Quote:
Originally posted by nostatic
13 dead
800+ homes gone
100,000+ evacuated
300,000+ acres burned
And it isn't over yet.
Much of the acreage is adjacent to populated areas, and will result in mudslides when it rains this winter.
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Scripps Ranch lost something like 300 homes. Your picture is one of them. These were on the south side of Pomerado - expensive area ~$800-900K minimum, most probably more. What gets me is the number of homes there that (had) the old shake wood shingle roofs. Not to pour salt on a large open wound...
The homeowners in the Scripps area have enjoyed a staggering rise in home property values in the last 6-8 years. Homes that cost $200K are now $600K and up. Instead of the granite countertops and new BMW you'd think they would pull money out to replace those kindling roofs. Watching the news footage yesterday I saw entire neighborhoods burned to the ground yet the trees around the homes were untouched. Direct result of flying embers landing on the wood roofs.
I imagine I would be in the minority here but if my home was the only one standing after a fire I would be pretty bummed (looking for that book of matches). What I saw in Santa Barbara was that the rebuilt homes were far nicer (enjoying increased values) vs. homes built in the 70's and 80's and suddenly you were left in a old tract home surrounded by custom homes. I know location is everything and you don't want the nicest home on the block and all - but from going to status quo to the Munsters house is not good either.