I’m ditching work and told my folks to do what they think is right, what with a mandatory evacuation order in effect one mile to my north. I do believe that the Mayor is being exceptionally conservative, but the winds have picked up over the night and what was two fires has become several in the east county, none of which appear to be in the least contained.
The picture below is static and taken at 0810 1030, but it is linked to a dynamic Google map showing the location of major fires, road and highway closures, evacuation centers, etc. Now includes the evacuation area north of HWY 56, east of I-5, west of I-15, and south of the Del Dios Highway.
Neighbors are packing up.
This sorta sux.
Update: Ashes and dust everywhere, the sky is pewter colored and the wind is howling. The girls ask if we’re evacuating – I tell them the mandatory evacuation area is across the 56. They look out the back window and point to the highway. Friends call in by cell phone to say they are evacuating.
The cats are nervous, but the dog is still goofy. Local news servers are responding very slowly.
Here’s what it looks like from space:
Update 2: Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, all. We’re holding in place, watching the news, staying close to each other. It’s funny how families can be sometimes. Weeks go by sometimes between hearing from SNO, and the Biscuit and the Kat seem to want to find a way to get out from under on the weekends. But himself called first thing this morning to make sure we were OK, and offer us a place to crash. And the girls have been housebound all day, we didn’t even have to ask them to keep close.
Had the news on more or less continuously until it got too depressing. Homes are burning in Rancho Bernardo, which is no very great distance to the northeast – eight, maybe ten miles. The fire marshal grimly predicts that some of these fires will make it to the coast. That’s not good news. On the other hand, the current fires and projected paths don’t quite cross our location. But they don’t miss by much.
Better get back to my homework.
Update 3: Well, your interactive Google maps are all well and fine, but sometimes the Mark I Mod 0 Eyeball is preferred. Took the moto up the hill behind our house – where the rich people live! – and confirmed that while the winds are fierce from the east, the fires are well to our north. So long as no new thing arises we should be in good shape. We’re all packed and ready to go, just in case, and having reconnoitered on the bike it’s clear that we’ll have to use back streets and tricks to work our way towards the 5 – the intersecting highway which runs by our house is a parking lot.
It’s funny what you decide to keep and what you’d leave behind. Toiletries are a good notion, as well as a change of clothes. Bedrolls are not a bad idea, and we’re bringing our own water and TP. Because you just don’t know. Desktop computers stay behind, but laptops and removable hard drives are on the list. Wedding photo albums and family pictures? Oh very yes.
The homeowner’s association has hired workers to clear brush in the creek behind our house. The gate arm has been thoughtfully removed to let fire and rescue get in unhindered. Some of the neighbors hopefully water their lawns. Won’t do a damned bit of good if it comes to it, but I suppose it’s marginally more useful than blogging.
Update 4: Still hanging tough. You’ll see the reason for our insouciance on the map below – the martini glass represents Chez Lex. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky thank good. Kevin’s right – good pictures here.
Update 5: Oh, bother. The city has called an evacuation of Scripps Ranch, which is just southeast of us. With an evac area north and now one southeast, I’m starting to feel bracketed. Bummer.
Good news is that I have now found the gas shut-off.
Capt,
Best of luck from a Coronado native who was a first-hand witness to the 2003 fires. Those four years ago, I got a little closer than I would have liked to have been to the fire as it marched down the I-15… about 20 feet. People were going the wrong way on the freeway and generally wiggin’ out.
This go round I know a good number of people from the Scripps Ranch area who have been evacuated within the past 24 hours, we’re all hoping for the best, but after the near miss in 2003 which included extensive damage to my girlfriend’s family’s back yard (but an untouched house) no one is particularly optimistic.
I’m currently located in Irvine so I’m getting my share of the action up here. The local fire was visible from my place last night from 7:00-11:00, and passed (at its closest) about a mile and half from me. Things appear to be safe at the moment though.
My thoughts and prayers are with you – keep safe sir.
What a difference 24 hours makes. Last time I was here, everything was hunky-dory. Now? Not so much.
FWIW – good luck, mate. Hope to hear back from you soon, safe and well, and the brood.
Yeah what Chris said, from memory he’s from Canberra so we both know what it feels like to be wandering around in a pall of smoke with an amber glow in the distance.
Hope all is well mate.
I can’t even imagine. Lex, FbL and all others – hope the new morning finds you all returning to your homes, safely and soundly.
Good Luck and safe wishes man… That looks like a real bad deal goin’ on there, even from where I’m sittin’, far far away.
Lex, and all the other folks who find themselves in or near the midst our prayers and wishes for your safety… Irish
Bummer Lex, your port #89 was devastating. Good luck, hope evacuation is only safe step, not a prelude to other things — hang in man, wished to your family
[...] Posting, sadly, may be light, but hopefully not “lit,” for the next time span undetermined. [...]
I’m not sure the SEALs would appreciate your opinion of Coronado . . .
Buggin’ out was probably the right move. Evacuation being the better part of valor and all…
BTW, I just wanted to say that I thought it was a good call letting your folks do what they needed to do, and letting them do it early enough. I’ve worked for too many bosses who wouldn’t do that.
Lex – my thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and everyone else that is going thruogh such a horrible ordeal. Please let us know how you are.
I’m glad you bugged out, Lex. Doc in the Box left too, guinea pig in tow.
I’m thinking about all of you, and praying your houses are untouched. I know that physically you are all safe (Lex, FbL, Doc), but the mental strain must be high, and evacuation conditions are no fun.
We’ll talk to you when we talk to you, ok?
To get real parameters of the wildfires, these two links are very good (but extremely busy):
http://geomac.usgs.gov/
http://www.inciweb.org/
Lex,
Folks have contributed ideas and offers of housing. I know we all hope things will turn out all right, but if there is anything you may need afterward, don’t hesitate to let everyone know.
Godspeed.
One more family thinking of you and yours Captain Lex.
Our daughter is at Northwestern Prep outside San Bernadino. My wife started getting panicky when she heard they evacuated the town of Crestline and that houses at Lake Arrowhead burned.
The school assures us the fires are 8 miles away and going the other direction. Still makes you uneasy when it’s your little girl down there and your a thousand miles away.
Keep the family close and let us know how it all turns out.
Marine Family report on San Diego Fires…
The godmother of my children is married to a Marine in San Diego and sends these reports on the fires in and around San Diego, yesterday: The first one:Things are very bad here. We have been evacuated from our home….
Best of luck. Hope everything works out OK for you and yours.
Godspeed
You are in our prayers
You are in our thoughts and prayers!
Godspeed
I’ve been through a bushfire once or twice myself, and I know what a frightening time it can be. I also remember how it can be a time where people rise above themselves to help others, both in firefighting and general spiritual support.
Here’s hoping Lex, that you, your family and friends and neighbours emerge unscathed.
Yo,
Someone stole your title: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1675380,00.html?imw=Y
Their writing ain’t as purty though.
N