California Wildfires

MountainBikeRoamer · 10-10-2017, 08:48 AM

Didn't know where else to put this, except right here in the unfortunately-named Campfire section. :-/

Hope everyone's okay!

With the combination of a ton of West-Coast SMB forum members, and the epic/historic number of currently-uncontained wildfires burning in both Northern and Southern California, it seems likely that a good number of us are likely impacted/affected by the blazes.

Our neighborhood has been under mandatory evacuation orders (which seem more advisory) for the Anaheim "Canyon 2" fire that's been burning since yesterday. Came home from work last night and got the van prepped for us to roll out in a hurry if necessary.

So far it only been lots of smoky air, our area is almost certainly 100% safe but it's still definitely unnerving. Without a doubt though, it's reassuring to have the Sportsmobile at the ready for any kind of possible temporary relocation, should it become enforced/necessary.

Anyone else in any of the NorCal/SoCal hot spots? I know of at least one other forum member who lives in a canyon not far from these local blazes.
Stay safe everybody.

1der · 10-10-2017, 09:22 AM

Brutal fire in NorCal Santa Rosa area. We can smell the smoke here in San Francisco, 40 miles away. My brorther in Long Beach said ash is falling on his house south of Long Beach State.

I know of three friends who have lost family related houses and family history/pics, etc., so far.

Main common messages: Get your important/treasured stuff pulled together right away and have it staged ready to load and go. Have a plan. Do not delay because when the order to evacuate comes, it is "Right Now", the flames are at the end of the block.

Hope all of you are okay.

TomsBeast · 10-10-2017, 09:28 AM

I've been checking in often with my friends in Napa and Santa Rosa, the Atlas Peak and Tubbs fires dangerously close to friends homes. No one I personally know has lost their home so far. Praying for the wind and temperatures to stay down.

boywonder · 10-10-2017, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1der

Brutal fire in NorCal Santa Rosa area. We can smell the smoke here in San Francisco, 40 miles away. My brorther in Long Beach said ash is falling on his house south of Long Beach State.

We have been getting lots of ash from the Canyon II fire as well.....kept the windows closed last night and ran the AC to cool the house down. We also got alot from the first canyon fire a couple of weeks ago.

SteelheadJones · 10-11-2017, 12:16 AM

I'm at the north end of Sonoma County. The Pocket fire was closest to me, one exit down the freeway. Luckily it didn't come any farther north.

My house is on the west side of 101; as I write this (from my phone because our internet has been down since Sunday night) I can see small fires across the valley to the east. I'm told CalFire and our local fire department are watching them but won't do anything unless the wind shifts.

Speaking of wind, Sunday night was like nothing I've ever experienced. Gusts to 75 mph blew most of my yard to high heaven. I remember thinking, "Could we be having a hurricane? Is that even possible in Northern California??" The smell of smoke was already so intense I thought a neighbors' house was on fire. Thankfully that wasn't the case and thankfully we have not had to evacuate yet.

My aunt wasn't so lucky; she lost her house and granny unit. My uncle had to evacuate but his house made it through; the house behind him burned to the ground. My grandma and grandpa's old house burned to the ground too. As did my cousin's father-in-law's. My friend borrowed his buddy's bulldozers and cut a firebreak all the way around his property. This morning the fire was at his fence but so far his house is still standing.

Saturday night I went to dinner in the Fountaingrove area of Santa Rosa. Most of what I drove by is ashes now. It's surreal. As my stepmom said this morning, "You think of this happening out in the forest. You never imagine it happening in a city."

I'll say one thing: I feel very grateful to have a van set up for sleeping and camping. If I have to bug out I can do it very comfortably. Again, most aren't so lucky. My friend is sleeping in the back of his truck with his dogs.

I just read they suspect the wind downed power lines and caused transformers to explode, triggering so many fires in so many places at once. PG&E is going to be in a world of hurt over this one...https://www.google.com/amp/www.mercu...try-fires/amp/

arctictraveller · 10-11-2017, 09:22 AM

Steelhead, glad your safe, what a disaster! It sounds like this may be the end of PG+E as we now know them, thanks for the link. I keep our van pretty well packed at all times, and should the need arise we could evacuate comfortably at a moments notice. Fortunately, where we are currently located, were fairly disaster proof until the next big earthquake hits. All the best to you and yours........

MountainBikeRoamer · 10-11-2017, 09:41 AM

Yeah seriously Steelhead ---- WOW.
Thanks for sharing your situation.

So sorry to hear what you're dealing with. I don't think any of us can even begin to comprehend the NorCal fire scene, or what you and many others up there have experienced. (And continue to experience.)

(As such....for those of us who have never seen or endured something like this....there's no way for us to fully sympathize / empathisize, as your experience is so far beyond what anyone can imagine.) Losing so much of a community and its history at one time must be heartbreaking/devastating beyond measure. When so much is removed so fast.

Glad you're ok. It sounds like a lot of heroics have been happening with friends and neighbors looking out for each other up there.

SteelheadJones · 10-11-2017, 08:16 PM

Thanks for the kind words guys.

I decided to brave Santa Rosa today. Much of the carnage isn't visible from the freeway and they aren't letting anyone into the worst areas. I could only see a few burned buildings: the Luther Burbank Center, Fountaingrove Inn, K-mart, and a Mexican restaurant.

On the way home I could see fresh smoke above Healdsburg. The wind picked up overnight and was blowing 30 mph by this afternoon. Sure enough, Fitch Mountain and Chalk Hill are on fire now. The town is on an evacuation warning and most businesses are closed.

A little farther north in Geyserville, the Pocket fire has grown to 1,800 acres and is threatening 5,000 structures. Everyone in town there has evacuated. I stopped at the Canyon Road exit and took some photos and video, which I'll try to post if I get internet service again. Helicopters with buckets and planes are trying to stop that one. It's only a mile or so north of River Rock Casino and headed straight for it.

Speaking of internet, both Comcast and PG&E were closed in Santa Rosa today. I can only imagine how many people would be there pushing to have their service restored. I did see PG&E trucks all over town trying to put up new power poles and lines.

It's crazy. I thought things were on the upswing yesterday, but it got a lot worse today.

Dirk Mitchell · 10-11-2017, 10:55 PM

The last i was said the winds kicked up again and were causing all kinds or crazy stuff again.
Be safe and be ready to go because they are unpredictable for sure, all the stuff is replaceable you and he family are not.
Wish all you guys the best, again stay safe over there.

gcvt · 10-11-2017, 11:54 PM

I wish I had pulled over and taken a photo as I was leaving work today. The sun was just a dark red disc. So weird. Terrible situation out this way. 21 souls lost last I heard. Hundreds still missing.

Just let the dogs out for their late light pee and it's bad again with wind coming from the North. Smells like everyone is burning a fire.