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So we went to church yesterday and the chapel looked really empty. In Relief Society I heard why: half the ward had been evacuating their homes because of a wildfire in the Angeles Crest National Forest and nearby Lakeview Terrace.
The fire is only 20% contained and we're having Santa Anas. (Santa Anas are a particular kind of strong, dry wind; they're usually warm but right now they're accompanying colder weather.) The wind is bad enough it's keeping me up tonight and my toddler keeps waking and crying because the winds are howling and rattling so hard.
Apparently yesterday smoke and ash was being blown all the way to Malibu (which, strangely, meant we got no smoke only a few miles away because it was all being blown the other direction.) But anyway, the forest is really beautiful, my friends (and their animals-- the area is zoned for horses as well as chickens, goats, and house pets) have been evacuated, and the Wildlife WayStation animals are caged and ready to be evac'd if necessary. It's scary to me to hear the winds howl, knowing they're fueling and spreading the fire and putting people's homes and firefighters' lives at risk (the lives, of course, being more important than the homes, but the homes not being negligable.)
If you've got a moment, please send good thoughts/vibes/prayers for the brave men and women who are battling this fire, and those who have been displaced, as well as the animals and the forest if you are so inclined. It would mean a lot to me to know that other folks are thinking of our area and our firefighters.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Please be safe! if it helps I can send the Karma I got your way from reuniting a lost dog and his owners this weekend
Posts: 1918 | Registered: Mar 2005
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Yikes! That's so scary. I really feel for everyone. I know what that's like; I spent the summer of '03 watching the Aspen Fire crawl down the mountain toward my home and my grandmother's home. (Luckily it was finally contained a few miles north of us, but it was a huge concern. Not to mention the air quality was terrible for a whole month.)
I hope everyone is safe, especially the firefighters, and there's not too much loss of property.
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It leapt the 210 (8 lane highway that my husband takes to work) and is heading south-west (away from us diagonally but toward a more heavily populated area.) Schools are closed for the fire. Warnings were issued because of the sheer number of people and animals on the move to be extremely cautious while driving.
My mom has offered that the kids and I can go to her house if air quality gets too bad. So far we're keeping windows and doors shut (no mail today so don't even have to go down for that) and are okay, I think.
Wind is still gusting pretty severely. I hope it will slow down soon. I want to do something to help my friends but don't know what to do; our Relief Society president and one of her counselors are in the most heavily affected area, among the evacuees. So obviously they won't be coordinating the efforts...
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Oh, and it's down to 5% contained, and one man has died.
Critically ill patients at a local hospital are being moved though the hospital is not being evac'd-- yet.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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(And for some reason, my phone is out, so if any of you were wanting to call me for any reason, best do it on the cell.)
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Two people I work with have homes on the edge of the evacuation area. They've been worried sick all day.
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