San Diego Oct 26th

In article ,
nt (Gordon) wrote:

From inside this city, it looks like a ring of running fires occasionally
flaring into a slithering line of impossibly bright orange. The fires block
drivers nearly everywhere and for the first time in years, the San Diego sky
is almost completely empty of aircraft.

From NOAA's site:

http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fire...SMHSusCA300_N6
..jpg

I grew up in southern California, and remember the fires that seemed to
come late every summer. Wishing the best for all who live down there,
and specially for all the crews fighting the fires.

Gordon wrote:

From inside this city, it looks like a ring of running fires occasionally
flaring into a slithering line of impossibly bright orange.

(snipage occurs)

you got it right in one....

we drove out to Riverside Saturday, and down to El Cajon Sunday.....
Saturday was scheduled stuff, Sunday was to rescue animals.

the Simi fire is visible from our house in the Valley.

i've seen all the fires, and it's ugly. no other word for it.
the wind is shifting tonight, and tomorrow will be an adventure.

redc1c4,
RUMINT says that the bureaucrats couldn't/wouldn't ask for support,
hence the lack of aircraft. i hope that's not true.
--
A Troop - 1st Squadron
404th Lemming Armored Cavalry

"Velox et Capillatus!"

On 27 Oct 2003 06:26:28 GMT, nt (Gordon) wrote:

From inside this city, it looks like a ring of running fires occasionally
flaring into a slithering line of impossibly bright orange. The fires block
drivers nearly everywhere and for the first time in years, the San Diego sky is
almost completely empty of aircraft. I have seen a few helos working hard --
unfortunately, it was the local life flight folks. The sky was the most
bizarre I have ever seen. A general pall surrounds great swaths of our county,
swelling eyes and subtle, drifting ash are everywhere. Any attempt to drive is
difficult due to the blowing ash and reduced visibility. I was up at the edge
of Miramar for most of the day with a few shell-shocked friends that wandered
just what was important and what value time had when a dancing chorusline of
fire comes over the horizon. A lady that I've known twenty years came out into
the smoke with a painting, a Chagal and that was the one thing out of her
entire house that she wanted to have saved. "Cool - its one of Marc's." We
watched the fire approach and the wind turn ugly, shuttling trucks and moms and
kids with all the things they felt irreplaceable, all under a thick blanket of
smoke. The virgin scrub that stretched for miles at Miramar butted against a
cul de sac that had no defense whatever against the beast rampaging down the
street. We saw the smoke increase and the people on roofs watering furiously
all came down - time to go. Evacuations were within three miles, with the
surface streets curiously empty, fast food restaurants doing brisk business,
and highways all closed down entirely. The hot afternoon air suddenly kicked
around as the onshore flow arrived. The temp fell a few degrees and the smoke
abuptly changed direction, taking its fire with it as it bypassed our friend's
neighborhood.

We'd like the firefighters and the water bomber crews to know that we
appreciate what they are doing and that we want them to all finish their task
safely.

v/r
Gordon
====(A+C====
USN SAR Aircrew

"Got anything on your radar, SENSO?"
"Nothing but my forehead, sir."

I lived in San Diego for ten years, and this is very hard for me to watch. Take
care, and via con Dios.

Al Minyard

I lived in San Diego for ten years, and this is very hard for me to watch.
Take
care, and via con Dios.


I noticed that not a few people just burst into tears on the street. Hard to
walk through the ash and not recognize that it represents lost lives, homes,
photos, pets, and millions of wild animals.

anywhoo.. back to RAM

thanks for the concern, Al.

Gordon
====(A+C====
USN SAR Aircrew

"Got anything on your radar, SENSO?"
"Nothing but my forehead, sir."

(Gordon) wrote:

Thanks for the comments, guys - we're fine but the kids are scared all to hell.
Its a real mess out there. We could really use a few more firebombers but I
know others need them too.

A good friend of mine who flies out of Nichols field (about 10 miles
from the coast on the east end of Lower Otay Lake near San Diego)
got lucky as the firestorm mercifully spared his airplane hangared
at Nichols field. Here is a photo taken from the air of Nichols:

http://www.little-acorn.com/nichols3.jpg

But the devastation was *total* at Barona airpark, just 15-20 miles
northeast of downtown San Diego. All but two hangars were
incinerated and approx. 20 aircraft were completely destroyed.
The fire was so hot that it literally melted aluminum trailers as
shown in this photo:

http://www.little-acorn.com/trailer0.jpg

"Gordon" wrote in message
...
I lived in San Diego for ten years, and this is very hard for me to
watch.
Take
care, and via con Dios.


I noticed that not a few people just burst into tears on the street. Hard
to
walk through the ash and not recognize that it represents lost lives,
homes,
photos, pets, and millions of wild animals.

anywhoo.. back to RAM

thanks for the concern, Al.

Gordon
====(A+C====
USN SAR Aircrew

"Got anything on your radar, SENSO?"
"Nothing but my forehead, sir."

Gord, You and your family take care.

BMC

You and your family take care.

thanks, Chief, will do.

G