San Diego County Fires

Mel2001

16 years ago

Hi everyone. I just got back home tonight after evacuating twice in the last two days (first from Ramona to Scripps Ranch, then from SR to El Cajon). IT'S SO NICE TO BE HOME!!! We live in the Rancho San Vicente development just outside the San Diego Country Estates boundary in SE Ramona. DH and I were in Old Town having lunch on Sun. 10/21 when we learned about the Witch (Creek) Fire. My mom and neighbors called us frequently on our cell phones to let us know what was going on. We got home around 4 pm and I started packing things up in case we had to evacuate. At 6 pm my Mom and her 3 cats evacuated from NE Ramona over to our house.

At 7:30 pm we evacuated from Ramona to Scripps Ranch to friends' house. That was an adventure: My Mom, her 3 cats (in her car), my son, 2 dogs (good ol' Pepper & Lilly!) and I in my car. DH and a few neighbors stayed to fight the fires that came to our street. Same thing happened 4 yrs ago this weekend, but this time the Witch Fire burned what the Cedar Fire didn't get. I haven't had a chance to see the damage because it's too dark, but DH tells me it's a lunar landscape on the hill next to our side yard where the pool is. I'll take photos tomorrow and post them.

DH tells me that our pool is a mess and the soot and ash are really thick at the bottom. He already called a pro pool cleaner, who's supposed to come out tomorrow or Thurs. to see what he can do. I don't care about the pool--I'm just so happy that our house was saved, as was most of our neighbors, and everyone is safe. Plus, we still have electricity, satellite, and cable. Our water is out, but should be back on tomorrow. Neighbors of ours are on well water, so they've been letting us use their bathrooms. DH is in law enforcement, so he was glad to be able to take a hot shower tonight after working a 15-hr shift.

Thanks to everyone (especially Carol/Padrefan!) with your well wishes. Please continue praying for not just S.D. County but all of So. CA. because all these fires aren't over yet. There are 7-8 fires alone still out of control in S.D. County. We don't know yet how many homes have been lost. If you're able to, listen to KOGO AM 600 radio on the Internet (www.kogo.com), which has the most accurate information ever on our fires and communities. These fires are such a bigger disaster than the Cedar Fire back in 2003, but there's only been one fire-related death to date, a BIG THANKS in part to the "reverse 911" phone alarm system that the San Diego County Sheriff's Dept. is using. MANY lives have been saved by getting those phone calls.

We've been through two catastrophic fires in just four years, but our home/neighborhood/community has survived. You wouldn't believe the outpouring of love and caring going on in San Diego right now. It's amazing!

Take care everyone, and stay safe!

Love, Melissa (aka Mel2001)

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Comments (10)

hawkfive
16 years ago
I'm new to this forum, so I wasn't sure who may be affected, but have been praying for everyone's safety. The pictures on the front page of our local paper here in NJ made me cry - a line of fire descending on a community of hundreds of homes. Unimaginable.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Be safe.

Laurie (akaHawkfive)
repair_guy
16 years ago
Seems hard to believe but we're getting calls already for clean-up on pools. Does anybody know the current status on roads off of I-15? Are they open in a limited way? I'd hate to get in there and then not get out....

Specifically looking for status on Lilac in Bonsall. Anything on the north side of Lake Hodges in Escondido, Mercy Rd. to the west of the freeway and Espola on the big bend south. I didn't think anything was left in the area of that last one.

I've been telling people not to expect anything for a week as the authorities don't really need the extra traffic.
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padrefan
16 years ago
So relieved to hear from you Mel. What a nightmare few days it's been for all of you affected by the fires. It is unbelievably sad and I'm with you Laurie. The tears keep coming when I don't expect them. Mel, let your husband know how much he and all the others in law enforcement and all the firefighters are very much appreciated. Take care of yourself and keep us all informed on how you're doing over the next few days.
arielitas_mom
16 years ago
Hey Mel,

Glad to hear you're all safe. I can't imagine how scary it is for you all...we've all managed to dodge a bullet (so far, at least). My heart goes out to anyone that has suffered any losses, and thanks to everyone that has helped to make a terrible situation less so. Glad to hear that your area is okay, Carol...we were hosting some evacuees from Rancho Penasquitos on Monday night until we were all evacuated. Feels good to be back home, and looks like my area dodged a bullet. Hope everybody else will be equally lucky.
lobstertail
16 years ago
Hey Mel! Thanks for the very personal update. I haven't been on the forum in a while, but when I heard about the fires, I immediately thought of you and checked in!

I can't imagine what it must be like for all of you to be surrounded by such an incredible disaster. Here in the Mid-Atlantic, we rarely deal with natural disasters of this magnitude. I'm glad to hear that so many are safe and that the communities are helping one another.

Be safe & God bless.
padrefan
16 years ago
AM..I was thinking about you too in the last few days. I couldn't remember exactly where along the coastal area you were located, but I was thinking about your automatic pool cover while I was sweeping my ash pond. I am glad you're okay. So odd how worried I can get about people I've never met.
Mel2001
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi everyone! Thanks for the messages, and I'm glad to read that Carol and AM are safe and sound! Carol, I talked w/a friend who lives in Temecula today, and he's worried about being surrounded by the fires. I hope the winds die down up by you and the fires are under control soon. Here are a few photos of what happened to our property. We're so lucky that nothing major happened to the house. It's too soon to tell if our pool equipment is messed up from all that soot/ash going through it, but that can be repaired over time.

We still don't have water service, but hopefully we will tomorrow or Friday. A lot of Ramona homes are without electricity still, including my Mom's place. So, residents won't be allowed back until those two things are repaired.

Take care, everyone, and I'll try to post more photos later.

-Melissa

Before the Witch Fire of 10/21/07:

After the Witch Fire of 10/21/07:
snookums
16 years ago
Oh my. We aren't in San Diego but in OC in Rancho Santa Margarita, and are watching the flames from our home. They are still far away but close enough to watch. Schools are closed tomorrow. Our home is safe, but dh is staying home with the kids tomorrow (I'm going to work).

The pool is McNasty - has been since Monday.
K Jensen
16 years ago
Ooooh my gaaawd Melanie!! You must feel soooooo fortunate that the flames stopped where they did!
arielitas_mom
16 years ago
Omigod, Melissa - you really dodged a bullet on that one. How frightening!!

and ugh - what a mess those ash ponds are!! This is one of those times when having an autocover came in very handy. Now if only we could do something about the air quality!

All in all, we're all rather lucky, so no complaints. Frightening to see how vulnerable we all are in this area.

San Diego County Fires

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