Oct
Fire in San Diego
I know it’s been forever and a day since I have written anything, but since I have been out of work for a couple of days, and the county of San Diego California is burning down around us, I guess I have a bit more time on my hands!
There are many fires burning in San Diego. It all started with those *#&%^ lovely Santa Ana winds that kick up every frelling year! Last Sunday, at about 1pm changed our week for the worse. A fire started in Witch Creek which is Eastern San Diego, Northern most in the county. Thanks to the high winds (some up to 80mph) it spread rapidly and engulfed Ramona and other surrounding cities.
So for the past three days, we have been holed up in the house, waiting for our turn to be evacuated. Within the past 24 hours, two new fires sprang up not too far from where we live. Basically, San Diego has come to a standstill. Businesses are closed, people are staying in motels, RV’s, Qualcomm stadium, and schools. Even though many homes will be spared, for the moment, nearly a thousand people are homeless.
Now, finally, after hundreds of thousands of acres burned throughout Southern California (fires in Orange County, and Los Angeles too), hundreds of homes and businesses destroyed, some people are finally being allowed back to their homes - if there is one.
Disaster recovery has been immense, but run like clockwork. Of course, there are always issues that come with disasters - nothing is perfect, but the overall organization and safety of residents has resulted in very few injuries, and only one death. I’d say San Diego has learned quite a bit from its experience 4 years ago.
So we are still waiting, ’cause it’s not over yet. Some of the fires North of us are still raging and nothing is contained there. Now that the winds have died (I hate Santa Ana winds anyway!), the fires are not spreading as quickly. My girlfriend’s family had to evacuate early Monday and they still don’t know if they have a house to come home to. Her sisters are in the middle of some of the fires, no clue as to what will happen there. Not knowing is the worst.
I have never been in the middle of a fire of this magnitude. We count ourselves damn lucky that we have survived the worst of it this long. But, they estimate these fires will not be contained for another several days or more. Scary shit.
