Here is an image to give those who are not here a magnitude of the fire situation

[KitchenWitch]

:scared:

[Ian David]

1. But what if THAT is where the WMDs are? Damn, that's huge. n/t

[KitchenWitch]

2. I am going to hell for laughing

I must need the comic relief.

[Peregrine Took]

4. I'm sorry - I don't "get" your comment - what's funny? n/t

[KitchenWitch]

12. Gallows humor, I can't even explain it - my house is 3 miles from one of the fires.

I do not believe there are WMDs here...but it was funny to me.

[Javaman]

29. boy this looks much more massive then the fires back in the early 90's. nt

[Raksha]

39. KW, I just checked your profile and I'm wondering if I know you.

I have a friend in Antelope Valley in northern L.A. County who also posts as KitchenWitch on some boards. I haven't head from her in a couple of months and I'm worried about her.

[KitchenWitch]

49. No, I am not the same person.

I sure hope you find your friends.

[gateley]

3. How do they 'jump' like that? Thanks. nt

[KitchenWitch]

8. The winds right now are 25-35 mph sustained with gusts up to 80 mph

the glowing embers blow in the wind and light up new spots.

Not all those fires have the same source. The one that is 3 miles from my house was arson. They are not sure yet about the ones in Malibu, and the ones around San Diego, and in San Bernardino county.

[aquart]

36. Unusually heavy winds knocked down power lines.

My sister is waiting for the evac order. They've decided not to go till then. Their propane tank is bobbling in my sister's tiny lap pool. Along with all the stained glass artwork...all that's left of our beautiful Hyacinth. My mom told her to put her pots and pans in a bag and throw them in, too.

[kestrel91316]

41. The firebugs come out with their boxes of matches when we get these

fire danger alerts. They watch the weather reports and know right when to strike.....

You should have seen the smoke yesterday afternoon from the Agua Dulce fire!!!! I am in the San Fernando Valley and it was blowing overhead but just a bit to the west.

[Raksha]

48. The one in San Bernardino county started in Fontana

last night or this morning, and today for the first time I can smell smoke in the air. I'm in the city of San Bernardino, and Fontana isn't all that close to me, but not that far away either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Embers... hot embers are carried by the wind, land on some fuel and wammo

new fire

[SoCalDem]

18. air borne flaming palm fronds are like nothing you want to ever see

:scared:

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Or the local manzanita embers

those things burn hot, burn long and spread

[KitchenWitch]

26. No kidding

:scared:

[gateley]

33. Thank you all - I get it now. nt

[kestrel91316]

42. Those damned palms are like Roman Candles when they go up.

It wouldn't happen if folks kept them TRIMMED. But we can't do THAT - it would cost money and then we'd have to sacrifice some Starbucks visits......

I hate palm trees. The eucalyptus are just as bad.

[TahitiNut]

54. The eucalyptus torches are no laughing matter either.

I watched the Berkeley Hills fire from across the bay. Frightening.

[kineneb]

57. it was several towns south of us

we were in Richmond. I had been working in San Rafael and saw the smoke from the bridge on my way home. Eucalyptus does not belong in California. It not only burns hot but tends to explode and spread the fire.

[suffragette]

5. Sending positive thoughts to you

Got up this morning, came to DU and saw the posts on this and called my sister in Mira Mesa right away. They're ok at this point, and my niece who lives in Poway left there and is with them, all glued to the tv for updates and with essentials, meds, etc packed just in case. Ash is everywhere, but they're staying inside so my sisters asthma won't flare.
Other relatives from Ramona have evacuated and are ok, too.

:hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Now that is damn impressive!

[BOSSHOG]

7. Has there been a cause for any of the fires

identified? That's horrendous.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Yesterday the news critters were hiting that for SD

at least one of them, a power line

[KitchenWitch]

13. Arson for the one in Orange County

[Droopy]

16. I think they are usually caused by lightening strikes

in that area of the country. I haven't heard any accusations arson.

[KitchenWitch]

17. No thunderstorms - thus no lightening.

Arson in one case, a power line in another.

[Droopy]

20. Ah. Thanks

Yeah I don't have a TV here so I've not been staying up to date on the fires.

[kestrel91316]

43. Lightning is almost as rare here as rain....

[toadzilla]

19. high winds can knock down powerlines

or so i read....

they can then arch, and start fires.

[Rex]

10. OMG

[Arkansas Granny]

14. They showed a video on tv this morning that was taken during

the night. The announcer said that the aerial images looked like a lava flow. It was truly frightening.

[SeattleGirl]

15. Good grief!

:wow:

[tularetom]

21. Looks like there is a fire in ensenada area

Plus the area north of SD along the 15 like Rancho Bernardo appears to be pretty hard hit.

Our granddaughter lives in the Lakeside area about 25 miles east of San diego and she is expecting to be ordered to evacuate at any timee.

[Ilsa]

24. I wouldn't wait if I was there. I would rather get on the road before

the rest of the evacuees. My friends that had to evacuate two years ago said the traffic was a nightmare.

[Ilsa]

22. KitchenWtch, is the one that is furthest south in northern San Diego county?

I'm hoping none of the fires are any further south than Escondido or thereabouts. I hope everyone can evacuate okay.

[KitchenWitch]

25. I have a friend who lives in Escondido who evacuated at 5 this morning.

Please be safe.

[tjwash]

27. I've lived here my whole life and can't remember anything as bad as these last 7 years.

And I'm old...

[Generator]

28. Horrible, how far to residential San Diego

have these gotten? I had NO idea it was that far south. I have relatives in San Diego-I haven't called. They live in nearer the coast-del Mar area? I've never been there. They just moved a couple months ago.

[tjwash]

30. They just issued an evacuation notice for Solana Beach, which is just north of Del Mar.

I hope they are OK. I'm trying to get hold of my folks from RB, but have yet to find them...

[Generator]

44. Thanks

I've haven't reached them either, just left messages. Got out the map to see where all these places are.

[Duer 157099]

31. I recall reading that Del Mar was at risk

if i find a relevent link, i'll post it

[Hekate]

55. Portrero, which I think is down by the border.I read here last night it burned....

...It's the place Blackwater wants to use for a training camp, but the residents have objected.

Hekate

[tuckessee]

32. Looks like Greece a few weeks ago.

Godspeed to everyone in harm's way.

[fed-up]

34. glad to see so far you are ok-damn 3 miles is awful close...from a former wildfire area resident nt

[KitchenWitch]

35. Yes it is.

We are regularly watering our roof.

[Sequoia]

46. Take care KitchenWitch.

[ThomCat]

37. Wow. That's mindboggling.

:(

That's just horrible. Please stay safe.

[pnorman]

38. Is that photo current?

It's URL indicates January 04. Like this: csa.com/discoveryguides/ern/04jan/images/calcoast.jpg

pnorman

[tabatha]

45. Current photo:

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/2007/10/

[pnorman]

52. Thanks for those photos and accompanying text

That was what I was looking for (in vain), when I 'peeled back' the URL of the original photo.

pnorman

[TahitiNut]

56. Here... look at it this way ...

[kineneb]

58. holy shit- those fires are going to create their own "weather"

poor fire fighters, hope they don't get caught in some canyon. And good luck to the CDF "airforce". Flying above that is going to be difficult.

[kestrel91316]

40. That doesn't even SHOW the Malibu fire or the Agua Dulce fire.

A good client of mine who lives in Topanga (a stone's throw from Malibu) just called me a few minutes ago to say he was in the car with the dog and cat and evacuating. He's going to a friend's - I said his cat would be better off in a home situation rather than a cage here.

I have a good friend up in Agua Dulce who has 4 horses and three cats. I assume she has had to bug out. I don't want to call and bother her - I'm sure her life is pandemonium right now. I go there every year for Thanksgiving dinner - hope the house will be there.

[karlrschneider]

47. It isn't a real picture, it's some kind of photoshop/paint image.

...

[tabatha]

50. up-to-date satellite image on CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/22/wildfire.ca/index.html

On edit: another link

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16344

Click on rectangle for larger image.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

51. Holy Toledo!

I used to love the raw power of the Santa Anna winds, all except for this aspect of them.

This time it's really bad.

You guys stay safe there, and don't hesitate to get the hell out if you have to. Stuff can be replaced, you can't.

[Hekate]

53. Incredible pic. It sure explains the air quality in Santa Barbara/Goleta just now.

Thanks for posting it and stay safe.

Hekate