Sun Runner: Parker ..

[Sun Runner]

.. are you on fire yet?

Got an email from a friend showing some pretty horrible stuff around Escondido and VC. Sounds like everything East up the 163 and 15 is on fire.

True?

Forget about variance, forget about luck .. sounds like miracles are in order.

Take care.

[Parker]

> .. are you on fire yet?

> Got an email from a friend showing some
> pretty horrible stuff around Escondido and
> VC. Sounds like everything East up the 163
> and 15 is on fire.

> True?

> Forget about variance, forget about luck ..
> sounds like miracles are in order.

Indeed. About 15% of the surface area of San Diego county has burned, and about 1,500 homes destroyed. It is the worst fire in California history. Fires are still burning in the eastern part of the county even as I write this.

I am counting my blessings. The fires were headed toward my neighborhood on Sunday, getting close enough that I could see flames from the roof of my home. Then the wind shifted and the fire changed direction - my neighborhood was spared. The neighorhood adjacent to mine was less fortunate - over 300 homes destroyed in that area alone.

Yesterday was surreal. A choking, heavy cloud of smoke blanketed the city. The sun was a dim red disk in the sky. At midday people were driving with their headlights on, as everything was bathed in a sort of red-orange twilight. Everyone was coughing and hacking. Dust masks provided some relief - if you could find one. Every Home Depot and hardware store was sold out.

Last night the winds shifted and today was much better. Still hazy, but blue sky was once again visible, and the air was noticably cleaner. I can take a deep breath without choking now. Air quality is supposed to return to near normal by Friday, except for the east county.

Barona, Valley View, Harrah's, and Viejas casinos are all closed right now, although I have very little info as to actual damages incurred. I will make a post on the South & West page when I have more definite info.

Thanks for your concern, and I'd like to also thank everyone who has e-mailed me.

You are most correct in that this does tend to put everything in perspective.

[Bettie]

> Yesterday was surreal. A choking, heavy
> cloud of smoke blanketed the city. The sun
> was a dim red disk in the sky. At midday
> people were driving with their headlights
> on, as everything was bathed in a sort of
> red-orange twilight. Everyone was coughing
> and hacking. Dust masks provided some relief
> - if you could find one. Every Home Depot
> and hardware store was sold out.

I just made a post about the air quality here in the valley on the Las Vegas page. Today in LV was your yesterday in San Diego. Not quite as bad, but thick smoke, red, hazy sun, and headlights on much earlier than usual.

Bettie

[college kid]

I can't even imagine what it's like in Southern California if it's this bad here.

> I just made a post about the air quality
> here in the valley on the Las Vegas page.
> Today in LV was your yesterday in San Diego.
> Not quite as bad, but thick smoke, red, hazy
> sun, and headlights on much earlier than
> usual.

> Bettie

[Don Schlesinger]

Do you know if Stanford Wong's home in La Jolla is safe? I have called (no phone service) and written (e-mail), but haven't gotten an answer yet.

Don

[Parker]

> Do you know if Stanford Wong's home in La
> Jolla is safe? I have called (no phone
> service) and written (e-mail), but haven't
> gotten an answer yet.

His home is fine. La Jolla is right on the coast and several miles from even the westernmost areas hit by the fires.

[Don Schlesinger]

> His home is fine. La Jolla is right on the
> coast and several miles from even the
> westernmost areas hit by the fires.

That's what I thought, looking at the map.

Thanks.

Don