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I'm preparing an email to my friends using info from this thread and some personal info. If anyone cares to (has the time to) review it and make suggestions/corrections/additions/deletions, I'd appreciate it.....

My online friends from KA tell me that the news reports (so-called!) are not reporting the extent of the devastation of the fires. These fires are not the usual, seasonal brush fires. It’s an absolute tragedy what’s happening there. They’re asking for people to send emails telling of the scope of the fires and asking for PRAYERS.

It’s hard to imagine the kind of fire and the speed with which it travels when it’s burning up dry brush and dead trees. The environmentalist wackos should be ashamed of themselves (then they should be hung) for preventing controlled fires to thin out (reasonable forest management as the fire/forestry experts have been begging the KA gov’t to do for years now!) the brush, etc. in order to save spotted owls, beetles, and trees, but I digress.

Firefighters (FF) from San Diego (SD) were sent up north to Los Angeles (LA) area -- San Bernardino (San Berdu) -- late last week to assist there. When the fires started in SD, they didn’t have a full capacity of FF.

Blocks and blocks of homes in Scripps Ranch (SD) are burned to the ground. I used to live right across the freeway from these homes.

My friend in Valley Center (SD) was evacuated at a moment’s notice; when they were allowed to return, their neighbor’s home was burned to the ground. Domesticated animals (including horses) were running wild – owners on evac orders let them out of barns so they wouldn’t be trapped.

Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon (all SD) on fire. Friends evac’d out of Santee, but I think they were allowed back home as of this morning.

Huge sections – 16 miles out-of-control -- burning in Alpine (SD). Ruth’s daughter believes her home in Alpine is gone – they were evac’d a few days ago. Alpine fire now (8:30 PM 10/28/03) moving into the beautiful, little town of Julian. The last time I saw Pam (before she died), we visited Julian. Recently, the people of Julian fought the good fight and kept McDonald’s out of their idyllic area. Pine Valley is on fire. SD east county is in dire straits.

Lake Arrowhead area (not the town yet) is on fire; the skyline looks like a mushroom cloud. Big Bear is being evac’d – Hwy 18, aka Rim of The World, is on fire. Some in this area are reporting firestorm activity (which means, I think, a special weather pattern created by an out-of-control fire – a very bad thing for FF).

Nearly the entire town of Cuyamaca -- over 100 homes/businesses – is gone. Cuyamaca was a little piece of Americana – 1950’s architecture and values to match. It cannot be replaced.

San Berdu fire still burning. Simi Valley on fire. Otay Mesa and into Mexico on fire.

It is raining ash at March Air Force Base. Friends in Clairemont Mesa area said several inches of ash on ground. Sky dark all over (except coastal areas). They’re choking on smoke.

Homes not burned are smoke damaged – one friend said his home smelled like burnt BBQ.

Smaller, spot fires EVERYWHERE. Thousands without power. Smoke can be seen as far away as Palm Springs.

Air choppers not able to drop water/fire retardant after dark and are not able to fly in some areas due to smoke and high Santa Ana winds. FF and forestry personnel are utterly exhausted!

At least one fire (and probably several more) started by arsonist/terrorist. Police are looking for two suspects seen leaving the area. SD fires started on the first day of Islamic Ramadan – one cannot dismiss this piece of info in this day and age. One was reportedly started by a hunter who shot off a flare when he got lost from his group.

Don’t know about today, but on Sunday, ALL MAJOR FREEWAYS IN SD WERE SHUT DOWN (except I-5)! You have no idea what kind of gridlock this caused. Just imagine all the cars stopped for miles coming into SD from Arizona – a stretch of freeway that is desert. One of the most beautiful freeways I’ve ever driven – 163 going toward the world famous SD zoo – was closed and on fire.

Looting is taking place in the evac’d areas. Citizens are staying behind to stand guard, but then getting trapped or getting in the way of FF who have more important things to do than go back into an area that was supposed to be evac’d to deal with both looters and citizens.

Last I heard: 600,000 acres consumed. Over 1500 homes. 17 dead. FF and forestry personnel saying this is the worst fire devastation they’ve ever seen.

People 30 miles from fires said it was “pitch black” at 3:00 in the afternoon.

The grief is going to be very, very deep for many people – lost lives, lost homes, lost pets, photos, family heirlooms.

The President responding appropriately.

PLEASE PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FELLOW AMERICANS!!

[see attached map from SD Union/Tribune yesterday morning – it’s gotten worse since then]....

END EMAIL and thanks for any help.

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I remember last time this year ---- Arabs were seen buying up a bunch of candy in Costco stores. Warnings about Halloween were everywhere. Maybe there's something about this week to them ---- well..... besides Ramadan?

You might add that one official was saying that it may take a "season ending event" (read lots of moisture) to stop these fires.

Three weeks of fire is not out of the question - according to the fire official interviewed on national cable news.

Sounds like you've gotten everything down perfect in that e-mail, via; you certainly down need any help from me. Great letter!

Great - I couldn't add a thing.

Re your 2171: Smoke can be seen as far away as Palm Springs

I'm in western AZ, approx 150 miles east of the fires. Right after the sun went down this evening, while the sky was still light, we could very clearly see the smoke over there . . . . a long, long line of smoke across the western sky.

I would love it if Arnold's first act as Governor would be to abolish all the idiot environmental laws and return common sense to the people. I'd love to hear him tell the citizens to clear deadwood in the forests and cut down whatever bushes you want on your own property.

az

Very strong e-mail. It made me pause for a minute and think about this whole situation.