Draining the Dive Park to Save Avalon

[drbill]

I just uploaded my latest "Dive Dry with Dr. Bill" newspaper column to my website with the above title. It may not make it into this week's paper due to a wealth of fire-related images that have priority. However, I thought I'd post the link to the column here for those that are interested:

http://www.starthrower.org/products/DDDB/DDDB_200-249/DDDB_234 draining the dive park.htm

There are two images of the hotspots around my house, but nothing of the fire at its horrendous peak. I think I was just too much in awe as the walls of flames approached our homes on several fronts to raise my HD camcorder and get good footage.

The dive ops and dive park are ready to welcome all your mainland divers!

 

[Spade]

I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing. It's nice to read stuff on a more personal level than just facts.

 

[drbill]

Thanks, Spade.

Of course the images with the article are well after the major fire was extinguished so they are nowhere near as dramatic (or frightening) as the incredible aerial footage the media was able to show... unless you are sitting on your balcony watching a serious flare up threaten your home.

However, the fire is over... time to get my gills wet again!!!

 

[shark.byte.usa]

Nice article Dr. B, sorry I missed you in La Jolla this weekend because of the fire, but glad you and your home are now safe.

That urban legend you referred to was in a CSI (Las Vegas variety) episode a few years back

As I was driving back to Arizona on Monday, I had a tire fail, trip report here, as I waited (and waited and waited...(read my blog)), I must have counted at least 5 fire trucks pass me by, I wondered if they were some of the firefighters who'd been on Catalina all weekend?? They wen't by too fast for me to read where they were from.

-Garrett

 

[drbill]

I've heard we had firefighters from Arizona, Utah and other states here.

Funny thing is that the firefighters initially named this fire the "Ten Pound Fire" because our local restaurants and individuals were feeding them so well. It quickly became the "Fifteen Pound Fire" and I've heard tat last night at the City Council meeting they called it the "Twenty Pound Fire."

Again, hats off to all the firefighters out there, but especially to those who helped save our town!

 

[CompuDude]

Very cool!

MythBusters did an episode busting the urban myth about the scooped-up diver, btw, although the gear they were testing was different from the scoop used in those photos.

 

[drbill]

I think it would be pretty difficult for a water dropping helo to pick up a diver... unless (s)he crawled into the bucket!

 

[MrRoo]

Did someone actualy email you asking if the dive park would be filed back up? LMFAO was cracking up when I read that and now my dog is awake tearing up more crap

 

[drbill]

Yep. What I'm not 100% sure of is whether she meant it seriously or as a humorous response... but she is blonde.