California wild fires - not baseball related

P&CMom - Of course she and you will be in my prayers. It is so frightening to have our child somewhere we can't help and to know that they're scared and we can't wrap our arms around them. May you feel some peace in knowing that we're sending her our thoughts and embraces from far away. Keep us posted.

lafmom,

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. They help more than you could know!

I just got off the phone with her. I woke her. She and a classmate stayed up watching the news until they realized that it was just recycled from earlier in the day.

She feels like she is in a "safe" place right now (the home of the aunt and uncle of her classmate), but as I watch on line, more fires are springing up around her. She says it feels like the appocolypse out there.

I know that the officials have their hands full out there. I know that they don't want to panic everyone, but they don't seem able to give a lot of advance warning to evacuate (the high winds making it very unpredictable).

To any HSBBW families in San Diego, LA, or elsewhere that are threatened by this, please be as safe as possible! Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you!

DearP&CMom,

Um, hey, it's always something at your end, too, isn't it????

We did see a little of the fires this afternoon when I came home for lunch.....I didn't realize that P&CSister was there. Of course, prayers are said for her and for all affected. The woodman used to help fight forest fires in his earlier life in Oregon. Even though it was many years ago, he still seems to be on "alert" this time of year, knowing what is happening. He even mentioned the "humidity factor", in addition to the winds. Prayers for not only the residents, but the firefighters and emergency personnel, also.

I think a little "karma korn" may help....even if they DO have peanuts. I hope you aren't allergic!!!!

Let us know when we can breathe a little easier.

P&CMom ...

Prayers for your daughter's safety and your inner peace coming from So Cal.

I am in Orange County, and there are fires south of me but not in our area at the moment. This is one of the worst wind conditions that we have had in my 40 years out here. I wanted to drive to Riverside (30 miles east) to visit my mom in the hospital but must wait till hubby comes home with the smaller car ... can't take the big truck with camper shell on the freeway in these winds. They are so quick and so strong that time is limited for the firefighters to get the word out. People get upset because they may feel like a structure was not protected enough by the firefighters but their jobs, first and foremost, are to protect people and get the fires contained. If they have sufficient staff to do more for the homes, they will do their best. (Seems often they are da*ned if they do and da*ned if they don't.)

We were in a similar situation out here two or three years ago with an almost firestorm effect running from San Diego county up through LA County, involving Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties along the way. Prayers are appreciated for everybody involved, and a major prayer of thanksgiving for the firefighters who risk their lives every time they face one of these wildfires.

Will definitely keep you all in my prayers ...

play baseball - got some good news today - "P"'s check up was good - released to start throwing program! If all goes well - should be released to pitch in January -if we don't wring his neck first (Another story for another time)

Daughter sounds better than she was last night and this AM. It could be that we are just texting so emotions not as obvious. We've never been near a wild fire but they rank right up there with Tornadoes in fear factor.

One of the Cali articles quoted a local as hoping they would bring firefighters down from Oregon - they could use the help.

Going to grocery while "C" is in physical therapy. I'm not sure that I am going to buy anything of nutritional value!

Thanks for the concern and prayers, especially for all of those men and women that put themselves in harms way to protect us, whether it be firefighters, police, or military. We appreciate them the most when when we need them, but they are always ready. Thank you to them!

Prayers and wonderful thoughts for all those affected by the fires. I can only imagine the fear that goes along with the uncertainty. Being from Texas I have only had to deal with fires in the hay fields. I cannot imagine being surrounded by wild fires. My family will hold all of you in prayer until the danger is over.

May God bless you all and keep you safe in his hands.

This is a terrible thing, I pray for safety for all of those in the area.

Prayers sent for rain and calming of winds. May God protect all residents and fire fighters from harm.

P&C -- What maps have you been using to track the fires? My brother and sil are in Poway, fire is down the street last I heard, but no forced evac. They have no power, and cell service is very spotty, so we are using googlemap, and an occasional phone call to our mom to keep up on their well-fare. Good news, they got their horses evacuated by a helpful passer-by with a trailer. Pray the Santa Anas die down!

Hi All,

Good news! Our daughter is able to return to her home tonight. She is not sure how, but her house is supposed to still be there. Her home is with-in the Ranch Fire perimeter and they are allowing them back in. Her school, CalArts, is also reopening tomorrow and it is just across the highway from the Stevenson Ranch/Magic fire.

While there are still hot spots around where she is, things must be quieting down a lot. Hope that things continue to go in the right direction, not only in her area, but everywhere in California.

Emeraldvlly, I have been using the interactive Google map that the LATimes had linked. I will try to post the url here after I close out this message (I just tried to get it and I ended up having to retype the message).

Many, many thanks to Gotwood4sale! He talked me down and gave me wonderful information and advice - some of which our daughter even listened to!!! He helped to reassure me and helped me be not quite as stressed as I was. Thank you, again!

Thanks, also, to everyone here. Being able to come here when things are bad and when things are good is like having another family - brothers and sisters, all spread out - who are willing to help and share. It has meant a lot to me. Prayers of thanks that you are here!

Google url:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&om=1&msa=0...75&z=10&source=embed

Oh my goodness,.....my heart goes out to all affected by these horrendous fires and devestation.
I hope the suppport is there and in place to help those that need it.
More prayers,.............& hugzzzzzzz.
P&C mom,..I am soooo GLAD your daughter is safe!

Ladies:

I have been reading this overall site daily for over a year, but have never posted. Guess I am just afraid to sound stupid. I have emailed some privately before, so some may recognize me.

However, after reading this I was compelled to write. I was born in LA, Cal, and have lived in So Cal all of my life (except for stints away during college) - 55 plus years. I have lived through earthquakes and other fires, and Santa Anas far too numerous to count (very common place here), but have NEVER seen any previous fires this bad before. The worst prior were a few years ago in SD/Riverside Counties. (My MIL was evacuated then, and was again this year, but she is fine.) This time of year, there are always fires here (and oddly usually always in Malibu area), due to Santa Anas, etc. But this is the worst - over 14 separate fires going at once. Wind has died down and things are better, but hundreds of thousands have been evacuated, with thousands of homes lost. (But I will say that we have heard that the Qualcom situation was very well handled).

Son and I were in AZ at the Jr Fall Classic. Fri eve., my husband told me on the phone "the Santa Anas are coming" - I thought, "no big deal." Then, we heard Malibu was on fire on Sat. Sadly, being jaded by history, this made little impression on me, since this was something that happens regularly, and usually they get it under control with minimal losses. By Sun., SD was on fire. OK, again, I am thinking "yes, this has happened before - bad, but hopefully all will be ok." By Monday, OC was on fire - and I am thinking, "to my recall, this is not normal - this is very, very bad." I have friends who were evacuated in OC - my office is in OC and the smoke smell inside the office is nearly unbearable. We live on the Peninsula, on the water between Long Beach and Manhattan Beach, and luckily are not in fire danger throughout this time, but the smoke and ash falling is the worst ever. Even if you are lucky not to be in the line of fire, you have to deal with inhaling the smoke. It is absolutely the scariest thing I can recall in recent memory. But to all out there not in Cal., know that it is better today and should be better tomorrow.

My prayers go to all who are/were in peril - I hope everything turns out for the best. If I can assist here from Cali in any way, please let me know on this post.

To P&C Mom, glad to hear all is better w/your D. To FutureBack.Mom, glad to hear you are safe in OC. Smoke is bad there.

P

Headlines on MSNBC say the current toll of the CA fires is $1 billion, 1,500 homes lost, and 417 sq miles burned.

To put it in perspective: according to the latest census, there are 1,478 homes in the town I live in, so if those fires were in NH, there entire town of Brookline would be gone.

God Bless everyone dealing with the firestorm. Hugs and prayers from New England.