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Report from California on wildfires

Classmate Bob Suber, who lives in Oak Park, California, near Los Angeles, emailed in these reports of the wildfires this week in Southern California.

Sunday, Oct. 21, evening

It's fire bug weather in California.  Low humidity, high gusting winds and lots of dry brush that is just waiting to explode into flames.

I woke up at 1a.m. to the smell of smoke.  Looked all around at the horizon and did not see any flames. The only thing on TV were commercials so I went back to sleep.  The smell of fire at that time was coming from the Castaic fire a good 20 miles NE of where we live.  Since early this morning several other fires have started.  One in Moorpark, about 10 miles NW, of of here and then the big dangerous fire in Malibu which is about 10 miles E of here.

You never know what the winds will do, or where or how fast they will drive a fire so it is a touchy situation for anyone within 5-10 miles of a fire line.  Normally the fires will burn from inland (me) to the coast (Malibu) so that fire (Malibu) is not presently a major concern for me. Anything that is west or north of me could have an impact, but so far all is well.  However, this weather condition (dry, hot, high wind) is expected to last into Tuesday.  Which leaves a large window of opportunity for 'fire bugs'.

You have probably been watching some of the footage on your local tv news.  So have I and from experience have developed a healthy respect for what a firestorm can do.

As I sit here typing this, the wind is howling outside my window.  Gusting from probably 30 to 60 mph and the yard and pool are full of all my neighbors leaves and trash.  Of course, I donated some of mine to them also.

Will keep you posted if anything great changes.  As for now, all is well for the Subers!

Sunday, Oct. 21, about 2 hours later

We have developed a very heavy smoke screen coming over the Santa Susana Mountains which separate the Conejo Valley from the Simi Valley (where my brother Jim lives).  The major TV news are only covering Malibu, Castaic and Agua Dulce fires.  So am at a loss as to where the smoke fire blocking out the sun is coming from.

Have not been able to reach my brother Jim in Simi by land line or cell phone.  And my sister-in-law out in Newbury Park (about 5 miles north of us on the 101 freeway) tells us that the smoke is so thick out there that they have had to put the lights on in the house.  They may be getting smoke from the Santa Rosa fire.

There is a possibility we are experiencing the smoke from the Chatsworth fire if it is moving toward the west, if not, then it is a new fire.  Fortunately, the smoke seems to be moving west toward Westlake and Thousand Oaks.  But it is still dumping fly ash on us requiring us to close the windows.

So far there are no indications of flame on the horizon.  But, as they say, where there is smoke there has to be fire!

Looks to be a long night, as multiple fires develop, grow and move.  Keep tuned.

Sunday, Oct. 21, about 2 hours later

Ah, there is good news tonight!

Somewhere up there that orange ball of fire is trying to set behind the heavy smoke that has finally blotted it out.  In my favor, that smoke has moved on west of us and reduces the concern that fire may be on its way (at least for the present).

Finally contacted my brother Jim in Simi and he assures me that all is well.  Except for a pool full of debris and fly ash.  The fire causing all the smoke was coming from a blaze in Porter Ranch which is about 5-6 miles east of us along Route 118.  Smoke travels a long way and when you can not see its source over the hills you do wonder about its source.

However, I was just startled by a sound similar to a jet plane whistle outside my window.  It was only one of the strong wind gusts that we are still experiencing. 

My sympathy is for those who are suffering losses in this rash of blazes.  Hopefully, they have good insurance. Now if our good fortune continues through the end of this dry, windy weather on Tuesday, it will be back to living in paradise once again.

Monday, Oct. 22, morning

Another bad hair day in paradise.

Woke up this morning with clear skies, a good sign!

But we still have strong gusting winds, not a good sign

Called my nephew Greg this morning and things are looking up for him.  While he is not allowed back into his home, the wind has shifted and is driving the fire away from him and the rest of the family in Saugus.

Drove into Reseda for a medical appointment and left about 8:20 anticipating heavy traffic.  It is only a 20-mile drive and at about 9:35, as I was getting close to the facility,  I get a call on my cell phone that my appointment has been canceled because the person I was to see was being evacuated from her home.

The firefighters really do a fantastic job in trying to control these wild fires.  They take it personal when they lose a home.  They deserve all the credit and pay that they earn.

The temperature is expected to top 100 today in some of the fire areas and the winds are not expected to diminish until 3 p.m. or so tomorrow.  If our luck holds out and no one sets another fire this may come to an end.

Monday, Oct. 22, evening

It's 8:45 p.m. and when I go outside it smells like the fire is in my backyard.  Even inside the house you smell the smoke.  And the eyes burn and tear from the smoke.  But when I look up I can see the moon and the stars for now.  Not so for others.

A half hour ago I was talking with a friend and he was telling me that a common friend of ours had been evacuated from his home.

Less than 10 minutes ago we received a call that our nephew, Greg, his family and in-laws who live nearby were evacuated from their homes.  His wife's brother lost his home to the fire hours before.  And that his sister and her family who live in the same general area were waiting for orders to evacuate.  They are all being threatened by the Agua Dulce fire.

Many fires across southern California are stretching the resources of the fire departments very thin.  These fires can and will move very fast, faster than you can run.  A shift in wind, a sudden gust, a rise in temperature, drop in humidity, it is almost unpredictable where or how the fire will proceed.  And Tuesday evening is looking to be a long ways off before the weather conditions that support these fires change.

It will be a long night for those threatened and the firefighters from all over the state who do a fantastic job.

Monday, Oct. 22, a little later

When I returned home this afternoon and looked all around there were just a few tiny wisps of smoke on the east and west horizons.  Still a strong gusting wind but no longer do we have the smell of smoke.  I think to myself that things have settled down and this will be over shortly.

Then I went into the house and turned on the TV.  All 4 major networks have pre-empted normal programming during the day for fire coverage.  And did I get coverage.  Not sure how much you see on your newscasts, but I get in-your-face four channels of smoke, fire and burning buildings.  Not only is it not over and containment is limited to 10-30%, but we have 4 new fires raging.  (Thankfully far enough from us as to not cause concern)  These fires are not staionary.  They are on the move with speed and direction based on wind, terrain and fuel availability.

To my understanding the fire-fighting resources are pretty much at their maximum without going out of  state.  That means to staff the new fires personnel must be shifted from existing fires to the new ones. And understand that the firefighters are working long hard hours with minimal rest.  Not the best situation.

Most people agree that none of the fires will be contained until the weather conditions change; a major drop in the winds, increase in humidity, and a lowering of the temperature.  The initial projections for this to happen were for Tuesday around 3 p.m.  But some weather guessers are moving that out to Wednesday. 

Either way, it is going to be another long night for many here in So Cal.

Tuesday, Oct. 23, evening

A rather ominous sunrise today.  The smoke clouds on the east and west horizons are dark purple in their thickest part tapering off to a muddy grey as they thin out.  A bit early for halloween.  A very warm morning with moderate wind gusts.

As the day progressed the wind decreased in volume and the clouds spread out over the entire sky.  It appeared as if it were a cold winter day with an overecast.  But this cover was smooth and definitely not clouds.  It changed the sun to a bright orange ball like a big sign saying "it is not over yet!"

When I returned home the big four on TV were ablaze with more pictures (lots of reruns of footage) and babbling reporters.  And just like the government, they had to tell you how many acres were burned, how many homes were destroyed, deaths and injuries. 

This statistically was probably one of the most devastating 3 days in So Cal history.  Can you imagine being forced out of your home, finding out it was totally destroyed, wandering around with no where to go with only the clothes on your back!  Whether it was a one-room shack in the National Forest or a multimillion dollar home in Malibu, you have to feel sorry for these people.  But in interviews they tell you, homes and possesions can be replaced and they are glad that they and their loved ones are safe.  Not sure how I would react to the same situation. 

With the weather changing we are seeing increases in the containment of the fires.  Some will be allowed to burn themselves out, but those that threaten homes will be the priority and receive maximum resources.  Hopefully, this nightmare will be over in a few more days.

Thursday, Oct. 25, morning

The fires must be all over, The TV stations have dropped all coverage and the only mention that you hear/see is on the national news programs.

The change in weather has started to help the firefighters bring containment to most of the major fires.  Full containment is expected by the end of the week where there are some early projections for rain. 

Now a whole lot of people need to start putting their lives back in order.  Not an easy task when you consider what many of them have lost.

But, that will not be the end of the story.  When our rainy season starts, and if we get a considerable amount of rain, you can expect to hear of run-off problems, mud flows and mud slides where the vegetation has burned off and the earth is scorched.

For me, I need to start removing all the leaves, pine needles, small branches, fly ash, soot and other debris from the yard, inside the garage and on top of my pool cover.