Southern CA fires
- Subject: Southern CA fires
- From: Diane Whitehead v*@islandnet.com
- Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 00:02:45 -0800
From: Theladygardens@aol.com
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 02:17:57 EST
Subject: Southern CA fires
Big Bear has not been hit by fire yet but is and has been in immanent danger.
They did evacuate yesterday. The fire is still raging out of control but so
far the immediate area of Lake Arrowhead has not burned, just the surrounding
forests. The fire is still heading toward Big Bear with high hopes that the
changing weather will help put it to rest enough that firefighters can bring
it under control.
My daughter and grandson were on the phone with me most of yesterday am while
loading up their vehicle to abandon their home in Big Bear Lake. We stayed
in phone contact throughout the day. They left just before 2 PM and
didn't get
into LA until 8 PM. She said nothing looked familiar even though she drives
that route every other weekend. The sky was dark, moon when visible at all
was a deep red color, street lights weren't very visible. They were
headed to a
friend's home in LA off the 210. My son kept calling his sister and asking
her to come on to Santa Barbara to his home as did his wife. As she
got to her
turnoff in La she decided to go on to her brothers. She did not want to get
trapped in LA and not be able to get out and both she and her son are very
susceptible to Asthma.
I am relieved that she went to Santa Barbara. Her brother said, he is so
relieved, he can take care of them, now he won't just worry about them.
So I have been a clearing house for her mother-in-law on the East coast and
friends and relatives all over the US calling me to check on their safety.
Sort of a telephone counselor to her and my other 3 children.
This has been very emotional for her. They had to pack what belongings were
important to them and get out assuming they may never come back again. My
grandson was a trouper. He is 12 and video taped the contents of the house.
They had split 2 1/2 cords of firewood. It all had to be away from the house
and soaked. The house was soaked. They were instructed to make sure the hose
was attached and stretched the length of the driveway to the street, put a
ladder beside the house to the roof and leave the lights on. As she
watches the
news it pains her to see those who have lost everything and particularly those
who have lost their lives. It has made her so much more aware of how involved
they are in the mountain community. They have a good life there and many
friends. She said at one point she was packing up their ski
equipment and lift
tickets when she realized that if they were burned out they wouldn't
be needing
them and if they were spared the ski equipment and slopes would be there when
they could.
I have another daughter in San Clemente, also very asthmatic. The fires have
not been there but I have been concerned about air quality. She lives about
2 blocks off the ocean so she is fine.
The TV reports are and can be very conflicting. If you don't know the area
and the location of different towns and communities it is really confusing as
the reporters are getting some of it incorrect (because they don't know the
area). We are praying for the best.
Carolyn in Los Gatos, northern CA
