LA Fires Update
The photo is what was - for me - the scariest moment. Last Friday when I could see the fire five miles away and it was higher than the trees on my street. The one time in my life I have been packed and loaded and ready to run for my life.
The red flag notices have been rescinded. The fires are being contained. There's a forecast next Monday and Tuesday for a return of Santa Anas, but not as strong as the destructive ones. Fortunately this week's Santa Anas "underperformed," as the National Weather Service put it.
I'm incredibly lucky. My little Encino neighborhood where nothing ever happens maintained its perfect record of nothing happening. I have four friends who lost everything. When I think of the people who lived in the 12,000 homes and apartment buildings that are now rubble, my heart breaks for them.
Once you have experienced the Unimaginable actually happening, it changes the way you look at the world and your place in it.
Thanks to everyone for the notes of support.
I am glad to hear things look more promising than they have since the start of this. Also glad to hear that you and you home are safe, Tom (@tcinla). I am sure there are many more hard days ahead.
Glad you are safe, Tom. Hope next days will be better.
That must have been a really scary moment, Tom @tcinla
Glad to hear you are doing fine.
Hang on Tom. It is not as bad as a ballistic missile hitting your home 😉
You got me there, Rafi! 🙂
God bless you and al those who are suffering...
Tom: Thank you for the update on this horrific event.
God bless you, and keep you safe.
Sir, I am glad that you and your little neighborhood were spared the destruction that so very many others have suffered. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all those affected by this terrible event.
Tom,glad to hear your neighborhood is safe.Such a terrible event for all those who have lost everything.So sad.
Thanks for your update, TC. Great knowing you, your home and community have been spared the flames. God's Peace.
Looks dangerous! Were the Fire Planes extinguishing the fire?
Yes, they did. The post I put in last week of the cockpit footage of the Calif. ANG C-130 was the mission that saved us when they stopped the fire from climbing Mandeville Canyon on Saturday.
Such a hard hitting moment for the area and all living there. I am glad that the reports are showing the destructive powers are on the wane and you personally have not been affected. You seem to be hit with the heat, us over on the other side get the floods. But humans are resilient and we will come through.
Glad to hear your neighborhood has been lucky so far. I have in-laws down there - pretty scary. Stay safe!
That's some good news, Tom. Thanks for the update.
Continued safety for you and yours, Tom. Thoughts and prayers to all.
Glad you are safe. I remember one of the big fire events when I was stationed at NAS North Island. We got phone alerts to be prepared to evacuate. That night my daughter came into our bedroom crying and said she could see the fire. I went out and could see the fire, about 5 miles away. We never got the call to evacuate, but we got ready. The next morning Navy MH-60S choppers with Bambi buckets were keeping the flames at bay. I had the duty that day. As duty CPO I had to drive to base and check to see if we had any of my squadron's personnel that had evacuated there to the base. The drive there was surreal, everything in San Diego County was shut down except essential travel, so I drove on a dark empty freeway with ash falling like snow. It even sounded like driving on snow the ash was so thick. Yeah, if you haven't experienced an urban firestorm, there is nothing quite as terrifying. Miles of devastation, cars literally melt, nothing but chimneys standing. Heartbreaking
I lived in Hollywood for 34 years. Saw many fires, earthquakes and various riots. I understand how hard it is for those that have lost everything.
Brian Riedel
Glad you're well, Tom. We had these fires in the news over here, just terrible!
We felt the effects of wildfire smoke (burning in Canada) here in the DC area two summers ago. I can't imagine what it must be like to be in visual range of one, especially of this size and intensity. Thanks for the update, and I hope they extinguish this conflagration without any further loss. Good luck to you, Tom (@tcinia).
That must have been a terrifying view, Tom.
We saw the sheer devastation on the news today, it was almost post apocalyptic.
The LA Sheriff said last Saturday that there were neighborhoods that "looked like after an atomic bomb." He wasn't exaggerating. The destruction is incredible.
Glad you are safe and sound. Thanks for keeping us updated. Though many of us have not met you in person, I hope that you have felt the love, respect, and support that we all feel towards you and the situation you've been an eye witness too. Keep standing firm
Thanks, David.
Stay safe, Tom. You and all of the victims are in our prayers.
Glad to hear you were spared Tom (@tcinla). Such a tragedy!
Glad you are safe, Tom @tcinla During the 2019 Australian fires my kids and I had to make a quick escape as the fire approached our house. Fortunately we were also spared but it certainly does give one cause to reflect on what is truly important in life. My prayers are with you and your community.
Stay safe Tom. Unbelievable destruction.
Seeing the news and the devastation, everything is just...gone.
The picture looks apocalyptic. Really terrifying.
Glad the Santa Anas died down a bit.
Must have been tough to watch.
Tom, I am glad you are safe and that the worst is over. I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been to watch the flames approach.
Tom Cleaver (@tcinla)
I am so happy to hear that you have literally dodged this one. I am a retired firefighter and have been to my share of fires, both structural and wildfires. The wild fires we had here in Florida during 1998, were very similar to what you guys are experiencing now. Our '98 wild fires were just as destructive, if not more so, and it seemed the majority of the State was on fire at the same time. In the end it was rainfall that stopped our wildfires... and not the fire services. We could slow it down, and protect some of the homes but not all of them. Hundreds of thousand of acres were burned, and the number of houses and businesses that were lost back in 1998 numbered in the thousands too. We had fatalities as well, but I don't think the number was as high as what you guys are experiencing.
Immediately following this catastrophe, our State enacted a prescribed burning program. This reduced the ground fuel and has been very effective for reducing the number (and size) of the fires that we now experience. If anything, our forests and their furry inhabitants are actually thriving more now that our woodlands are being better managed.
My heart goes out to all of those who were affected by this horrific event. I'm so happy that you are safe and sound.
Let's hope and pray that this will never happen to anyone out there on this scale again. You're not going to stop fires from happening completely. Wildfire is a part of Mother Nature.
How you do things to help manage the impact is the key. From what I have seen online, there were a lot of things that went wrong at the same time, like empty water reservoirs and reduced budgets / staffing, leadership problems from the higher ups, all making this tragedy inevitable.
In the end it was the poor tax paying citizens who paid the ultimate price. Then it has been reported that there are some scum bags running around out there, who are looting from these poor people who have lost so much. I have also seen some news reports of more scum of the Earth who are running around and starting MORE fires... This is not what you guys need (or want).
So sad... and something needs to change out there. If things don't change soon for you guys, then you will be doomed to repeat history again sometime in the future when the ground cover grows back in a few years.. I pray that doesn't happen. I wish you luck my friend.
Stay safe brother, and thank you for the emails.
Glad you are safe mate. Living in Australia, I know what it's like to be close to a bushfire and it's about the scariest thing you can go through. Certainly for me anyway.
I hope to God everyone affected is able to recover and rebuild.
Stay safe, all the very best wishes to you all there.
Thanks for keeping us updated Tom! Continuing to pray for you, and all those that have been effected by this tragedy.
I am glad you and your home are safe. Thank you for letting all of us know.
I only now read your report... I'm really happy you escaped the danger and I'm so sorry for you and the people who lost everything...