# B(r)ushfires - SoCal Dopers All OK? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 26, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726 "2003-10-26T21:59:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/101 "2003-10-30T15:12:43Z")
I was quoted $500 to remove a stump. I can’t extrapolate that to a whole tree but I can see it adding up quickly on a large lot with a half dozen dead trees. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/102 "2003-10-30T15:49:26Z")
**phouka** , you are one fantastic gal. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/103 "2003-11-01T00:47:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Last Nov - Jan, a [man](http://www.saveoldglory.com/) spent 71 days sitting in a [tree](http://www.picocanyonoaktree.com/) that was dubbed Old Glory by the neighborhood children. It’s at least 1000 years old oak tree. They were somewhat successful in their attempts to save the tree. The developer decided to move the tree instead of taking it down. It’s in the path of the Simi Valley Fire tonight as it moves into Stevenson Ranch. I just heard on the KCBS-2 L.A. news that “Old Glory” survived! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/104 "2003-11-01T01:18:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*I just heard on the KCBS-2 L.A. news that “Old Glory” survived! 🙂 \*\* WOOOOOO HOOOOO!!! Kathy Closet Tree Hugg’in Liberal PS: I thought I liked coastal eddy, but never thought I’d be so happy to see him come in! I just love Eddy. I’m fond of Flo too. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/105 "2003-11-01T01:19:09Z")
There was a fairly nice winter rain storm in Santa Barbara today. Sending it down South with best wishes. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Landshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Landshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Landshark)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/106 "2003-11-01T01:26:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\*There was a fairly nice winter rain storm in Santa Barbara today. Sending it down South with best wishes. > > Haj \*\* It’s expected to reach San Diego County after midnight. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/107 "2003-11-01T03:07:27Z")
Having lived in So-Cal all my life, I’ve noticed that after every major firestorm, it ALWAYS rains. Always. (Of course, the rain chased the trick-or-treaters away…now what am I going to do with all this candy that I crossed the picket lines for?) Oh, and did anyone else feel the 3.6 earthquake that struck Simi Valley a couple days ago? No damage of course, but I got the feeling that the fault lines feel a little left out… ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/108 "2003-11-01T06:23:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > \*\*Having lived in So-Cal all my life, I’ve noticed that after every major firestorm, it ALWAYS rains. Always. > > (Of course, the rain chased the trick-or-treaters away…now what am I going to do with all this candy that I crossed the picket lines for?) > > SNIP\*\* 1. I never thought about it before…but you’re absolutely right. 2. Ummmm…maybe we should donate it? My street was practically dead tonight. Too much supply, not enough demand. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/109 "2003-11-01T07:47:51Z")
Bring the extra candy to the firefighters (just drop it off at your nearest station). I’m sure they’d _love_ it! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/110 "2003-11-01T14:55:09Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. I never thought about it before…but you’re absolutely right. I was thinking about that yesterday. It seems that this cold front came down from the north, but I did wonder if all of that particulate matter that was blown west will result in rain. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/111 "2003-11-01T16:02:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > **Having lived in So-Cal all my life, I’ve noticed that after every major firestorm, it ALWAYS rains. Always.** Santa Barbara had a major fire in 1990 (Painted Cave). It was just as devistating as this one but on a much, much smaller scale. It was in the middle of a really bad drought and a truely major storm was about two years away. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/112 "2003-11-03T22:34:57Z")
Wow, we just got back from Florida and what a mess. So far, only one couple we know lost their home, but the fire also threatened their vacation home near Big Bear, and I don’t know the status of that yet. Our local FD is accepting all manner of donations, and I’m sure the Red Cross would like some of your blood. We just sent a truckload of stuff to Mexico for hurricane relief last year, but I’m going through our stuff again, especially the kids clothes. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/113 "2003-11-04T02:10:55Z")
The guy I work with has two sisters that both live in Arrowhead. Last week they thought that one house was gone for sure, they were about 80% the other was also history. Yesterday they found out that both houses survived. WhooHoo! > [@](#): > > Spiny Norman and I have decided to go to Costco on Friday afternoon when I get off of work and load up the car with as many cases of bottled water as it’ll hold. We’re going to don our CERT gear and head out to the Simi Valley/Chattsworth area on Saturday morning to volunteer to help in any way we can. **Shayna, Spiny** This is beyond cool. You guys ROCK. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/114 "2003-11-04T03:59:45Z")
Well, I guess I’ll check in a still alive and unburned too. On Sunday morning last weekend I heard a report of people in Claremont being evacuated from just north of Baseline Ave, which is about ten blocks away from where I am, but from wht I understand it never crossed the 210. Did have air quality problems, so I remained indoors for most of the weekend. Got a nice view of flames on the mountains on Saturday night. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726/115 "2003-11-04T04:47:23Z")
Aw, thanks, **scout**! We found out on Thursday that all of our teachers’ houses made it through the fire. Some of them just by the skin of their teeth. The fence around the principal’s house was scorched and charred, but the house was fine. All of us, though, know someone who has lost everything to the fire. I was tempted to severely smack a lady at the cafe where I was getting breakfast Sunday morning. She kept going on about how she’d driven the state highway and just didn’t think the damage was as bad as the Pines fire, and what was everyone talking about anyway? Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the sixteen lives lost. Maybe the 3,400 homes destroyed. Maybe the 275,000 acres consumed. There’s also a kid running around Borrego that needs to get his hide tanned and his ears burned. He was visiting a friend in the countryside when they were evacuated on Tuesday. By Wednesday, his mom and sister were frantically calling every shelter in the county. I happened to spot him before I heard his description, but by the time I got outside, he’d already left the quad. I told all the high schoolers I could find to let him know that if he stopped in the office, we would connect him with his mom. By Sunday night, he still hadn’t reported in, and even though the Red Cross and everyone at the school has been looking for him, the mom and sister are now blaming us. _sigh_ The laundry supplies got used up by the next morning. We only had six people staying at the shelter Sunday night. The students return on Wednesday, and we’ll be back tomorrow cleaning up and putting everything back the way it needs to be. I think the books I put out to read are long gone. I wish I’d though to write “please return” on the inside, but, ah, well. At least the readers enjoyed them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-r-ushfires-socal-dopers-all-ok/209726.md?page=5)