Edgy01

I haven't slept since Thursday at 6:30 am. Last night was fairly rough. Tonight may be again. This is from my neighbor's place across the street from me. A bit scary.

jcnesq

Scary - thinking about you Dan, hope all is well.

Edgy01

Tonight (Friday) it looks like we can actually get some sleep. The fire crews are getting things under control, along with a significant drop in air temperature (by about 20ºF) and winds off the ocean. This stuff really wears on you after awhile,--plus I'm overdue to drive the car! Too much ash (and I even have the hardtop on it).

ADias

I hope you come out of this untouched. I think that your community must look at the situation and manage it properly. Too much fuel around to carry on the fires.

Something is very wrong at various levels - forest trees management, fire control, etc.

OCBen

The five women staying with you wouldn't have anything to do with that, would it?

Great shots, btw. I really like the first one above.

ajayabb

Wow Dan, Those are some impressive photos. Hope all is well. If I lived there right now, my acid reflux would be killing me.

A.J.

Coochas

Glad things seem to be abating Dan.
Come on back to New England man!

Fast40th

Dan - been thinking about you in SB. Hope all continues to be well.

PAULSPEED

Good luck to you. The evacuation zone
looks like it is moving in your direction. Phil
has been in a motel for two days. I
been watching the evacuation map but it has not been
updated for today (5-9-09).
Paul

Edgy01

The latest news is that a marine front has moved in, dropping temps by about 30ºF. It had been 100+ during the peak of these fires. This morning it was about 65. This is accompanied by a breeze off the ocean and that's all good news. My area had some confusion as to whether we were on notice to evac or to mandatorily evac. Regardless, we (neighbors) decided to sit tight, as we could easily assess the situation for ourselves. We were all packed up in either case. I simply took the time to better protect the property and some of the stuff in it. I trimmed back bushes around the house, and then chipped them up quickly with the chipper/shredder. I trimmed back some of my avocado trees which were close to the house as well. Things that could survive being outdoors wound up in the pool area,--my tool chest, mounted wheels, power tools, compressor, and then distributed the bigger stuff around the yard,--rototiller, chipper, mower, and portable gas cans away from the house, onto non-flammable areas. Since I have a metal roof, and masonry northern side to the house, I'm in fairly good shape. I'm working to get my neighbors to take out two large eucalyptus trees that threaten me,--they are the worst. I took out my massive pines over a year ago.

When you see this stuff coming in your direction the pucker factor is significant. The foreground lights are from homes in my development, and this stuff was heading my way.

PAULSPEED

I am glad things are improving. They say 30% contained and
should be over on 5/13/09.
Phil is back in his house.
Paul

jsmirand

Hope it gets contained fast and you get good news soon. Your area has been hit hard too much in the recent past.

Edgy01

There's not much left to burn. Tonight, it's as if there was never a fire. No smoke anywhere on the mountains and no ash falling from the skies. I finally had to take the Porsche out for a spin,--it was getting cabin fever. Only had to pass one police checkpoint!

PAULSPEED

Maybe you are getting cabin fever with five females in
your house.
Paul

Edgy01

90% contained and looking like back to normal again. Hardtop came off this morning. Pic #1 was taken at a friend's place,--both the main house (behind the photographer) and the guest house (off on top of the hill) were spared,--the fire jumped over them but totaled the yard. Here's the yard (40 acres) in pic #2,--a total loss,--but the houses survived. The firefighters told her that she had done everything right (non-flammable house, and low plants) to keep the property safe.