Sorry, I've been out of communication because my town was on fire... http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/2009/08/california-wildfires.html Specifically the Auburn fire.. Here's my cell footage taken about 1 hour after the fire passed my neighborhood.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxSwUg4MpJM The fire services really tried to take this one on and stop it, but they were overwhelmed.. Me, I'm lucky, my home was upwind from the fire ..just a long power outage... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClBGiT6uP1c&feature=related 60 homes destroyed, 10 businesses gone, 10 more structures gone as well... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHQr96orxgg&feature=channel But an amazing sight..the emergency services did come in force but were overwhelmed.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6I-93wCSag
It certainly is a crazy, dangerous scene over there. I'm glad to hear you're okay and I hope that all of our other BBSers in that area are good, too.
I'm glad you're OK. I can see the big plume of smoke from my house, and this morning, there was ash on my car.
The school where I teach is in Sunland. You could see the flames from the school, and the smoke was so bad it was hard to breathe. Thankfully, classes haven't started yet, so there's only teachers and staff there right now. Still, it's pretty scary. We have a few teachers and surely students who have already been evacuated.
I am glad you are OK. Fires seem to be getting worse in California each year, like they are in other places around the globe. Many Australians, particularly Victorians, are dreading what the upcoming fire season might bring. A couple of weeks ago Victorian Premier John Brumby said Lets hope that everyone is more prepared than they were back in February of this year when 173 people died.
Yes..no deaths reported from the fire here..though it was a near thing due to the speed of the spread.. appears to have been caused by an electrical arc from a single power pole.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi3fwMOb8C4
I'm so glad to see that you're ok..Mom has told me about the wildfires in CA and it's been absolutely HORRIBLE to see that on TV. It must take its tole on people as well. Kinda tough and I cringe everytime I see it. But glad you're ok.
I haven't been paying attention to the news much so the fires kind of snuck up on me. I didn't think it was as bad as last year. I'm in the South Bay and last year the moment I stepped out of my house you could smell all the smoke in the air. I didn't realize this one is so large though. I wonder if there is anything we can do right now to help. California was in rough enough times as it is, but to have this happen again.
Actually this year is actually considered a normal year..LAST year was unbelievable. at one point there were over 2000 wildfires in the North state alone..most caused by dry lightning storms that rolled over the state early in the season.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_2008_California_wildfires Air Quality for most of the state was rated as unhealthy...and most were allowed to burn themselves out.. It just happened that this season hit a bit close to home..