Palms on fire

[MattyB]

Now he's panned right a bit.  You can still see Mt. San Miguel on the left and 2 peaks along it's ridgeline as you move to the right.  The large hill all the way on the right is Dictionary Hill where I live.  Jamacha Blvd. runs North/South between Mt. San Miguel and Dictionary Hill right through the valley bottom there.  Last night the fire burned up and over Mt. San Miguel and man was that a sight and started down the slope towards us.

[MattyB]

This picture is taken from the top of Dictionary Hill looking east down into the vally at the base of Mt. San Miguel where Jamacha Blvd. runs through.  These choppers and a little lull in the wind has spared our hill from going up.  Hope that gives you a clearer picture of our neck of the woods.  Good luck all.

[DoomsDave]

(BS, Man about Palms @ Oct. 23 2007,20:09)

QUOTE

Bo-

I think your "undeveloped property" west of I-15 was in one of the burn zones.

I just did the easy thing.  I called Gary Wood. He said they're safe and fine, and although he is currently evacuated in Temecula, some people are watching near his place and said his place is fine.

 So, his sale (South Coast Palms) is still on!!  But I don't think its a fire sale!  Hooray!  

NOt yet, anyway!

Hoping for the best!

[jenks]

Thanks for the update Matty. I hope you and Ron pull through without damage. Stay safe bro.

[osideterry]

I'm with you Bill. I was watching an interview with that main Cal-Fire guy, and he went on-and-on about how we were going to get some big-gun fire-fighting planes from Colorado. When asked how long it would take he mumbled something about "as early as Thursday afternoon".

The fire started Sunday, and it takes 4 days to get the planes here? What kind of red tape is tying up that? If he's saying as early as Thursday, that probably means Saturday before any plane is fighting a fire.

[Urban Rainforest]

Thats scary stuff Matty! I'm glad the winds died and they finally got some air support in there. Winds can shift in a hurry so keep your guard up. I work in Del Mar and heard they evacuated most of Del Mar last night including the resort that I work at so I went out towards evergreen nursery to get a better look and could see helicopters and dark smoke towards Rancho Santa Fe.

Steve

[Kim]

Hey MattyB, thanks for the update.  Looking at various maps today, I was reasonably confident you and Jen were okay, but I couldn't help but worry anyway.   Stay safe, you are in my thoughts.

I called several friends and clients today, just to be sure all was well and to offer shelter if needed; most were fine, such a relief.  About a dozen folks at work were evacuated, some returning home tonight.  Others are not at work because the schools are closed and kids have to stay home.  It's been really crazy, and the stories of burned homes are heartbreaking, but the good news is people are out of harm's way, and that is most important.  

Also very heartening, the outpouring of volunteers and giving in the community.  I just heard on the radio that some of the shelters have too much food and too much water...!!!  More than the evacuees would ever  be able to consume.   Others, though, have been pleading for food for pets and livestock, so don't quit now, it's not over.

[BS Man about Palms]

Well, the latest news conference brings good news.  They found a machete to cut thru the mass of red tape!  (see post #159) But enough congressmen showed up that they created a machete to chop thru the red tape put up by CAL-Fire.

At this point with "a waiver signed by the general and given to the head of CAL-Fire" he'll let the available military craft fly.  

That will bring here 4-12 MORE aircraft tomorrow morning than were here today!!!  Now if this had been done MONDAY night.......

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Our thoughts and best wishes  go to all of you in socal. Hopefully everyone remains safe and well

regards

colin and denise

[Johnny]

This has been a devastating fire storm. There are so many sad stories on the radio and television.

The Santiago Canyon fire (Orange County) created a couple of close calls for my family. My sister's lot in Modjeska Canyon burned - thank God she hasn't developed it yet! My other sister in Tustin Ranch was a very scary and close call since they are on the front line of track homes next to fires. The fires were close and clearly visible from her backyard. Their area is considered to be out of harms way for now. My niece had to evacuate from San Diego but her home hasn't burned. My brother in Temecula is not far from the flames either. In the 2003 fires, we both fought the fires at his home.

More good news: The relative humidity at our Newport Beach nursery was 34 percent at 5 pm. It is now 47 percent. Some of this can be attributed to the evening but last night it was 24 percent. This a good indicator for improved weather on the horizon. The Weather Channel announced that we should start receiving cool and light onshore winds in the morning. Fire Department officials said this is good and possibly bad. They hope it doesn't endanger homes in the areas the wind blows towards.

Also, I want to give a shout out to NICK ORDILLE (ellidro). Nick is a firefighter and works at our nursery on the weekends. He is a very selfless person, our customers appreciate is help and service and he's a great guy to work with. THANK YOU NICK FOR WORKING HARD TO HELP FIGHT THE SAN DIEGO FIRES!

[Johnny]

The temperature right now (1:30 am) is crazy. It is 71 degrees at my home in Huntingtn Beach!

[Gileno Machado]

Glued to TV news here when possible, I send my warm regards and we dedicate our prayers to all folks in SoCal that are facing such a terrible threatning situation, especially MattyB, Steve, Gary, Epicure, elidro, etc.

Take care everyone...

[Really full garden]

I have been watching this horrible event on KTLA.They just said the winds are dying and humidity rising.The LA fires seem to be getting under control.The bad news is the fire in San Diego is still just 1% contained.My thoughts and prayers are with you all in Southern California.

                                                                   Scott

[MASOALA JASON]

My prayers go out to everyone in my home city of San Diego. This is the first time I have had to watch the fires from a different state from my computer screen. I do not know which is worse-I would rather be home helping my friends and family. My parents are back at home in La Costa and I found out about my friend Chris Caradine -for anyone who knows him, he is also back at home. I was told the surrounding area next to Rancho Soledad nursery had burned, but everyone had left. Hopefully all the people and animals got out in that area.

[Dave-Vero]

I have no idea about the details of getting aircraft on the scene, but the Federal civilian agencies (Forest Service and Dept. of the Interior) are much more cautious about using aircraft in the wake of an excessive number of crashes.

[Johnny]

No wind! RH 48 percent in Huntington Beach. Weather is getting back to normal. It is 64 degrees which is a little warm for this time of the day. We are supposed to reach the upper 80's today but the temps will drop off as the week carries on. I noticed a big difference in the amount and the size of the ash particles. My car is coated and it looks like frost or snow.

[MattyB]

Update from Spring Valley, CA.

I don't want to be over confident, but I think we're gonna be ok.  The weather has subsided.  It's still Santa Ana conditions but it's just not crazy Armagedon type winds that they can't put up a fight against.  We're seeing lots of wildlife (Cayotes, skunks, owls, hawks, birds, illegal aliens, not Mexicans, real aliens like E.T.) run through our property which I think is a good sign too.  The cars will stay packed for a few days and we'll stay home with the dogs just in case it gets crazy again.  

Ron's (foquieria) neighborhood is ok and La Presa made it out unscathed.  We're really lucky that the extreme winds died down.  Thank God.  Thank you all for your concern.  Let's continue to pray for everyone else who's been affected or is still in harms way.

Here's a view from near Ron's house.  Love those choppers.  We're also lucky to have Sweetwater Reservoir so close to the flames too.

[MattyB]

--

[MattyB]

Thank you all fire fighters

[MattyB]

9:30am Wednesday.  My Dad just heard on his scanner that the DC-10 has just taken off.   Whoooooo hooooooooo!  This is a giant fire fighting plane.  It's headed towards Lyons Valley (east of Jamul) where we have some family friends living on a huge compound completely surrounded by flames right now.  Finally the big guns are here.

[bgl]

Matt,

Great shot of the DC-10! The difference in capacity between that DC-10 and some of those smaller helicopters is enormous. Incidentally, that's the ONLY DC-10 in the world that's been converted to a fire fighter. It's a 33 year old aircraft - used to fly passengers for National Airlines, Pan American, American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, in that order. I'm sure the pilots find it a whole lot more exciting and satisfying flying these fire fighting missions!

Bo-Göran

[MattyB]

Google Earth image of Harris Fire direction.

Started in Tacate area and burned NW.  My place is my place.  Your place is Ron's (foquieria).  It came right up to the reservior at the tip of the large arrow and then started heading back NE where it's bearing down on Jamul and Lyon's Valley.  You can see that it burned that entire distance from ignition point to near my place in one day so we were scared when we saw it come over Mt. San Miguel.  We thought we were gonners.

[elHoagie]

Yesterday smelled like I was sitting next to a campfire, and the closest fire is about 50km (30 miles) away.  There's still a lot of smoke today, but it looks better.  The dewpoint has risen from yesterday at -2C to around 5C today.  The heat last night was unbelievable, it was 27C (81F) when I went to sleep and the low temperature at my place this morning was 23C (74F).

[oppalm]

the pic of that DC-10 delivering the goods is supercalifrangelisticexpeealadociously (sp?) awesome.

Good luck and prayers to all involved in this mess.

[PalmGuyWC]

Hey Bo,

I find it really scary seeing a DC-10 skimming the tree tops. That's a mighty big airplane to be flying so low. They don't respond like a smaller airplane. Those pilots are brave, but I bet they are having a ball. I hear there is a B 747 configured for fire fighting, but it hasn't been certified yet. It must be bumpy as hell flying into the updrafts from the fires, not to mention the winds.

Dick

[DoomsDave]

I awakened to the smell of sandalwood candles, typical of brushfire season.

It's still dry, but it's no longer that lethal desiccating dryness that makes you feel like you're dying with each breath.  

Took a long bike ride through Northern OC last night, and the winds there had died down.  No more dancing leaves, papers, tree limbs etc. across the line of travel.  (Monday was like a ride through a wind tunnel.)

Good heavens, Matty, you, Ron and the other hilltop dwellers barely escaped.  

I  say we call your hill, Loma Piel de Sus Dientes, Skin of Your Teeth, 'cause, yike, talk about the cusp of disaster. . . .

SO GLAD TO KNOW YOU'RE SAFE at least for now.

I was getting a bit concerned . . . .

dave

[bgl]

Dick,

I know what you mean. Even though I'm not a pilot I know it's a big difference flying a big jet that doesn't respond as quickly compared to a smaller prop plane, so it must be quite a challenge for those pilots.

And you're correct about the 747. That also happens to be a 33 year old aircraft. It's a 747-273C that flew for World Airways for many years. Evergreen International Airlines bought it 20 years ago and converted it to the world's only 747 fire fighter in 2004. And that must be a sight to see that one in action!

Bo-Göran

PS. Here's a picture I found of the 747 on Airliners.net. Unfortunately, there was no shot of it in action!

[DoomsDave]

Bo:

Whoo-ee!

That thing would give a humungous shower.

I suspect that they're limited in their usefulness as fire aircraft, I'll bet due to their size.

Is that why there's only one (and only one DC 10)?

dave

[bruno]

To ll of you southern californians, who contribute so much to this forum, I send you as much good wishes as the mail can contain.

it must be horrible to see one's environment disappear in instants like that. And terrifying to be surrounded by flames.

The fires are all over the news in France where I am staying for a moment.

Hope you all get back to normal, the wind stops and the rain comes. bruno

[bgl]

Dave,

Converting that lone DC-10 and 747 was more of an experiment to see how it would work out with widebody jets being used in this role. They have one big advantage: enormous carrying capacity, but there are also some definite drawbacks. Not that many airfields can support widebodies, so most of the time they have to fly longer distances to get back to base and fill up with another load of fire retardant. The largest propeller planes have traditionally been old piston engined DC-6s and DC-7s (built in the 1950s) and ex-military C-130s, and even though those aircraft are also relatively large, they are slower, and thus easier and safer to fly at low altitudes. Plus they don't require as long a runway as the DC-10 and 747 so there are many more airfields where they can be (temporarily) based. I know they fly out of Ramona, NE of San Diego, and I certainly don't think Ramona can handle a widebodied jet. Interestingly, there have been no conversions of smaller jets (such as older 727s or 737s) - they went straight for the real big ones.

One little dilemma is that none of these aircraft were designed for the stress involved in low level flying, and pulling up quickly, so there have been a few crashes when 40 year old aircraft simply lost both wings (they just fell off from the stress). At that point I think the pilots have about 2 seconds in which to recognize the stark truth that they're in an aircraft with no wings and at zero altitude (not saying that it would be a better situation of they lost the wings at 35,000 ft...).

Bo-Göran

[Dave-Vero]

The smell of smoke can carry long distances.  This spring, people in central Florida were smelling the Okefenokee Swamp.  Essentially the entire swamp burned.

[Scott]

Matty - Great pics! Glad you and Jen are okay - and all your children (the palms)

[PalmGuyWC]

Bo,

There was a case in Colorado some years back, and on video tape, where an older prop plane made an adrupt pull up after dumping fire retardent, and both wings snapped off, and your right, about 2 seconds till impact. Most of the planes they use are pretty old.

A B 747 flying 200 feet off the deck would sure scare the chickens and the chillens. I wonder where Evergreen has the 747 based? To bad it couldn't have been used in the current crisis, and thanks for the great picture.

Dick

[Exotic Life]

Hi,

I don't have give a reaction in this treath before, but when i see this picture's about the fires, this must be scary to see... Out fires that we have got last april are nothing by this fires!

Robbin

[happ]

I think we can say that the worse is over today    even though there are still many fires out of control but are less erratic since the wind is much lower.  Relative humidity is still below 20% over most of So Cal but dew points are up between 15-45 this afternoon.  Temps are still toasty [may exceed 100F in places] but each day will become cooler, less windy and increasing humidity as the week progresses.

Like others have written, the amount of smoke in the air has been difficult to handle but keeping the house closed up and using AC all night really helped a lot especially since minimums were rather warm.

Of-course we all know that October is just the start of santa ana conditions in California    & that we must be prepared for more devil winds [they call these winds "diablo" in Northern California.  There isn't a whole lot one can do to protect their homes except clear the brush and create a barrier if possible.  In-fact the fire dept visits each household in late spring in my area to check if compliance with fire prevention measures.  They have consistently praised me for the lush trees [palms included] as somewhat of a deterrent.  

But when the winds are gusting over 50mph there is virtually nothing one can do to stop the fire from engulfing their home  

Thankfully my family members in Rancho Penasquitos & San Luis Rey are safe.

[Al in Kona]

Our prayers go out to all you in SoCal that you will be safe and the fires will now subside.  It's good news to know that almost everyone here on this forum appear to be safe and escaped damage and destruction from these fires.  

Seems there are few if any areas on this planet that escape some terrible disaster or catastrophe sometime or another.  Just in your lifetime think of all the areas you've heard about (or even experienced) where some calamity took place.  There are natural ones such as fires, hurricanes (cyclones), floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, mudslides, volcanic eruptions, avalanches, hailstorms, extreme blizzards, etcetera.   Then there are all those caused by man himself, too numerous to mention.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that none of us are exempt from having something terrible from happening to us sometime in our life.  We really shouldn't feel so secure that we feel it will never happen where"I live".  I guess we need only to be prudent and be psychologically ready for whatever might come our way.  So for every beautiful day I give thanks to God for my family and home, our beautiful climate, peaceful surroundings and all the palms!

[bgl]

Certainly good to hear that things are returning to a more normal situation in SoCal, and hopefully everybody is safe with minimal, or no damage, to property and palms!!

Dick,

Evergreen's 747 is normally based at their home base of Marana, AZ, just north of Tucson. Found another shot of it, in action. This one from Jetphotos.net.

The aircraft you're probably referring to was a Lockheed C-130A belonging to Hawkins & Powers Aviation. Both wings snapped off as it was pulling out of a dive (after a drop). That C-130A was built in 1957 and the accident was on June 17, 2002, in Yosemite National Park. Crew of 3 died instantly. (So the plane was 45 years old!! They temporarily grounded all the firefighting C-130s after that accident).

Bo-Göran

[DoomsDave]

Hmm.

Those big jets probably can't refill on the fly, either the way copters and some prop planes can.

How about that!

Sometimes older is better . . . . (where are those Depends . . . .)

dave

[fiji jim]

It is devastating to hear about all these fires.

All we can do is to wish all you folks the best of luck.

This seems to be increasing worldwide  and disastrous events like this are occurring on an annual basis in Australia also.

Bruno says it is happening in France also and when we were in Italy in August, they had it too.

We wish you rain and the luck and perseverance to get through these days.

[BS Man about Palms]

Thanks for all the updates and comments. Worked all day and just got back from dinner with some friends.  Great pictures here too.!