• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Wildfires in SoCal Approaching

Events such as these fires are both frightening and frustrating to look at from afar. And from afar it's all to easy to form false impressions due to the media filter.

I am certain that the emergency folk, first responders, volunteers at all levels etc. are doing their utmost to both fight the fires and relieve the suffering.

Our thoughts are with you folk in your time of distress. Stay safe and please keep in mind that "things" can be replaced but lives that are lost can never be reclaimed.
 
copake_ham said:
Events such as these fires are both frightening and frustrating to look at from afar. And from afar it's all to easy to form false impressions due to the media filter.
Click to expand...

True, for those people involved in these fires it is much worse than you can possibly imagine.

Steve
 
according to Rush Limpballs the drive-by media is making the fires in California to be much worse than they really are. Some clown (Glenn Beck) on CNN said that only those that hate America are losing their houses. How do they know?

lee\c
 
My wife's sister is in the Encinitas area, our daughter just moved to LA, my niece lives in Victorville and a nephew just south of LA. Needless to say my wife is a wreck, fretting every newscast.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by these fires.

gene
 
does it matter? it is what it is... "On the October 22 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program, host Glenn Beck stated, “I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today.”

lee\c
 

Sadly, the right wingnuts will exploit and tear down anything, even 12 year old sick kids, to "advance" their agenda.

But all of this detracts from the real tragedy that is befalling folk in SoCal right now.

We just got word that our nephew, a Marine helicopter pilot currently stationed at Camp Pendleton (which, BTW, is being evacuated), is now using his skills to do water bucket drops to fight the fires.

He's done one tour in Iraq (and why are we stlll wasting lives and money in that friggin' rathole?) and is due to go to Afghanistan in a few months time.

Meanwhile, he's serving his country right here at home.

Go, Andrew, drop them buckets!
 
Let's not dignify, even slightly, true scumbags like Beck and the hate they spread daily.

My family and I have hardly slept for the past two nights while surrounded by two very large fires (Castaic & Santa Clarita) on each side, not knowing where the Santa Anas would blow them next. There's building confidence where I particularly live that we have largely escaped harm, even though both fires near me still rage on.

But those south and west of us have not fared as well. I'd like to express my deepest sympathies to everyone down south, particularly in Lake Arrowhead and San Diego. The personal fear I've felt the last couple of days is dwarfed by what they must be experiencing first hand. Good luck to you all.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Glad to hear you're still hanging in there!
 
copake_ham said:
We just got word that our nephew, a Marine helicopter pilot currently stationed at Camp Pendleton (which, BTW, is being evacuated), is now using his skills to do water bucket drops to fight the fires.

...

Go, Andrew, drop them buckets!
Click to expand...

We appreciate all of those who have been fighting the fire (kudos to your nephew!). The winds finally let up enough to allow the planes and helicopters to drop water and fire-retardant. We also appreciate those folks who have been donating time, money, and goods to those who have had to evacuate. I don't think that this fire discriminates between those who love or hate our country...
 
Shmoo said:
We appreciate all of those who have been fighting the fire (kudos to your nephew!). The winds finally let up enough to allow the planes and helicopters to drop water and fire-retardant. ...
Click to expand...

Andrew is a great young man. We're first of all relieved tonight to learn he is safe and extra proud that he has special skills that are so useful at this time.

We last saw him only a couple of weeks ago at a sad time for us (the funeral of his grandmother - my wife's mother). I asked him then how he might plan to use his piloting skills after his service. He wasn't sure then - so perhaps he's getting a "job interview" right now?

BTW, I don't think anyone "hates America". I do think too damned many political agenda lunatics of every stripe have warped the dialogue amongst the rest of us for too long.

Now, stepping off the soapbox.
 
In my younger days I fought some wildland fires while in the US Forest Service. Its no picnic having fire in your face. Fortunately it was all in the wilderness, so I never saw any houses go up. Beck and that crowd are scum and talk out of their nether regions.

My heart goes out to all those putting their lives on the line to save peoples' homes...piloting helicopters in those conditions is not easy nor particularly safe. (but it was the only times I ever got to ride in them).

At least here in the far northern end of CA we have had a week of rain. Many of our local crews, engines and dozers are heading down to SoCal. Hopefully we won't need any here, but due to the recent rains, we probably won't.

Vaughn
 
My condolences to those suffering in the Southern Californian fires.

I live in one of the focal points of bush fires in Australia, so far I've not been in close and dangerous proximity, but it's always a thought there in the background.

My daughter won an award for a press photograph of a fire some years ago, I'm sure that she would be happy to not have.

It's a shame we sent all those damn eucalypts to California so long ago.

Regards - Ross
 
As strong as we think we are, Nature always holds the wild cards.

North coast BC can't send you its perpetual fall rains, but your government yesterday requested BC to send the biggest water bombers in the world your way...they should be leaving today.

Hope you get a break in the weather!

Murray
 
If there's any APUGERs in trouble in San Diego I can provide any help if needed. I live downtown so we're very safe from the fires, but if you need a place to store any important items or gear let me know, I've got some extra room and a storage unit near Sea World. Hope everyone's doing well and out of harm's way.
ksmtih@score.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register