SoCal Fires info

[Jersey]

My level of concern grows exponentially as I watch the news. I have been unable to contact several close family members & am wondering if anyone can help w/some info. One elderly Aunt in Chula Vista - real south, not too worried about her. More troubling is my cousin with homes in El Cajon - beautiful place back in one of the canyons, and another up in Big Bear Lake.

I've overlayed the US Fire Service active fire maps w/ his address off mapquest & it doesn't look too good. He is about a 5 minute drive off Rte 8 exit, up through the hills. He hasn't checked email in days, hasn't been to his office, his staff tells me he is 'out' indefinitely, but won't offer more. I am hesitant to call or direct connect his cell. If he is indeed in a hot zone, the last thing he needs is a Nextel beep.

Does anyone have any direct knowledge of the situation in the El Cajon & Big Bear areas?

Our thoughts & prayers are with our left coast friends & family during this time.

Jersey

 

[sapphire]

Big Bear and surrounding areas are under a mandatory evacuation. Right now the firefighters are working on saving Running Springs and things look good so far.

Today it is much cooler and we have more humidity in the air. Hopefully this will help the firefighters. They deserve our gratitude for all of their efforts during this time, they have been doing a truly awesome job with limited resources.

Go ahead and call your relatives/friends... best wishes to them.

sapphire

Jersey once bubbled...
Does anyone have any direct knowledge of the situation in the El Cajon & Big Bear areas?

Our thoughts & prayers are with our left coast friends & family during this time.

Jersey

 

[Mo2vation]

this is updated throughout the day. May help inproviding an idea where things are.

K

http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/large_fire/large.php#

 

[scubasean]

sapphire once bubbled...

Go ahead and call your relatives/friends... best wishes to them.

sapphire

Many san diego phones aren't working to receive incoming long distance calls...

Yesterday, I got an error when calling my dad in SD that says that the phone equipment in the local area I'm calling is inoperative.

Haven't tried today...

Sean

 

[Jersey]

Sean - yeah the house phones haven't been working, had problems getting through to the businesses as well.

Ken - thanks for the link, it is much better then the one I found Monday through the SD newpaper links.

Sapphire - yep info is good - Big Bear is evacuated - don't know where my cousin & her daughter are, but they did get out w/ the evac.

My brother managed to track down a business partner. El Cajon house is most likely gone. Neighbors know their homes are total loss. Cuz has/had quite a collection of animals - dogs, horses, goats, birds, I was afraid he may try to stay to save them, & get caught, he has turned up & checked into a hotel until the smoke clears.

I certainly would not want to be a firefighter looking down this situation. It is a very scary thing, hopefully the situation will improve without further loss of life. Thanks all for your quick responses! We've been trying since Monday.

 

[JustAddWater]

What's sickening is that arson is to blame for a few of the fires.

 

[Jersey]

What could possibly motivate someone to start fires? I rec'd the following this morn from my cousin:

"Don't have much time...in a nut shell,the fire came over the hill burned up all my property but left the house in great shape the fire raced below me and totaly buned down the house of my neighbor the one with the black bottom pool.Big Bear now under siege everybody had to leave tuesday for the fire trucks to move about so we will wait and see.Sunday looked like the world was going to end my eyes will never forget the flames and the sorrow of the 150+ who lost their homes 2 miles above me. Will be in touch in calmer times ahead."

There is no punishment adequate for the devastation caused. My thoughts & prayers for those suffering. We are grateful our family members have survived. Homes & belongings can be replaced.

Jersey