California Burning

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) -- A wildfire driven by powerful Santa Ana winds threatened a university and forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes in the Malibu Hills on Sunday. Flames destroyed a church and several homes, one of them a landmark castle.

No residents or firefighters were injured, authorities said.

About 500 firefighters worked to protect Pepperdine University and some 200 homes in the upscale Malibu Crest and Serra Retreat neighborhoods, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Sam Padilla.

The blaze had charred at least 1,000 acres, or more than a square mile. Wind that gusted as high as 65 mph carried embers across the Pacific Coast Highway, closing the popular road and setting fire to cars and trees in the parking lot of a shopping center where several stores were damaged.
Television news video showed several other buildings also in flames in the area, including clusters of beach-side homes.

Flames consumed the landmark Castle Kashan, a stately fortress-like home with turrets and arched windows, as about a dozen residents watched from across a street. Chunks of brick fell from the exterior of the burning building overlooking the coast.

Wildfires Force Evacuations in California - The Associated Press

 

[ImnoMensa]

This happens every year in California and they just keep rebuilding in the same places.

Its a little like rebuilding in New Orleans under sea level.

 

[getbent]

I was watching that on MSNBC this morning. It's truly awe inspiring (for me anyways) to see the destruction and the aftermath of fires. Hopefully no one is hurt. The houses can be replaced but any lives lost cannot.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

I was watching that on MSNBC this morning. It's truly awe inspiring (for me anyways) to see the destruction and the aftermath of fires. Hopefully no one is hurt. The houses can be replaced but any lives lost cannot.

So was I. I really want to thank MSNBC for airing those 6 year old Dateline episodes.

You know, I'm sure the murder of that girl in Missouri was so important that it merited airing during a breaking event. :eyeroll:

 

[witchiepooh 364]

my friend that i talk to online lives in california and her husband is out fighting them ...more have broken out and are sending in more units....please pray for all of them...it is terrible with the winds spreading the fires! she has family in the area the fires are in and they are evacuating them.....

 

[Bustem' Down]

Yeah, they keep talking on the news here about evacuations, but I'm new here, I don't know where they are talking about. I figure that if the fire gets all the way out to my place in Pacific Beach, there's bigger things to worry about. I do have a slight layer of ash on my car though.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Inside the Inferno

Yeah, they keep talking on the news here about evacuations, but I'm new here, I don't know where they are talking about. I figure that if the fire gets all the way out to my place in Pacific Beach, there's bigger things to worry about. I do have a slight layer of ash on my car though.

I was talking to my friend who lives near LA. I'm not quite sure where that is, but he got the evacuation order at the same time he was talking to me.

He didn't want to leave because he wanted his race updates.

Also, on a somewhat related note: ABC affiliattes all up and down the west coast again did not air the NASCAR Countdown, and some in California (including the 2nd largest TV market share) did not air the NASCAR race, which was not pushed to another channel like in other markets, all of ESPN's slots were full. So the frustration west coast fans have been dealing with for some time with ESPN and ABC continues as they miss another race thanks to Brian France and ABC.

He called me later to tell me that he is fine though, so that's a good thing. Now, I remember this from 2003 and this is something that happens every year, but these are different. For one ,the wind. These strong Santa Ana winds are picking up to Category 2 hurricane force winds at times.

Also, I am glad to report that my sister, also living in California, she's in San Diego, is alright as well. Bustem knows more about the area than I, but she lives roughly about 5 miles from where the landslide was a few weeks ago.

 

[BS Gal]

Yeah, they keep talking on the news here about evacuations, but I'm new here, I don't know where they are talking about. I figure that if the fire gets all the way out to my place in Pacific Beach, there's bigger things to worry about. I do have a slight layer of ash on my car though.

I love Pacific Beach. I am green with envy.

 

[vraiblonde]

This happens every year in California and they just keep rebuilding in the same places.

And the libs keep pointing to this as an example of global warming

If those hippies would clear out their forests periodically and get rid of the dead trees, etc, Mother Nature wouldn't have to do it for them. What's funny is that some bawling Lefty news person will insinuate that it's an evil camper starting the fire, because they saw too many Smokey the Bear commercials as a kid. But the fact is that, if the vegetation is living and all the brush and dead stuff has been cleared away, it's very hard to start a forest fire without some type of accelerant.

 

[MMDad]

Yeah, they keep talking on the news here about evacuations, but I'm new here, I don't know where they are talking about. I figure that if the fire gets all the way out to my place in Pacific Beach, there's bigger things to worry about. I do have a slight layer of ash on my car though.

I was out there four years ago when the fires made it within 5,000 yards of the stadium. As we flew in we could see homes on fire below us and no fire trucks to be seen because they had given up on those areas.

They closed down Lindbergh Field right after our plane landed, so we were lucky to get in. Everyone was wearing dust masks, and it looked like it was snowing.

That was one of those memories that you can never forget. I'd never before seen destruction of that scale while it actually was happening, just after the fact.

 

[Chain729]

And the libs keep pointing to this as an example of global warming

If those hippies would clear out their forests periodically and get rid of the dead trees, etc, Mother Nature wouldn't have to do it for them. What's funny is that some bawling Lefty news person will insinuate that it's an evil camper starting the fire, because they saw too many Smokey the Bear commercials as a kid. But the fact is that, if the vegetation is living and all the brush and dead stuff has been cleared away, it's very hard to start a forest fire without some type of accelerant.

Acutually, that brings up a good question. I wonder what's cheaper for CA gov't? Fight the fires and help the people displaced until they can rebuild, or periodically clear out the dead crap? Wonder if they ever did a cost study... Could be profitable if they hooked up with a mulch or firewood company.

 

[vraiblonde]

Acutually, that brings up a good question. I wonder what's cheaper for CA gov't? Fight the fires and help the people displaced until they can rebuild, or periodically clear out the dead crap? Wonder if they ever did a cost study... Could be profitable if they hooked up with a mulch or firewood company.

I'd think it would be significantly cheaper to clear the forests rather than clean up fire damage.

The problem is the wacked out and very vocal "environmentalists" who don't have a clue, and want to "save the trees". They're the ones that are preventing common sense from prevailing in CA.

 

[Chain729]

I'd think it would be significantly cheaper to clear the forests rather than clean up fire damage.

The problem is the wacked out and very vocal "environmentalists" who don't have a clue, and want to "save the trees". They're the ones that are preventing common sense from prevailing in CA.

Make a law that zones the fire-prone areas "Enviromentalist Housing." Problem solved.

 

[MMDad]

People trapped in homes and cars:

Breaking News from SignOnSanDiego.com


Mandatory evacuation has been ordered from I-5 east to I-15 between state Route 56 and Lake Hodges. Residents can seek shelter at any of the designated high schools or Qualcomm Stadium.

Flames have penetrated Rancho Bernardo from the northeast as off 3:30 a.m., jumping Interstate 15 at Carmel Valley Road and threatening to burn into Rancho Santa Fe, said fire department spokesman Maurice Luque.

An area of 100 square miles - 10 miles by 10 miles - has been evacuated. An undetermined number of homes are burning and there are reports of people trapped in their homes and cars, Luque said.

A force of 240 firefighters with 60 engines are trying to stop the blaze from advancing further through the area. Ambulances are in the area to help the elderly and ill who cannot evacuate themselves, he said.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

On a personal note...

... my sister just got an evacuation order. Fires have cropped up everywhere in San Diego.

LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

People trapped in homes and cars:

Thanks for posting that. This is really not looking good.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

BULLETIN: San Diego says more than 250,000 people evacuated from their homes due to fires down there.

They've successfully evacuated more people in one day than New Orleans did in three days.

 

[Bustem' Down]

BULLETIN: San Diego says more than 250,000 people evacuated from their homes due to fires down there.

They've successfully evacuated more people in one day than New Orleans did in three days.

Yeah, it's pretty crazy down here. The Military is setting up all kinds of shelters for dependant families to stay.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

And the shelters...

Yeah, it's pretty crazy down here. The Military is setting up all kinds of shelters for dependant families to stay.

... are running out of room.

 

[MMDad]

SignOnSanDiego.com | The San Diego Union-Tribune | San Diego news, California and national news

“This fire will probably be the worst this county has ever seen – worse than the Cedar fire,” Sheriff Bill Kolender said.

The Witch fire is rapidly burning in two directions – to the west and to the south. It has crossed Interstate 15 at Lake Hodges into Rancho Bernardo.

“I think it will go to the ocean before it stops,” Metcalf said, which means the fire would pass through Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach and Encinitas.

The Harris fire continues to move “dramatically to the west and cause a great deal of destruction,” Metcalf said.

He expects the fire to spread to the ocean through the communities of Otay Lakes and Chula Vista.

That is right through the city. Right through houses, business, and even the Navy Base. This is bad.