Did you see the views of this home last night? It had a tall flagpole with Old Glory flying high, amid the billowing black smoke. I couldn't help thinking metaphor.
Posted on 05/07/2009 11:50:22 AM PDT by La Enchiladita
11:22 a.m. update:
Winds have remained relatively calm in the morning hours, much as fire officials had expected. Crews are attacking lines vigorously in anticipation of heavy winds this afternoon.
"Today is supposed to be a carbon copy of yesterday," County Fire Chief Tom Franklin said, noting that wind gusts were measured yesterday at up to 70 mph. "There's nothing you can do at that point."
He also dismissed any notion that there is a lack of urgency among firefighters or officials, pointing out that approximately 1,400 firefighters have been assigned to the blaze.
"The bulk of these people are on the firelines and working very, very hard," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailysound.com ...
Not sure what the wind forecast is but this one is far from over .. it was reportedly less than 200 acres yesterday
the numbers of those evacuated , over 13K, 5,800 homes evacuated
More people told to flee southern Calif. wildfire (2,000 homes evacuation in progress)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2245739/posts
As of mid-morning, the wind had abated. I watched coverage until fairly late last night and then, this morning, was startled by the numbers who have been evacuated.
Yes, I saw your thread, debated whether to post there or separately:-).
No problemo.
BradsGramma kind of was wondering why the wildfires in SoCal weren’t getting much coverage. I had heard a report earlier on this one, arson suspected, too bad it blew up.. those are beautiful places to live.. but dangerous too.
Arsonists should get the death penalty. No exceptions.
Kind of ironic that this inferno blew up just days after Gov. Arnold Shriver Rino threatened to lay off 1700 firefighters if the voters have the audacity to reject his stinking tax increase in the special election. Wanna go repeat that at the shelters in Santa Barbara Conan?
My folks in Goleta, near UCSB, are once again hosting some evacuated friends from the foothills.
Did you see the views of this home last night? It had a tall flagpole with Old Glory flying high, amid the billowing black smoke. I couldn't help thinking metaphor.
I saw a Goleta lady being interviewed on local TV this morning. She said they have been hit by 3 major fires in 18 months.
heard a report of some folks seeing a person leaving canyon shortly before fires were detected.. not sure where that went so far.. other than that, not sure.
The winds whipped up yesterday between 3 and 4 p.m. Crossing fingers for today.
We also had crazy wind in West L.A. late aft/early eve.: Warm wind blowing in circles, in strong gusts.
Thursday is turning out to be a crucial day on the fire line. Flames are now established in the upper ends of three canyons: San Roque, Mission, and Rattlesnake. The potential is for the fire to reach the top of the mountains in any of these locations if the wind pushes it uphill. Should the fire cross the crest in any of these locations, as it did in the 1964 Coyote Fire, this could expand its potential impact dramatically.
Severe downhill winds later in the day could also push the fire back down into any of a number of the nearby foothill communities.
Firefighters will be holding their breaths as the 2PM hour approaches, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
http://www.independent.com/news/2009/may/07/jesusita-fire-turns-tragic-without-warning/
2 Captains Among 3 Firefighters Seriously HurtThe doctor interviewed in the video says it is a miracle they made it out alive. "God was watching over these men."Three Ventura County firefighters injured in the Santa Barbara wildfire Thursday were being treated at the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks.
Two of the men were being treated for moderate burns and the other for smoke inhalation, and all three of their conditions were upgraded from serious to good.
The three firefighters were identified as: Capt. Brian Bulger, 57, of Ventura, a 30-year veteran of the Ventura County Fire Department; Capt. Ron Topolinski, 51, of Camarillo, a 28-year veteran of the Ventura County Fire Department; and Robert Lopez, 44, who has been with the department since 2000.
The men were forced to seek shelter in a burning building when their engine was overrun by flames.
I saw that on the news.They also showed the fire truck.They are in my prayers.((((Hugs))))
The Red Cross Evacuation center is located at Dos Pueblos High School at 7266 Alameda Avenue in Goleta.
The Jesusita Fire Call Center number is (805) 681-5197.
The Animal Services Hotline is (805) 681-4332.
Santa Barbara County Website
Road Closure Hotline is (805) 568-3006.
Large animals can be taken to:
Earl Warren Showgrounds – Los Positas entrance, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara
Small animals can be taken to:
Santa Barbara Humane Society, 5399 Overpass Road, Goleta
(((Hugs))), fatima. Thank you for prayers, they need them.
How are you folks now? It looks like things switched directions as I heard 154 was in trouble earlier and now they’re saying major evacs beginning or planned for Goleta area - which was where the Red Cross shelter moved and all the animal evacs were happening.
I saw this (below) and thought of your post about your folks and those with them. Praying they’re ok...I can relate to the whole wildfire thing. I left with no warning the last SD firestorm with flames in my landscaping and other property structures, and the waiting and wondering...so it really makes me extra prayerful of those going through it.
“they are going to be evacuating large portions of Goleta and the new mandatory evacuation areas will impact 18,000 people”
Thanks, I planned to give them a ring today and will let you know. Maybe they should water the lawn well, and then start watering the house - we talked about that yesterday.
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