Yesterday felt like a rerun of my birthday four years ago when I spent the day worrying about a fire at nearby Camp Pendleton. That year the wind changed to a Santa Ana, carrying that fire away from us. But a few days later the Cedar Fire started, and burned 280,278 acres, 2,820 buildings (including 2,232 homes), and killed 15 people. About a year and a half before that was the Gavilan Fire, which came within 1/2 mile of my home.
When I was a kid I thought Santa Ana winds were sort of exciting, though even then I didn’t like the heat that came with them, or the dry air that made my hair crackle and my skin feel like paper. But now, after so many fires and worries, I’d rather be out of town when this weather kicks in. The humidity was in the single digits all day yesterday, and it’s every bit as dry today. I slept very little last night, spending most of it listening to the wind tear around the house, creaking the walls and whipping things around outside, and wondering whether all of Ramona (36,000 population) and all of Potrero got evacuated, and how far the fires would spread during the night and all that wind.
This morning I woke to a phone call from my sister, who’d heard on the news that there was a fire in Rainbow, about 5 to 10 miles from me. So today is a fire watch day, hoping the wind will settle down, hoping the air will moisten, and hoping our firefighters aren’t stretched too thin.
I turned 51 yesterday. I think I’m getting too old for this.
1.
Barbara,
Happy Birthday!
Transitions from one year to another are always fraught with challenges, but the danger of nearby flames makes this transition sound especially challenging.
As a gift to yourself, I wonder if you might think about writing a story about that girl who found the Santa Ana winds “sort of exciting…” In that one sentence it sounds like you’ve got an entire story waiting to be unpacked.
It doesn’t matter if the story takes an adult perspective looking back… or attempts to recreate the point-of-view of that child. That girl’s emotions are crackling, I think, just beneath the surface, waiting for a wind to fan them into a gripping tale of childhood and fear.
Stay safe.
Comment by Bruce — October 22, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
2.
Hi Barb,
Thanks for the info about the fires. Eeeek. I remember being worried when I lived there…and you’re still smack dab in the middle of it. And it’s getting worse. I saw on the news that it’s twice as bad as 10 yrs. ago due to the global warming which causes earlier Springs, thus longer drying out time for the foliage that used to stay moist and hold the fires back. It’s all a big horror. 100,000 acres used to be a big deal…now they have 500,000 acre fires as a matter of course. It’s terrifying. Ice Age and Dinosaur terrifying….
Did you just have a birthday, you young’un, you? Next summer I hit the big seven oh, so I don’t want to hear any whining from you.
Thanks for dropping by. I’m sending good thoughts (like STOP IT) to the Santa Anas.
xox
Bev
Comment by Bev Jackson — October 22, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
3.
Happy belated birthday to you, Barbara!
I’ll continue to think good thoughts for rain and an end to the fires in your area. I’ve had numerous emails all day from my co-workers in the San Diego area. Most are doing what you’re doing — waiting and preparing — but a few have had to evacuate already. One is driving to the Bay Area with his dog to stay with family, and he will probably be at work in one of the Menlo Park offices tomorrow.
Stay safe!
Comment by blogdog — October 22, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
4.
Adam called this afternoon to say he was still alive, but UCSD had cancelled classes today and tomorrow and he was at a store buying bottled water and insta-food. He and his roomie are thinking they might have to evacuate and are maybe going to San Francisco.
Comment by violetismycolor — October 22, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
5.
Happy birthday and good luck with those fires. Five miles sounds too close for me. As I get older I find I no longer enjoy the excitement of bad weather. The problems associated with a blizzard for instance outweigh the thrill I felt as a kid. Of course, when you’re a kid, you aren’t the one who needs to deal with the consequences of bad weather and you’re pretty much used to not having much control over your world.
Comment by Eric Mayer — October 23, 2007 @ 8:49 am
6.
I just got word that the whole mobile park, Valley Oaks, is gone!? Can that be possible? My neighbor and friend evacuated with her dozen cats, leaving behind two that she couldn’t find. It’s a horror, this whole thing. Are you still
okay? it’s hard to get info on the web. It’s the Rice Fire that got to Reche Road. Where are you? Jesus Christ, this thing is HUGE. Fallbrook is evacuating, the news says?
To say nothing of the other 16 fires burning simultaneously!!!!!!!
Comment by Bev Jackson — October 23, 2007 @ 9:26 am
7.
Bev and all -
We’re fine and safe for now. It is HUGE, and difficult to tell how things will turn out for many of San Diego County’s residents and our homes. But please don’t worry about us. We’re okay. I’m too much of a chicken not to make sure I’m safe. I’ll share more details on the blog as soon as I can.
Comment by Barbara — October 23, 2007 @ 11:45 am
8.
Barbara:
Belated happy birthday.
I spoke to Brian, my ex, this morning. When he answered he was on the roof - hosing it down. He had been evacuated but sneaked back in the middle of the night. He and other family members were sleeping in their cars in the Albertson’s lot. Of course, I burst into tears and begged him to evacuate. He climbed down the ladder as we spoke. His neice lost her house.
Of concern, too, is my mother who doesn’t have a cell phone and lives in an assisted care facility in Fallbrook. It is unsettling not knowing where she is. sigh. I assume she has been evacuated and is safe and being well taken care of.
Am holding you close to my heart.
Comment by Reenie — October 23, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
9.
There’s info available at San Diego County Emergency Homepage, but the server seems slow right now, it probably has heavy traffic.
Comment by Ken — October 24, 2007 @ 8:24 am
10.
Barbara,
Hope all is well in Fallbrook. I sent a message to an old email and it was returned undeliverable. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I hope you and your house is ok.
Josie
Comment by Josie Posther — October 26, 2007 @ 7:58 am
11.
It’s horrible, and one is never ready for this kind of thing, no matter your age. I think over and over again, I’m getting too old for this, and then I climb out of bed, get dressed, get into the car and keep on truckin’ as the saying goes. I admire your resiliency. I hope this is over soon.
Comment by Sarah — October 26, 2007 @ 8:51 am