It’s proof that God loves us that he pays so much attention to us. 
I lived in Serra Mesa during the Cedar Fire. Thankfully it was a built-up enough part that I only 10% freaked out!
Evacuation areas cover east of the 5 to the 15, and north of 56 to Del Dios Highway. That, my friends, is a very large area - I think the news said 100 square miles. 50-60 thousand people live there. Jesus.
See if I can figure out how to do this: The view from my front yard this morning.
That’s looking east, toward the Wild Animal Park. The fire is right on the other side of that hill now (a couple hours after the photos were taken).
The Malibu fire wasn’t nearly as bad as other historical fires ('85, '93, '96, etc.) but sadly, it did burn down the Malibu Castle Kashan, one of the more famous Malibu landmarks.
On the bright side, the fire did burn down the church where I was baptized, where I was first infected with Christianity. I took that as a sign of God supporting my recent conversion to neo-paganism. 
The ash and acrid, nose-burning stench was so bad in 2003. I saved a satellite image of the smoke distribution, which covered hundreds of miles. My car was covered in a thin layer of gray soot this morning, but nothing as bad as in 2003.
I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch the news on this one, because it just breaks my heart. I pray the Wild Animal Park is protected and not in any danger. 
My mom had to evacuate Rancho Bernardo this morning. She’s holed up in a hotel in La Jolla with a neighbor, waiting for some kind of word. I’ve never heard a fire dept. openly claim that a fire was 0% contained. :eek: Fortunately (for her), the two fires (in Westwood and Poway) seem to both be heading away from our house in opposite directions.
Small comfort for all the other people in the fire’s path. 
Here’s a boatload of prayers for safety to all involved and a resolution that keeps the destruction of property to a minimum.
Anyone know a good rain dance?
Ugh. I’m pretty sure my childhood home is gone. Saw a newscast this morning on the internet and there was a guy wearing one of those SARS masks at what was once my elementary school bus stop. My folks escaped at 5 in the morning, but this is looking worse than that one in the late '90s where the WAP almost went up, at least near my house.
This seems the most reliable, least overwhlemed site for news updates right now, if anyone’s in the helpless-can’t-tell-what’s-going-on-mildly-freaking-out-at-work mode I’m in.
My folks are in Rancho Bernardo too ArchiveGuy. Not sure what that’s good for except a little company for the misery
All San Diego County public colleges are closed until further notice. Mine, the one closest to the fire, was the last one to close at around 11:30 AM today. I suspect it’ll be closed for the next two days.
This is making me really anxious, bringing back my evacuation memories from 2003. I remember seeing the wall of fire come up and over Mission Gorge park from Tierrasanta. The police forced us to evacuate and it was a nightmare.
Please, all you San Diego Dopers, be careful and have your cars loaded and ready to evacuate. My good thoughts are with you and your families right now: I wish I could offer shelter, but New Jersey is a bit of a drive. If anybody does need to evacuate and needs help reaching friends and family, just let me know.
There’s a Google maps mashup with LA Times info for most of the fires now. I don’t know how often/accurately it’s being updated, but here’s a link.
Thanks, BM. Here’s keeping our fingers crossed for both of us (and all SD friends/family/Dopers/residents).
The link was helpful–I’ve been following the coverage on the Tribune’s site.
Which God, though?
I just looked at the fire maps. :eek: Stay safe, you and your families, people!
And in the interests of somewhat black humor, I have a sequential thread situation for you:
Any interest in another San Diego Dopefest?
is the next thread up from this one right now for me.
Compare the current satellite image CNN is posting right now, to what we had in 2003.
I feel so overwhelmingly sad for all the people who will lose their homes. And also bad for all the animals that will die in these horrendous fires. It just breaks my heart.
AG: I’m getting a news feed that doesn’t clip here: NBC 7 San Diego – San Diego News, Local News, Weather, Traffic, Entertainment, Breaking News
The fire seems to be moving out of RB, for whatever that’s worth.
We just got notification that the state and Federal courts in San Diego are closed today because of the fires, and likely will be tomorrow as well.
My mom, who lives and works in Irvine, got sent home for the day because apparently the smoke in their fire (which I hadn’t even heard about because of all the San Diego/Malibu coverage) was getting into their building and irritating people.
I’ve got relatives who live in Ramona that I need to try to contact soon to find out if they’ve had to evacuate.
My best wishes for anyone affected at all by any of this.
How did the fires in Baja start? Those I haven’t heard about yet.
Asimovian, I am almost 100% sure your Ramona people evacuated. I think the entire city was advised to go. Good luck.
Now that I can check, I see that little fires are popping up all over down in San Diego County, and turning into big trouble. It’s about the winds.
This guy seems to be really on top of the coverage. Just posting as I find things…