Here's a top secret photo of the dastardly device:

http://www.slackerastronomy.org/images/simpsons-sun.png

The winds have mostly died down in most of S.D. County except maybe in close proximity of the fires, so that might help some. But with morning the Santa Ana winds will pick up again. Luckily we're getting some serious help from the Military & other fire fighting units around the country. I understand 3 or 4 C-130s will be coming in. Evacuation is 2 miles from where I live & I'm hopeful it won't get closer.

With all the "million dollar rat holes" I wonder how many gasoline trails have been laid:)

But seriously I hope everyone is safe and smart, houses can be rebuilt.

Could the sudden reduction in inventory help drive prices up?

And yes, stay safe everyone.

More than likely, and I'm sure it will affect homebuilding rates (way up) and rental rates.

I imagine it would also lower demand for other people to move to the areas affected, as if demand could get any softer.

I have a good friend that has a very nice, newer, large (4500 sq ft) home in Silverado canyon. I remember him telling me when he moved in about 5 years ago that the winds were so bad sometimes that they really considered selling and moving towards the coast. They could just not handle listening to the wind howling all the time. These fires are a fact of life in these canyons. Makes you wonder why people ignore them and buy anyway.

I dunno - I can certainly see why the areas have appeal: when the alternative is living in glorified tenement houses with people stacked on top of each other, no parking and crushing gridlock (virtually everywhere else in SoCal) for virtually the same price, it makes sense. You can move to the mountains and have California's nice weather (usually), cleaner air, a much more laid-back lifestyle and actually buy land for your million bucks (rather than just a 75x200 postage-stamp lot looking into your neighbor's bathroom window). However, it comes with risk. As I said before, anyone moving to those sorts of areas without fire/mudslide/earthquake insurance is asking for trouble and probably had no business being there. Tragic, but preventable and as such, I can't feel terribly sorry for the ones that opted to carry no coverage. I actually feel worse for the ones that DID have coverage for the amount of B.S. they'll have to go through with their insurance companies.

The worst part about this is it's believed that a couple of the largest fires were arson. I swear, if I ever happened upon someone trying to burn down a forest, they'd be lucky to escape alive. Are peoples' lives REALLY that uneventful where they feel the need to "spice it up" by burning down half the state? Evidently so. Despicable.

My step father who is retired as well as other fire fighter from N.Y.C. are getting ready to fly out and help. I think they may be going into San Diego. Yes, it that f$*king serious.

We are going to go and check my fiances house down in Irvine and see if there was any damage. Wish us luck!

the cool thing about arizona gun laws.......................you CAN SHOOT AN ARSONIST OF AN OCCUPIED STRUCTURE!

my buddy e-mailed me from san dago last night, they were getting ready to go out the door to the stadium.

heard just a lil bit ago on radio the helos and air bombers were not up as of yet. wonder why?

we went thru this a coupla years ago w/my g/friend and her parents place. g/friend lost her garage and a large amount of items while parents lost uninsured dream home to fire along with numerous vintage vehicles. GIANT PITA dealing with POS insurance company for my g/friends items. nickel dimed her to death.

forest service has STILL NOT ALLOWED any rebuilding of ANY STRUCTURE until environmental impact study is completed. in the mean time the flood waters have come up to her doorway numerous times from creeks not being cleaned out of debris.

yes she has flood insurance. in the mean time forest service is dragging their feet. already a coupla kids were killed due to monsoon floodwaters blowing banks due to severe debris buildup in creeks.

wait til it rains in kalifornia next time. all the denuded hillsides will become mudslides!

so much for paradise!

Anyone know how San Elijo has faired? I have an old friend that lives in that development that I haven't been able to reach yet...

Patrick...they were allowed back in between 3-4 p.m. yesterday. I'm about 4-5miles sowest of that. VERY smokey yesterday, not so bad this a.m. BUT came into work in So. San Diego...my whole property covered in ash and could see the flames from the freeway. Waves we're absolutly GOING OFF yesterday...SOLID 5' and groomed offshore winds w/ a ruby red sky...very errie...and only 5-6 guys out. Any other day and there'd be 50.

Jess - those locations are fine. Not threatened at all at this time.


I.E. Dave

I have a friend in Chula Vista, and I'll be in La Jolla this weekend? Anyone know the status in those areas? Thanks!

For updates on San Diego go to http://www.signonsandiego.com The site is getting lots of traffic so it may be slow or even down once in a while.

Thanks for the info David - my wife just few into san diego for the day for a presentation - luckily she is leaving this evening - looks like all the hotels are booked too.

ikarcuaso:

La Jolla's ok...no problems. CV is another story...Eastern part near Otay Lakes is dicey, but the western part is ok.

lowyder993s, thanks. My buddy in CV said they're on evacuation-alert. They've already gathered their valuables and are just waiting for the word.

I wish all you SoCal guys safety through all this. Take care.

500,000 displaced, this thing is serious.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1193176042.jpg