Fires devastating certain Southern California areas

[SYCO GT]

I hope that you and yours are safe.

LOS ANGELES — Southern Californians endured a third day of destruction Saturday as wind-blasted wildfires torched hundreds of mobile homes and mansions, forced tens of thousands of people to flee and shut down major freeways.

No deaths were reported, but the Los Angeles police chief said he feared authorities might find bodies among the 500 burned dwellings in a devastated mobile home park that housed many senior citizens.

[full story after link]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,452665,00.html

 

[Fast Freddy]

i prayed for the fires to stop this morning. what a nightmare. i hope nobody gets killed.

 

[HHGT]

I called and checked with all the local GT owners and they are all safe. Prayers go out to everyone, I'll post some pictures from my hillside a bit later. Devastating for some to say the least. This morning the hillside looked more like a volcano had erupted.

 

[B O N Y]

So very sad, we are praying and watching news bulletins.
Mother nature can be very nasty at times.

 

[nota4re]

The Sylmar fire moved into the Newhall pass yesterday morning about 2 miles South as the crow flies from my home/shop. Thankfully, the winds continued to blow South West the majority of the day - which was a benefit to me and others as the fire front (here on the West side) progressed into largely uninhabitated areas. We have 3 GTs here now and between Ryan (17) and Lauren (14 - and with one whole driving lesson under her belt which taught her among other things, the unique smell of a hot clutch), we were deciding who was gonna drive which GT if/when the wind changed.

Our thoughts and prayers to those impacted by this angry mother nature. If nothing else, it helps us all keep what is truly important in perspective.

 

[B O N Y]

We are praying for you folks. Also, keeping good thoughts.

 

[HHGT]

I spoke to Gaby who is in Yorba Linda - his car is at Kendall's. Kendall if you have not called him yet, please do so. I offered Gaby to use my Truck and Trailer if we need to get the GT out, just let me know Kendall.

I spoke to George and his Kids and Grand Kids are Okay. George, Jeff and I live on the same hill side and we can see the fire/smoke plume from our back yards.

Left a message for Wally and left him a Voice mail, have not heard back yet. Wally, if you read this and would like to bring the GT over or need some help, let me know.

 

[MAD IN NC]

thinking of ya all..... Careful Sam.....

 

[nota4re]

Sam,

Thanks for your thoughts and offer of help. Gaby and I chatted yesterday - we didn't know which location presented the safer environment as we both had fires nearby! Turns out that we're both OK and looking better all of the time.

I spoke with Wally just a few minutes ago. He spent the morning helping a neighbor a few block closer to the perimeter of the housing track get packed up just in case.

Winds are picking up again which is not good....

 

[Cyclenirvana]

Wow, I would not wish this on anyone! Hope you guys are all safe. You are in my prayers!!

 

[cobrar1339]

I spoke to Gaby who is in Yorba Linda - his car is at Kendall's. Kendall if you have not called him yet, please do so. I offered Gaby to use my Truck and Trailer if we need to get the GT out, just let me know Kendall.

I spoke to George and his Kids and Grand Kids are Okay. George, Jeff and I live on the same hill side and we can see the fire/smoke plume from our back yards.

Left a message for Wally and left him a Voice mail, have not heard back yet. Wally, if you read this and would like to bring the GT over or need some help, let me know.

Sam, Kendall thanks for the calls, Glad to Here you are OK too Kendall. Slapped the trickle charge back on the GT Yesterday afternoon in case. Broke out the totes early this morning as we got the notice we may be next to get ready to go. Helped a friend pack up to get out as well. We are now thinking he is going to be fine, but the smoke is awful around his place.

It was like that Deep Purple Song around here last night. "Smoke on the Water, Fire in the Sky". Lot's of ash everywhere.


We are all OK for now. The wind shift is helping. Evacuations early this morning for those 1/4 mile West. We are 1/4 to 1/2 mile away of all current burns.

If the wind stays the way it's blowing, we should be good here, but that is at the expense of others in The Country section of Diamond Bar. It's good to feel fortunate, but hard to swallow it may be at the expense of others.

The Fire Fighters are doing their best, the DC 10's have been dropping retardant for hours, broke out some dozers this morning as well. Not so sure how well the retardant works as we still see it burn down the hills, but no lost homes yet. :thumbsup

The Fire Fighters gather at a local park about 1/4 mile from the house for rest . Many of the locals brought them donuts and coffee this morning, Egg Mc Muffins, and many ice chests filled with water. It's so cool to see all the different city names on these trucks. What a team effort here. My wife works the the School used for evacuations and has gotten a call to help this afternoon. My son is deputy Sheriff and they are around the clock with 7 hour breaks in shifts.

 

[skyrex]

I hope the fires end soon and that all of you continue to remain safe. Our thoughts are with you.

 

[TallCarGuy]

Well guys, my very close friend and business partner of nearly thirty years, lost his home to the Santa Barbara Tea Fire. He and his family had minutes to leave and had to depart without their family pictures, papers and virtually all of their belongings. We were trying to determine whether there was any news on the internet about his area when I ran across a photograph of the Range Rover that they had left behind. It was burned to the ground and the home, which should have been in front of where it was parked, was missing. His home was built on the side of a hill on a nearly three acre property and it is now just an area of scorched earth.

It is a mind numbing feeling knowing that the home we enjoyed so many wonderful events, weddings, parties, celebrations, is gone forever. Thankfully no one in his family was hurt and they can rebuild, if they choose to.

Richard Hille
The GT School

 

[KJRGT]

So very, very sad to see the many families losing their homes and precious belongings. Glad to hear you fellas down in Brea/Diamond Bar, Yorba Linda are doing OK, as are you Kendall. Prayers for you all.
BTW, did they say what caused the Montecito fire?

 

[TallCarGuy]

There has been no official word on the Tea Fire cause, but considering the high winds in the area, most believe that a power line was blown down.

Richard Hille
The GT School

 

[STORMCAT]

I hope you all will fare this disaster with no issues..

 

[SYCO GT]

BTW, did they say what caused the Montecito fire?

Haven't heard cause yet. Some looters were arrested by LAPD.

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Santa Barbara, California - Wildfires - Tea Fire incident report. Last Updated November 15, 2008 6:00 pm - 1,940 acres burned 60% contained. 1,500 Homes Threatened - 111 residences have been destroyed, and 9 have been damaged, Mandatory evacuations in Montecito, Santa Barbara City and areas within Santa Barbara County …
Tea Fire Information:
Last Updated: November 15, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Date/Time Started: November 13, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Administrative Unit: CALFIRE, Montecito City Fire, Santa Barbara City Fire and Santa Barbara County Fire.
County: Santa Barbara County
Location: Montecito, Cold Springs Creek and Hot Springs Road.
Acres Burned: 1,940 acres
Containment: 60% contained
Structures Threatened: 1,500 residences currently threatened.
Structures Destroyed:

111 residences have been destroyed, and 9 have been damaged.
Evacuations:

Mandatory evacuations in Montecito, Santa Barbara City and areas within Santa Barbara County. For more specific information on evacuation please visit the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Services website

Cause:
Under Investigation