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Cowboybooter
10-26-2003, 5:15 PM
Just saw on the news about these being out of control near residential areas!

Hope everyone is okay!


Bob
akaBruno
10-26-2003, 5:47 PM
Have no fear...Ahhhnode will save them !
Mntsnow
10-26-2003, 10:19 PM
Has Arnold takin office yet?
NDC
10-26-2003, 10:23 PM
Not yet..

As for the Simi Valley fire, it's really getting things nasty here in Burbank. I was on the 5 freeway and notice moisture in the air as well as smell of smoke and dense smog...

I really feel for those people who lost their homes. It's a good thing not many people were killed compared to the number of homes that went up in flames...
mickwish
10-26-2003, 10:37 PM
SoCal got a bit adventurous and went climbing mountains to get pics. She posted some she got before they sent her home. :p

As far as we have heard from TIMO members in SoCal, none have been burnt out. Bill in SD, CA is very close to them, but last we heard he was still safe.

Some pics in this TIMO thread (http://www.techimo.com/forum/t85943.html).
NDC
10-26-2003, 10:57 PM
So that's where she's been busy at! LOL
Socal
10-26-2003, 11:00 PM
Hi everyone! lol Mick, I was just about to post my post here, as well. I also hope that if there any XPC members in SoCal that I hope you are safe and sound in body and property. There are currently 6 major fires burning in So Cal now.. :(

Here's my 'adventure' posted here, too :) It was fun, though I wish I could've gotten better photos ;/

I'm not far from the Simi Valley fire which is a couple days old now and not contained. With the Santa Ana's blowing in a westerly direction away from me the skies in that N/NW direction are a sight to behold.

I just got back from snapping some pics, hoping to get some good shots of the fire. I headed north towards the 118 FWY and took the old Santa Susanna Pass Road west - a two lane road cutting through the mountainous canyon which separates the west San Fernando Valley from Simi Valley.

I pulled off at the 118 Fwy overpass where there's a hiking trail (Knothead knows it - I made him climb it once lol ;) jk ) and proceeded to start hiking up towards the smoke with my digicam and cellphone. I couldn't believe I was the only one there! The fire gate was open and sign saying not to enter, which I pretended I couldn't read <g>

I started hiking up.. up.. up.. the trail .. after about a mile it seemed to be just over the next ridge.. until I got over that ridge, then it seemed to be just over the next one... then the NEXT one.. well another mile or two or so later, it seemed I was just chasing the smoke, and while getting visibly closer to the smoke, it seemed I wouldn't be able to gain the ground to see any flames before dark.

A couple of nice Fire & Rescue guys went by while I was still on my way up, and stopped to chat for a moment.. I asked how far away the fire was, and they said that's what they were going to find out. I wished I could've gone on with them. They told me to be careful, but didn't tell me to go back ...

I snapped some shots on the way up and then proceeded to start back down as after almost 3 miles it seemed futile to continue plus it was getting dark.

Then from my height I noticed the Old Pass Road was quite clogged, then noticed the 118 Fwy had no cars on it west of where I was parked. They had now closed the 118 Fwy freeway into Simi Valley.

While on my way back down the trail is when the fat sheriff in the truck came by .. and asked if I was on my way back down. lol? :)

Then a couple of undercover [and quite good-looking] cops in a grey sedan] asked if I was alone. I volunteered that I was on my way back down. I asked if the fwy was open going east and they said they thought so.

Another small fire truck was coming up now. Something must've shifted, or maybe they were checking the area to make sure there weren't any more stragglers [like me] in the area. All during this entire time there were at least 4 news helicopters and a couple of fire copters in the air. I presume they might have spotted me and alerted officials, but I don't know.

When I got back down to the bottom of the canyon trail, there were now several cars and ppl with cams being turned away, and the fat sheriff holding sentinel at the entrance. I chatted with some of the folks there then took off down the Fwy - going East.

Which was absolutely and totally perfect for punching it, cos there was no one on the road! WooHoo! :D Reminded me of the 118 after the Northridge quake when no one was on it then, either.

I'm photochopping some of the photos now... many were too dark so I'm doing a little lightening of them but that is the only alteration. I got pics of lots of smoke, but unfortunately.. no flames. :(

Stay safe, everyone.

These pics are kinda 'dull' looking, I suppose due to the smoke and bad lighting from the smoke. I had to lighten them, but other than that.. natural. They didn't really turn out as exciting as I hoped :p lol

http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire011a.jpg

http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire08a.jpg

More images at 1200x900. If you notice how dry the brush is, you can see why these fires spread so fast!

http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire0.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire01.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire02.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire03.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire04.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire07.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire05.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire09.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire010.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire012.jpg
http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/pub/fire/fire013.jpg
Socal
10-26-2003, 11:12 PM
btw, thanks Cowboy and everyone for the well wishes :)

News report update just informed that over 800 homes have been consumed by these fires. :(
akaBruno
10-26-2003, 11:32 PM
glad your safe Socalgal. Be careful.
Mntsnow
10-27-2003, 12:13 AM
Stay Safe everyone....Sad to see homes go up :(
M_Six
10-27-2003, 1:22 PM
Lookin' bad for Bill in SD, CA. He had to evacuate. Horrible. I heard on the news today that some of the poor souls that died were trapped in their cars trying to escape. :( Tragic.
NDC
10-27-2003, 1:24 PM
I was just out at the balcony and noticed some winds. Sheesh, that's not good news for the fire fighters at all! :(
earthling
10-27-2003, 3:40 PM
Glad to hear your safe down there Socal, and thanks for the images.
With this unusually warm weather we're having along with the winds all of California is under extreme fire alert.
Hope they can get it em all contained soon as possible.
Socal
10-28-2003, 2:20 PM
hey peeps. *coughcough* from the smoke and ash.

Angela - where are you and why haven't you checked in here.

Everyone else, I hope you're all OK and safe and sound in body and property.

Still not over... I have friends in Simi and Porter Ranch who, while close, are ok. I'm about 3-5 miles south of the "Chatsworth" burning.
Angela
10-28-2003, 7:06 PM
Sorry Socal! I've been distracted by all that's going on. I did post a little bit ago at TechIMO, but I should have come here, too! We live only about a mile from the beach, so the fire never got close to us--lots of folks we know had to evacuate, though! I still don't know if their houses were spared.

You're sure close--it's not moving towards you, is it? The air here is pretty bad, but it must be awful where you are!

I hope everyone is OK! The fire has really become dreadful in the mountains east of us, and lots of towns such as Julian, Pine Valley, Descanso, etc. have been evacuated into the desert at Borrego Springs. Part of Interstate 8 has been closed.

I feel so sad for all who have lost homes and loved ones! And the wildlife! Fire is normal here, but even though we had an average rainfall last winter, we had five years of drought. So many trees are dead, and so many more are weak--it just makes the fire that much worse! I am more thankful than I can say for the firefighters, law enforcement officers, government folks, and volunteers, etc., who are working so hard to keep everyone safe and well.
NDC
10-28-2003, 7:09 PM
It's looking really nasty outside right now. It is sooo smoggy
Socal
10-28-2003, 9:53 PM
So good to see you and hear that you're Ok, Angela :) Yes, I saw your reply at TIMO, too and I sent your PM a reply :)

I subscribe to the Earth Observatory and here's what just came in:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16344

You can click on the images to get a HUGE close up with much more detail.
Socal
10-28-2003, 9:59 PM
Dang, my server is down, sorry for the pic placeholders and my links wont' be working for another day or two. :p
mholtum
10-28-2003, 10:11 PM
On of my high school friends is a fireman in Calif... Say a kind word in your prayers for him and his family, please.
BBA
10-29-2003, 7:29 PM
You stay safely away from that fire now Socal.

(nice pic's though)
Cowboybooter
10-31-2003, 1:19 PM
Anyone heard anything on BillinSDCA Yet??

I guess if he had to evac he couldn't post anywhere!

Bob
Socal
11-02-2003, 9:00 PM
Bill is ok, as I'm sure you've heard and seen by now. Thanks be :)

Gosh, the fire pics posted were so ... small... compared to how they grew :(
davidw
11-02-2003, 9:23 PM
Socal, I'm glad you're ok. I pray for the safety of everyone. Being in Arkansas, I've not seen much fire activity, but I couldn't imagine what it must be to go through something like that. I've been through tornados and hurricaines and things that spin, but never a fire. God be with you all.