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Wildfires in SoCal Approaching

Shawn Rahman

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The nearest of today's 15 fires in Southern California is now approx. 5 miles away from us. I've got my family ready right now in case the Sheriff's department extends the current evacuation to where I am. Question: I have room in my truck for all my gear and family pictures right now. It would not prevent me from taking anything else. Should I take my gear with me? I have insurance, but don't want to lose my gear.

What would you do? I figure we have about a 4-5 hour window right now before we know if we are going to be threatened or not.

If you are wondering what I am doing on APUG with danger so near, I am locked at my computer monitoring the fires and situation, and switching back and forth from APUG is keeping me sane at this point.
 
First, be safe and be smart.

Second, equipment is replaceable. Loved ones are not.

Third, if you have room for the gear, take it. It will save
you a hassle in the long room.

be well.
 
Uhh, yeah. If you've got time, load up the truck with your most precious possessions - photo gear included! Leave the stuff like TVs and computers - that's generic and replaceable. But presumably you have some interesting gear or you wouldn't be asking this.

I know I'd save my cameras. Just finding half the stuff on ebay again would be more hassle than I would like to face.
 
Wow, you guys must have a long fire season.
I think I'd load up my negatives and contacts before the cameras (after the wife,dogs & cat of course).
I hope it doesn't happen. Good luck.
 
johnnywalker said:
Wow, you guys must have a long fire season.
I think I'd load up my negatives and contacts before the cameras (after the wife,dogs & cat of course).
I hope it doesn't happen. Good luck.
Click to expand...

The fall is prime fire season in CA. Many months without rain leaves the place a tinder box. Best of luck to the OP.
 

Teh photo gear would be the hardest to replace - lots of fights with the insurance company. Computers and tv they understand and it will be less trouble to replace.

Good luck, I lived in a Southern California fire area for 24 years.

Steve
 
Yikes. I'm sorry for you. Be safe, save the negs too, and keep us posted.
 
Wasn't there a huge fire in January of the this year? I hate to see all of the fires down there. Shortly after I started at Art Center there was a huge fire that blocked the freeway near Pasadena, that was an eyeful. I was in the service in SD and Long Beach in the early 70's and don't remember fires during that time. When I was going to Brooks there was a fire that cleaned out both sides of the road going north. It's the brush and the constant wind and dryness.

Good luck and stay safe.

Curt
 
Thanks, everyone - so far, so good. I took a drive a few minutes ago, and I could see the glow of two fires on the horizon line. To situate myself a little more precisely for those that are familiar to the area, I am about a mile away from CalArts in Valencia in the Santa Clarita Valley. It about 5 miles away from the very big fire burning in Canyon Country. The winds have exceeded 80 MPH today, and current gusts must be averaging about 40-50.

I will stay up throughout the night while my family sleeps so I can monitor the news. Unfortunately, too much brush nearby our home. We are packed and ready.

Not too much gear - three 35s, a Mamiya kit, tripod, negatives and slides, and all the family pics (without negs). All ready to go with us in case it happens.

Thanks, all, for the well wishes. I'll check back later tonight.
 
Get the negs and a body/back/tripod you can use if you need. Then run like hell. I lived in S. Oregon and know from wildfires. You want as many miles as you can between you and that fireline.
 
I'm watching the coverage of the California fires on T.V. It looks terrible and getting worse. I am hoping that hkr, his family and property are safe and intact.
 
I'm kinda near the fires. I left my car window a little open last night and now all full of soot inside. I'm in a very densely populated area, not near the brushes or anything. But its bad for my son's asthma. This photo is about 3 or 4 miles from the fires last night around 6 PM. I heard, this morning, that the road to get up there was closed and it was just down the block from me but I couldn't see it from the retaining wall!
 

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Eric,

Where are you located? The Saugus/Canyon country fire that I am near is still burning, and coincidentally also wrecked havoc on my daughter's asthma yesterday. Thankfully, all schools are shut down.

Last night was very uneasy for us - nothing like looking out your window at 2AM and seeing an orange sky. We're not out of the woods yet.

VERY deep felt thanks to all who have shown concern. Me, my family, and my gear thank you very much.

Regards,

hkr
 
Hi Eric:
The homes in your photo sure look like those in my neighborhood. Where are you located? I am in Moorpark, Ventura County.
Wishing the best to us "all", Howard Tanger

 
hkr said:
Eric,

Where are you located? The Saugus/Canyon country fire that I am near is still burning, and coincidentally also wrecked havoc on my daughter's asthma yesterday.
Click to expand...
Apparently, there's a bunch of fires everywhere in socal. I'm in Irvine. This fire is by the 241/133. I ride my bike all around those areas where the fire is so no riding for a while.
Take care dude! As you know, its that smoke that will wreck havoc on kids. I gave him a nebulizer this morning just in case.
 
kiku said:
Hi Eric:
The homes in your photo sure look like those in my neighborhood. Where are you located? I am in Moorpark, Ventura County.
Wishing the best to us "all", Howard Tanger
Click to expand...

Yes indeed - and very best to you and yours, Howard. The places I've been in Moorpark are postcard-worthy beautiful. Hope this turns out well for you and all of us here.

And to think I moved out here from NYC last year for this! Lord, I miss the rain.

Regards.

Shawn Rahman
(hkr)
 

What the heck is rain? Its been so long I have forgotten!

Steve
 
It's miserable in the San Diego area as well. Huge areas of evacuation in the north end of the county and now they're possibly going to evacuate some of the south county. The air is deceptive...looks gray, but after a few minutes in it, you're hacking and coughing. We've stayed indoors all day and it's in the mid 80's with tomorrow going into the 90's!

Stay safe, hkr!
 
As I sit here at my local coffee shop playing with the morning's internet action, ashes are dropping..the air is pungent with the burn smell...and I don't think there's a fire within 20-30 miles of me. Of course, a new one may have sprung up last night...
 
I hope you and your family stay safe. My DH is a firefighter here in Australia. I don't envy anyone having to deal with such fires. Thoughts going your way.
 
I am at work in Manhattan Beach. Yesterday when I went to the gym, I could slightly smell smoke. The gym has positive are pressure,[the air pushes against the front doors, always keeping them open] so I felt it was safe to exercise.

Today, is different. When I left for work the sky was clear over Westwood but the South Bay had a pall of smoke and clouds over it. Now you can smell the smoke both inside and outside the buildings.

Steve
 
I just heard on the news that Bush will send FEMA for relief.

Guys, I was already feeling sorry for you. Now I'm terrified.

Save the loved ones first, emergency supplies, then the negs, and the gear. Prints you can always replace.

Here it's going to rain for another few days.
 
To a Brit for whom this kind of experience will always be thankfully impossible, it looks nightmarish. Like scenes from Hades on TV. My full sympathy to all those affected.

pentaxuser
 

How about just sending us the rain?

Steve
 
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