have lost their homes and those whose homes were damaged and those still in harms way. That includes plain old breathing the air. It is toxic and will likely cause many people serious issues down the road if not immediately. I have been delighted to see that the GoFundMe account for the pregnant widow and young daughter of firefighter Cory Iversen (sp?) has been so hugely successful, but I'm pretty sure they would give it all away to have him back. It IS heartwarming to see strangers joining forces to show her their deep gratitude for his/ their sacrifice. So many people have lost their homes in Ventura. And Santa Rosa. And Texas. And Florida. And Puerto Rico. It takes years to rebuild lives and communities, while the national attention moves on to the most current disaster... Thanks to all looking for ways to help those affected. The needs won't go away any time soon. And the winds predicted for tomorrow will once again put the Santa Barbara area at risk should they materialize. I have found a great FB page - thomas fire info - started by Greg Gillis-Smith, a very knowledgable lay person. tons of useful info and personal stories if you're interested. much love, moi
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