Lots of junk in the air down in San Diego. 250,000 people evacuated. High winds, sometimes gusts of 100 mph. The fires spread during the night.

What base is WHO on?

Rats!

The winds shifted this morning. Living in the Valley, we can see the smoke from the Malibu and Santa Clarita fires, but this morning we could smell the smoke and there was ash everywhere. Pray for climate change (rain would be nice).

OT: Wisconsin's Ward Churchill was brutally torched during Horowitz's speech last night;

Badger Herald: Horowitz rips left, defends war

Conservative author David Horowitz attacked Muslim extremism and anti-Iraq war movements, calling liberals “unable to add two and two and get four” Monday.
=====
Former UW lecturer Kevin Barrett — who attracted national media attention to the university for promoting his belief that the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon were an inside military job — was in attendance and voiced opposition, disrupting Horowitz’s talk near the beginning of the lecture.... Barrett, who was booed by the crowd after he interrupted the speech, left the Memorial Union Theater shortly thereafter in the midst of a popular UW football tradition — the “asshole” chant.

Badger Herald invites readers to pile on here.

Uncle Jimbo attended Horowitz lecture and offers play-by-play.

...The crowd both right, left, Muslims, Jews, Christians all decent people began the perfect chant. A**hole, A**hole, A**hole. He [Kevin Barrett] was browbeaten from the theater, deemed beneath the dignity of the proceedings.

Sweet.

Daily Cardinal has more.

Can we name these things yet? Maybe:

The Great Enviromental Wacko-caused Fires of '07

We spoke with relatives in Santa Monica last night and were told things are relatively OK, at least compared with some of the inland areas.

My BiL in San Diego is much more concerned. He's right off I-5, not far north from downtown, and doesn't believe his neighborhood is in danger, but who can tell with the wind.

I am sorry Charles, and I apologize with all you Lizards, but this is heavy for me and I need to post the same comment I posted in the first thread.

I can't believe I read this sentence in Pamela's column.

Who the hell wasn't a nazi collaborator in Europe? Puhleeeeeze.

MY GRANDFATHER, who attacked a nazi armored train and was left for dead together with the other Freedom Fighters with him.
My Father, who was a FreedomFighter with the Partisans.

I can't believe this.

This is personal and bloody personal for me.

I spoke to my future son-in-law last night who is in La Jolla for a conference. Ash everywhere. Smoke fills the sky -- poor visibility. La Jolla is on the coast and the hills surrounding the area are all on fire.

Local News for the San Diego Fires can be found here:

[Link: www.signonsandiego.com...]

My daughter just moved into their new home in Carlsbad and are on standby evac notice but in no immediate danger--their old home in Del Mar has been evac'd

This has been going on in CA every year since I can remember. WHEN are precautionary measures going to be instituted, Firebreaks, gathering up of dead dry fuel? Controlled burns?

At this point, it's mighty hard to work up a lot of sympathy.

It's a major RECURRING problem. DO SOMETHING ALREADY!

My SiL teaches up in Poway. Much more serious problems up that way.

My brother is in irvine, where the fires are ~ 4 miles away. He says the new construction is more fire resistant, so it shouldn't reach him (roof tiles in particular).

Rain looks days away. At least let the wind die down. Please.

re: #2 M. Bensson-Levi

What base is WHO on?

More importantly, what side is WHO on? Ours or the fire's?

A friend of mine lost her cabin in Lake Arrowhead.

Hey Cali Lizards,
As I write this from the safety and comfort of my in-laws home in Maryland, I am sincerely praying for all you folks out in Cali. These fires look especially bad this time around. If any of you need a place to stay and don't mind Cape Cod, let me know (and yes, I do understand I'm 3000 miles away from the tragedy). Your home is my home.
JP

If there are any Lizards being displaced anywhere in East County or from down south and need a place to get their bearing, we're in La Mesa. Our land line is down, but we can let you hold up here a bit while you figure out what to do. Just tell me to check my email.

From this mornings dead thread Dustoff-507 checked in. He's down in San Diego fighting the fires.

If you want to follow the Irvine fire, here's your best source of info:

[Link: www.ocfa.org...]
(the map link, unfortunately, isn't updated very often)

If you want to follow San Diego's fires, here's your best source:

[Link: www.sdcountyemergency.com...]
(SD is doing a great job mapping those fires)

Finally, KFI AM 640's update page is doing a good job of aggregating info on all of the SoCal fires, but they don't always update their info fully or immediately after news is released:

[Link: kfiam640.com...]

I live about 5 minutes from the fire. It has been smoky here since Monday night.

Homeland Secretary Chertoff is speaking live on TV now from San Diego.

re: #12 M. Bensson-Levi

This has been going on in CA every year since I can remember. WHEN are precautionary measures going to be instituted, Firebreaks, gathering up of dead dry fuel? Controlled burns?

At this point, it's mighty hard to work up a lot of sympathy.

It's a major RECURRING problem. DO SOMETHING ALREADY!

Agreed. One of my sisters, who has never been out West, started in a couple of years back about all the "environmental damage" that limited logging on public lands in the West would cause. She was absolutely livid. Until I pointed out that because no logging at all was allowed, no dead brush was ever removed except by the massive forest fires that cost us billions every single summer and fall.

Hope everyone makes it out ok. Good luck saving your homes guys.

re:

too soon?

malibu fire toons...

re: #12 M. Bensson-Levi

This has been going on in CA every year since I can remember. WHEN are precautionary measures going to be instituted, Firebreaks, gathering up of dead dry fuel? Controlled burns?

At this point, it's mighty hard to work up a lot of sympathy.

It's a major RECURRING problem. DO SOMETHING ALREADY!

Environmentalists and NIMBYs are too powerful in Southern California. Thoughtful measures can't be taken because of the leftist politics. In other words: aint gonna happen.

San Diego News Radio feed

[Link: www.760kfmb.com...]

re: #24 varmint

too soon?

My rollerblade to work [in Brentwood] was miserable today. The air was absolutely foul smelling and I was coughing by the time I got to the office. Feh.

re: #25 Golem Akbar

re: #12 M. Bensson-Levi

This has been going on in CA every year since I can remember. WHEN are precautionary measures going to be instituted, Firebreaks, gathering up of dead dry fuel? Controlled burns?

At this point, it's mighty hard to work up a lot of sympathy.

It's a major RECURRING problem. DO SOMETHING ALREADY!

Environmentalists and NIMBYs are too powerful in Southern California. Thoughtful measures can't be taken because of the leftist politics. In other words: aint gonna happen.

Yup, you talk about clearing underbrush and the moonbats go crazy talking about eco-systems or complaining about the costs.

Brush clearing helps for sure, but those embers can travel for miles sometimes.

My friends cabin in Lake Arrowhead was completely cleared of brush so there was no fuel for the fire on her property. Still, the embers found their way onto the structure and coupled with the heat...the thing just went up in flames.

She was evacuated so there was no way for her to stay and protect her own property, although there was probably not much she could've done anyway.

re:

re:

re: #2 M. Bensson-Levi

What base is WHO on?

Looks like WHO's on 2nd. Why? Because.

One more suggestion for tracking San Diego's situation:

[Link: twitter.com...]

Warning: this is Drive By Media. They report little snippets, often leaving out key details.

Example: yesterday they reported that the city of Fallbrook was under mandatory evacuation. At the time, this was not completely correct - only North Fallbrook was under mandatory evacuation. (now, of course, all of Fallbrook has been evacuated)

So keep that in mind if you use this link.

re: #28 hebrewtoyou

My rollerblade to work [in Brentwood] was miserable today. The air was absolutely foul smelling and I was coughing by the time I got to the office. Feh.

The stench from OJ is still there after all these years? WOW!

As others have said, a lot of the blame for these fires is the lact of clearing the forests for decades due to lawsuits by "environmentalists".

I am really tired of that word.

Anyway, before the whites came here, the Indians in California and elsewhere in the west used to actually light fires on purpose. Even they knew this helped the forest and made it easer to look for food and hunt game.

I wish Arnold would just order the clearing done, and ignore the lawsuits. Our lives and property are at stake, and that should override "environmentalists" and their phoney concerns.

re: #33 xtraBilly

re: #2 M. Bensson-Levi

What base is WHO on?

Looks like WHO's on 2nd. Why? Because.

I don't know?
No he's on third.

re: #32 M. Bensson-Levi

re:

re:

re: #32 M. Bensson-Levi

re: #15 victor_yugo

Nobody is on the fire's side.

Remember, this is the World Health Organization, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the U.N.

Although, if you're saying in a backwards way that the WHO is "nobody," then I'm with you.

It's past time to develop some major political opposition to the environmentalists in this country. They presently own the issues but they use junk science, propaganda and deceit to advance their cause: SOCIALISM !

I was a student at UW Madison in the 60's and I well remember all the SDS and SNCC types transitioning from anti-war/pro vietcong to feminism and then environmentalism. Socialism was and is the driving force with these people.

The global warmists, change-atarians, etc. have to be fought using real science and political guts.

OTs.

Dutch Lieutenant Serving in Turkish Army

The defence ministry is permitting a Dutch lieutenant to serve temporarily in the Turkish army. The lieutenant has dual Dutch and Turkish nationality.

"Make Hirsi Ali honorary French citizen"

A group of French intellectuals are demanding that Ayaan Hirsi Ali be given honorary French citizenship and that France provide the former politician with the protection that the Netherlands no longer wants to provide now that she lives in the US. In a petition in the newspaper Libération the intellectuals express annoyance at the "unacceptable cowardice of a European government." The petition is signed by Bernard-Henri Lévy, Alain Finkielkraut and André Glucksmann. "Europe was the cradle of the Enlightenment tradition," says the declaration, "and Western values must guarantee freedom of expression."

If these bunch of "Einsteins" rebuild in the fire zone will they get insurance? Or is it like New Orleans, were instead of rebuilding the wet lands, our tax dollars will be used?

re: #39 galloping granny

re:

re:

My parents awoke to ash on their cars in San Diego. My brother reports that he has been advised by his employer to stay home today. he also said that traffic yesterday was the worst he'd ever seen (something that was underreported on the news). Thankfully, neither my brother or parents are in the immediate hell-zone (they are closer to downtown).

My aunts, uncles and friends, on the other hand, have been evacuated, then evacuated from their evacuation sites! First they went west (from San Marcos and Poway) to the coast (Del Mar). Now, Del Mar is under an evacuation order, so pandemonium still has a place in the city.

Everyone is reporting bloodshot eyes, irritated throats, and exacerbated cases of asthma. The sky is red, particulates are in the air, and the dogs are pissed. However, thankfully, there are free massages being given at Qualcomm Stadium. Take that, Ray Nagin!

I'm probably late posting this, since it's on Drudge and everyone else seems to see these things before I do, but it looks like Californians are handling themselves pretty well (as compared to New Orleans). Sounds like Schwarzenegger is a much better governor than Nagin.

[Link: apnews.myway.com...]

Nobody is on the fire's side.

there's arson suspected in a couple cases. so, at least one person is.

re: #31 Irene NYC

re: #8 Poitiers-Lepanto

This is personal and bloody personal for me.

You have a very brave family.

I haven't read what Atlas said, but, of course, there is no "one-size fits all" for what happened in WWII.

Clearly, Atlas is emotionally blinded if she said otherwise. But she should realize that this is a very emotional issue for many people, especially those who had family that died trying to save others.

Thank you very much.

As I posted on the other thread, I better not post now and for some minutes , I'm too stressed.
She doesn't know what she's talking about.

You are not in any danger are you Charles?

unbelievable...over 1000 homes now lost in San Diego County. Over 500,000 evacuated, many communities are at a total loss. Very sad for so many people...Thank God most got out alive.

re: #47 cimom

I'm probably late posting this, since it's on Drudge and everyone else seems to see these things before I do, but it looks like Californians are handling themselves pretty well (as compared to New Orleans). Sounds like Schwarzenegger is a much better governor than Nagin Blanco.

[Link:

re: #44 Golem Akbar

re: #39 galloping granny

re: #29 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Maybe we should then start making them pay 100% of the costs of this mess every year.

Sorry, I live in Vermont. We have more trees than California and every bit as much wild life. We also have our environmentalists, loons, NIMBY kind of folks and all the rest. We do NOT ask the residents of the other 49 states to pick up the tab for the cost of large swaths of our state burning to the ground every single bloody summer & fall.

Not to defend Californians, but the climate here is much drier. The mountains and hills in Southern California have been forested, artificially, for years. It makes the area much more attractive, and real estate values reflect that. However, as we all know, it makes for more fire opportunities.

I know your climate is dryer than ours, though you cannot begin to compete with Arizona. Even so - you benefit from those nice high real estate values while WE of the other 49 states bear a huge share of the burden of the California lifestyle.

California would have burned to the ground years ago were it not for firefighters from all of the other 49 states. We have some across the river in NH that spend more time fighting forest fires in California than they do in New England.

California needs to smarten up and tighten up or they need to be forced to assume a full 100% of the burden of their own defense. We should not continue to have to pay so that the wealthy of California can continue to live a Malibu life style.

re: #43 Nevergiveup

If these bunch of "Einsteins" rebuild in the fire zone will they get insurance? Or is it like New Orleans, were instead of rebuilding the wet lands, our tax dollars will be used?

You obviously don't understand our local politics. [/sniff sniff]

The fires wouldn't have started if it hadn't been for Bush...or Arnold...or...

I live in Idaho, where governmental policies and environmental activists efforts have resulted in annual summer burns of enough standing timber to rebuild Southern California many times over. Seems we would rather burn our forests than use them as a natural resource. This year (one of exceptional drought) many of the fires will only be extinguished when the winter snows fall. The lumber industry, once one of the most significant employers in this state has about been run out of business. The old practices of clear cutting have been replaced by the new environmental practice of clear burning. Stewardship of the land has been replaced by politics that waste where even, after a fire, the salvage is wasted.

We have no Jagermeisters looking out for our forests but there is no shortage of loud mouthed leftist jackoffs, activists, illiterate journalists and idiots who think they know enough to tell nature what to do.

re: #53 galloping granny

re: #44 Golem Akbar

re: #39 galloping granny

re: #29 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Maybe we should then start making them pay 100% of the costs of this mess every year.

Sorry, I live in Vermont. We have more trees than California and every bit as much wild life. We also have our environmentalists, loons, NIMBY kind of folks and all the rest. We do NOT ask the residents of the other 49 states to pick up the tab for the cost of large swaths of our state burning to the ground every single bloody summer & fall.

Not to defend Californians, but the climate here is much drier. The mountains and hills in Southern California have been forested, artificially, for years. It makes the area much more attractive, and real estate values reflect that. However, as we all know, it makes for more fire opportunities.

I know your climate is dryer than ours, though you cannot begin to compete with Arizona. Even so - you benefit from those nice high real estate values while WE of the other 49 states bear a huge share of the burden of the California lifestyle.

California would have burned to the ground years ago were it not for firefighters from all of the other 49 states. We have some across the river in NH that spend more time fighting forest fires in California than they do in New England.

California needs to smarten up and tighten up or they need to be forced to assume a full 100% of the burden of their own defense. We should not continue to have to pay so that the wealthy of California can continue to live a Malibu life style.

Just so you know, I'm not angry or mad so much as frustrated at the needless repetition. It pains me greatly to see so much trouble for so many.

re: #55 gymnast

I live in Idaho, where governmental policies and environmental activists efforts have resulted in annual summer burns of enough standing timber to rebuild Southern California many times over. Seems we would rather burn our forests than use them as a natural resource. This year (one of exceptional drought) many of the fires will only be extinguished when the winter snows fall. The lumber industry, once one of the most significant employers in this state has about been run out of business. The old practices of clear cutting have been replaced by the new environmental practice of clear burning. Stewardship of the land has been replaced by politics that waste where even, after a fire, the salvage is wasted.

We have no Jagermeisters looking out for our forests but there is no shortage of loud mouthed leftist jackoffs, activists, illiterate journalists and idiots who think they know enough to tell nature what to do.

Hear, hear!

My parents and my sister live near the fire in Moorpark. I talked to my dad yesterday. They're all OK.

Thank goodness.

This has been going on in CA every year since I can remember. WHEN are precautionary measures going to be instituted, Firebreaks, gathering up of dead dry fuel? Controlled burns?

1. Firebreaks: Already there. Thousands of miles of them.
2. Gathering Dry Fuel: 10,000 square miles of it? Doesn't appear you appreciate the geograpic size of southern California, or that the fires are occurring over a geographic area the size of two or three eastern States. Local ordinances are aggressively enforced that require residences to clear the land around their homes - which protects them from all but the worst fires.
3. Controlled Burns: Hard to "control burn" thousands of square miles. Might as well say we're going to do a "controlled burn" of the entire state of Kansas to prevent prairie fires.

At this point, it's mighty hard to work up a lot of sympathy.

Hmmmm ... well, we in California still sympathize with people who live in tornado, snow and hurricane zones, notwithstanding how silly or foolish we may view them for doing so.

DO SOMETHING ALREADY!

Sigh. Yeah, we'll get right on it.

I'm a little aghast at some of the comments here. When hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or floods strike other parts of the country, do you blame the victims there?

re:

re:

#52 Honorary Yooper 10/23/07 9:09:32 am reply quote report 1

re: #47 cimom

I'm probably late posting this, since it's on Drudge and everyone else seems to see these things before I do, but it looks like Californians are handling themselves pretty well (as compared to New Orleans). Sounds like Schwarzenegger is a much better governor than Nagin Blanco.

[Link: apnews.myway.com...]

Nagin was/is the mayor of New Orleans. Blanco was the governor of Louisiana.

Nagin and Blanco got together and put their massive errors on FEMA.
re:

my prayers for these people first , but should they rebuild in such fire prone areas?

re: #60 carefulnow

I'm a little aghast at some of the comments here. When hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or floods strike other parts of the country, do you blame the victims there?

Yeah, I'm not even going to dignify those comments with a response. Disasters strike everywhere and there is always something that should have been done before hand. No one deserves this.

re: #5 Terp Mole

OT:

re:

re: #59 nolocon

This has been going on in CA every year since I can remember. WHEN are precautionary measures going to be instituted, Firebreaks, gathering up of dead dry fuel? Controlled burns?

1. Firebreaks: Already there. Thousands of miles of them.
2. Gathering Dry Fuel: 10,000 square miles of it? Doesn't appear you appreciate the geograpic size of southern California, or that the fires are occurring over a geographic area the size of two or three eastern States. Local ordinances are aggressively enforced that require residences to clear the land around their homes - which protects them from all but the worst fires.
3. Controlled Burns: Hard to "control burn" thousands of square miles. Might as well say we're going to do a "controlled burn" of the entire state of Kansas to prevent prairie fires.

At this point, it's mighty hard to work up a lot of sympathy.

Hmmmm ... well, we in California still sympathize with people who live in tornado, snow and hurricane zones, notwithstanding how silly or foolish we may view them for doing so.

DO SOMETHING ALREADY!

Sigh. Yeah, we'll get right on it.

Yes, Southern California isn't exactly like the middle of Yellowstone or Yosemite. You can't do controlled burns in urban and suburban areas.

re: #60 carefulnow

I'm a little aghast at some of the comments here. When hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or floods strike other parts of the country, do you blame the victims there?

Well for me I am not blaming the victims. However, there has to be some personal and governmental responsibility ( governmental responsibility-an oxymoron if there ever was one ). If you build in wet lands, near the water in
known hurricane pathways, in densely forested areas, etc then you must be ready to accept the consequences. But more important, if you REBUILD without adequate safeguards, well yeah I might blame the victims.

re: #66 Ward Cleaver
#66 Ward Cleaver 10/23/07 9:21:30 am reply quote report 0

re: #5 Terp Mole

OT: Wisconsin's Ward Churchill was brutally torched during Horowitz's speech last night;

"Torched" makes it on topic.

I live in the Canyon Country area of Santa Clarita, CA where the fires threatened our home Sunday night. I was on a business trip but my co-blogger and bride Christine caught some frightening pictures of the blaze as it came over the ridge line behind our house.

re:

re: #60 carefulnow

I'm a little aghast at some of the comments here. When hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or floods strike other parts of the country, do you blame the victims there?

I am not blaming the victims. I am blaming the environmentalists and media and the policies that have left our public lands to burn every single summer now since the 70's. This problem is not unique to California. It happens everywhere in the West. What is different in California is very populated and very wealthy in many areas. Topeka Canyon will burn this year, and by next summer's fire season we - either through federal funds or insurance pay outs - will have paid to have all those multi-zillion dollar homes rebuilt so that they can burn again. If they don't slide downhill in the mud.

I know people out there who have had their homes burn not once but three or four times.

If you build in wet lands, near the water in known hurricane pathways, in densely forested areas, etc then you must be ready to accept the consequences.

Better yet ... if you build in:
- Snow zones
- Hurricane areas
- Tornado areas
- Drought zones
- Fire zones
- Flood zones
- Storm zones
... we'll say "screw you" if you have problems.

Not sure who's left to say that, though.

#69 Nevergiveup 10/23/07 9:24:54 am reply quote report 0

re: #60 carefulnow

I'm a little aghast at some of the comments here. When hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or floods strike other parts of the country, do you blame the victims there?

Well for me I am not blaming the victims. However, there has to be some personal and governmental responsibility ( governmental responsibility-an oxymoron if there ever was one ). If you build in wet lands, near the water in
known hurricane pathways, in densely forested areas, etc then you must be ready to accept the consequences. But more important, if you REBUILD without adequate safeguards, well yeah I might blame the victims.

The point is that these houses aren't necessarily in a fire zone. The Santa Ana winds are so strong and the humidity gets so low, that the whole area is in danger on rare occasions like this.

re: #72 socalinfidel

re:

re: #74 nolocon

If you build in wet lands, near the water in known hurricane pathways, in densely forested areas, etc then you must be ready to accept the consequences.

Better yet ... if you build in:
- Snow zones
- Hurricane areas
- Tornado areas
- Drought zones
- Fire zones
- Flood zones
- Storm zones
... we'll say "screw you" if you have problems.

Not sure who's left to say that, though.

Well you took what I said of or context. There are consequences to what ever we do regardless of blame, However, My main point was that if you continually REBUILD without changing the facts on the ground, well even hamsters in a maze learn lessons after a while!

re:

re: #60 carefulnow

I'm a little aghast at some of the comments here. When hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or floods strike other parts of the country, do you blame the victims there?

I was thinking the same thing. Just about EVERYWHERE in this country, some sort of natural distaster can strike.

All these people coming out blaming the "RICH" for living in Malibu sound like a bunch of liberals at a Hillary Clinton concert.

re:

re: #78 ciceroskip

re: #29 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

If I am not mistaken, my son who recently lived in Lake Tahoe told me the environuts also blocked private companies from being allowed to clear out the dead trees because the companies would make money selling the dead trees for fire wood. The last time I was out there, the forests were loaded with dead trees that were choking the live ones.

Yup, that is exactly the case. And these fires do not start in somebody's back yard. Invariably they start on the public lands, either because the underbrush hasn't been cleared or because somebody is "camping" (legally or not) and doesn't bother to take appropriate care with their fire or sometimes because somebody just feels like watching it burn.

The folks from Cali are right when they say the winds just pick it up and carry it miles. But everyone else is right when they say "do something." Challenge the darned environmentalists. Require stricter building standards.

re: #78 ciceroskip

re:

My wife and I had to evacuate early yesterday morning from the Rancho Bernardo area. Staying at my Mom's home with four dogs, a cat and a bird. They're fine, but Mom's a bit freaked out with all the commotion.

We live in the 4S Ranch community and it appears to have only been nicked by the fires as a few homes on the edges were destroyed. It has moved west of us to Rancho Santa Fe but we're not out of the clear yet as other fires could still encircle the area.

Really strange experience when you have to make decisions on what to grab as you evacuate. We took pictures, some clothes, my wife's wedding dress...and of course all my computers as I need them to work. Good thing my mom has been paying for cable modem all these years even though she barely checks her e-mail.

Everyone is remarkably calm. There have been so many donations at Qualcomm Stadium that authorities had to request no drop offs until 8 this morning as they couldn't handle the amount of food and supplies coming in.

I'm guessing that by the end of today we'll either be allowed to go home or told that it's no longer there.

re: #79 Lysol

re: #60 carefulnow

I'm a little aghast at some of the comments here. When hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or floods strike other parts of the country, do you blame the victims there?

I was thinking the same thing. Just about EVERYWHERE in this country, some sort of natural distaster can strike.

All these people coming out blaming the "RICH" for living in Malibu sound like a bunch of liberals at a Hillary Clinton concert.

I am not blaming the rich for living in Malibu. I am blaming the rich for living in Malibu and playing "environmentalist" without a clue, then expecting us all to pick up the pieces. AGAIN.

re: #48 varmint

Nobody is on the fire's side.

there's arson suspected in a couple cases. so, at least one person is.

If that's true, I hope the person responsible gets a life sentence. Or maybe 15 minutes alone with some of the fire survivors.

#83 mfarmer1

Good news and I'm happy to hear that.

My brother is in Pacific Palisades. No one has heard from him and his family since Sunday evening. Any word on Pacific Palisades?

Thanks for your update. I'm hoping and praying the best for you and yours.

re: #74 nolocon

If you build in wet lands, near the water in known hurricane pathways, in densely forested areas, etc then you must be ready to accept the consequences.

Better yet ... if you build in:
- Snow zones
- Hurricane areas
- Tornado areas
- Drought zones
- Fire zones
- Flood zones
- Storm zones
... we'll say "screw you" if you have problems.

Not sure who's left to say that, though.

We usually handle our won pretty well here. As for snow, if you're not prepared, then you deserve to lose your job as Mayor.

re: #83 mfarmer1

My wife and I had to evacuate early yesterday morning from the Rancho Bernardo area. Staying at my Mom's home with four dogs, a cat and a bird. They're fine, but Mom's a bit freaked out with all the commotion.

We live in the 4S Ranch community and it appears to have only been nicked by the fires as a few homes on the edges were destroyed. It has moved west of us to Rancho Santa Fe but we're not out of the clear yet as other fires could still encircle the area.

Really strange experience when you have to make decisions on what to grab as you evacuate. We took pictures, some clothes, my wife's wedding dress...and of course all my computers as I need them to work. Good thing my mom has been paying for cable modem all these years even though she barely checks her e-mail.

Everyone is remarkably calm. There have been so many donations at Qualcomm Stadium that authorities had to request no drop offs until 8 this morning as they couldn't handle the amount of food and supplies coming in.

I'm guessing that by the end of today we'll either be allowed to go home or told that it's no longer there.

That is good to hear. Glad you and yours are OK.

re:

#89 jgold

Thank you! Very reassuring news, indeed!

re: #85 cygnus

re: #48 varmint

Nobody is on the fire's side.

there's arson suspected in a couple cases. so, at least one person is.

If that's true, I hope the person responsible gets a life sentence. Or maybe 15 minutes alone with some of the fire survivors.

Anyone who started one of these fire on purpose deserves to be made part of the firebreak.

#83 mfarmer1

G-d bless you, your family and all your critters!

re:

re: #91 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

re: #85 cygnus

re: #48 varmint

Nobody is on the fire's side.
there's arson suspected in a couple cases. so, at least one person is.

If that's true, I hope the person responsible gets a life sentence. Or maybe 15 minutes alone with some of the fire survivors.

Anyone who started one of these fire on purpose deserves to be made part of the firebreak.

With the video posted on YouTube as a warning to any other would-be arsonists.

#91 Kragir (Proud to be a Kafir)

Sadly, it is beginning to look as if arson might have been the cause of at least some of the fires. It's suspected in the Orange County fire (see [Link: www.ocregister.com)...] and, for all you Lizards who don't live in California----this really is a very big state! Even with the santa anas blowing, it seems to me unlikely that so many fires would just spontaneously begin in so many areas so distant from each other.

re: #93 carefulnow

re: #81 galloping granny

Challenge the darned environmentalists. Require stricter building standards.

Funny--it's the darned environmentalists that have fought the new development around the Lake Arrowhead area that's burning now. Those who rebuild are subject to the new building standards that protect against fire, like the ones I mentioned above.

As far as the fires to the south go, there's no logging that could occur. Firefighters direct fire to the large swaths of open land (which is too hilly for mass development) and let it burn in order to protect homes and structures.

Yes, I know they do some of that. I have a kid out in New Mexico and lived out West myself for some years. Seen a few of the things (big fires) and of course I have my heart in my throat every time NM burns.

The environmentalist are not always "wrong" and probably were not about that new development. Ya'll cram an awful lot of houses into a pretty small space in some places out that way. They are dead wrong, though, when it comes to the public lands, where most of the fires start.

re: #95 Talkinkamel

#91 Kragir (Proud to be a Kafir)

Sadly, it is beginning to look as if arson might have been the cause of at least some of the fires. It's suspected in the Orange County fire (see [Link:

re: #95 Talkinkamel

#91 Kragir (Proud to be a Kafir)

Sadly, it is beginning to look as if arson might have been the cause of at least some of the fires. It's suspected in the Orange County fire (see [Link: www.ocregister.com)...] and, for all you Lizards who don't live in California----this really is a very big state! Even with the santa anas blowing, it seems to me unlikely that so many fires would just spontaneously begin in so many areas so distant from each other.

Seemed unlikely to me too. And I have heard that arson was suspected in more than just the Orange County fire. Seven or 8 of them as I recall.

local SD information line 2-1-1 just overloaded, the line is down until further notice. The SignonSanDiego page is also down.

I was in Santa Barbara for the weekend MS ride there. After finishing the century ride on Saturday in blowing dirt/ash, we looked forward to day two and another 75 miles of great riding down 101 then PCH.

Day two got cut short because of the winds and fires. I'd lived in SoCal for twelve years in the IE and saw Santa Anas, but this is the worst I can recall.

For those who aren't down there, there really aren't words to describe the look and feel of what's going on. My thoughts and prayers go out to SoCal.

On another note: Nagin and the Louisiana state house may want to take notes on what Gov. Schwarzenegger did--and is doing--and the reactions of the people at Qualcomm. Different states, different scenarios, but a stadium as an evac center and thousands of displaced people--and you've got calm, peace and order.

Behold the politics of personal accountability and the dearth of entitlements and victim mentality. Thanks for representing so far, San Diego.

#97 Kragar (proud to be a Kafir)

I log onto the Orange County Register's web page every day---even more so now, with the fire, so I've been following that fairly closely. Certainly, open fires and overloaded transformers could contribute to the problem, and, Galloping Granny, #98, thank you for the update. I had only heard that arson was definitely suspected in the OC. Do you know where the other places are?

re:

#100 cosmo

You too? Hubby and I were down in Santa Barbara last Saturday; lovely place, but we cut our trip short, because of all the cinders raining down, and smoke in the air!

And now, let us all give a big cheer of, "I LOVE SAN DIEGO!" If there's anything good to be gained from all this, it's the knowledge of how San Diegans are showing such good grace under pressure! Hooray for SoCal! (Despite all its nuttiness!)

Going out for a few minutes to pick up some supplies. Be back soon guys