My Town Is Burning Down

[CalifYanksFan]

Today started off so beautiful. Light Santa Ana breeze and warm, sunny morning. By 12 pm the day went into the toilet. A fire started in Corona and now has consumed a lot of acreage in Corona, Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda. A second fire started earlier in Brea and is headed into Diamond Bar and Chino. You East Coasters can look up the area. I live in YL, and we are being ringed by fire. Fortunately I don't live near any hills, and, although we have the cars packed, I think we'll be o.k. Please keep us in your prayers as well as everyone in this area and in the Sylmar/L.A. area. This is one of the worst fires I seen in a long time. It's dry and windy out here and that's never a good thing. It's very scary out here right now. Also keep all the cops and firefighters in your prayers too. God Bless them all.

[YankeePride1967]

Wow, my prayers are with you and everyone in the area. Best of luck and keep us in the loop!

[allybear]

(((Russ))) I will keep you, your family and everyone in the area in my prayers - that is really scary!

Take care and let us know how things go...

[MassNYYfan]

Best of luck.

I've lost a family member to a fire, so just the smell of that anywhere near where I lived would have me speeding in the opposite direction. :\

[Jenn6812]

We were down near there at Disneyland during the October 2003 fires, and it was scary and awful. We had driven at night time coming through the hills from Las Vegas and fire was all around. Ash was falling everywhere for several nights. It has to be really scary having fire so close to your home. Stay safe and take care and be ready to go if you have to. Hoping for the best for you and your family.

[Dave Visbeck]

Hope things are safe and fine for you, Russ. I should check the news instead of watching a tape of Ghost Chasers.

[4bronxbombers]

Wow....how sad. Stay safe and keep us posted if you can.

[yankees2287]

stay safe...hope everythings ok

[wexy]

Stay safe and good luck.

[PinstripePride]

Be safe Russ. I hope everything works out for you...best of luck.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Anyone seen Hans around here?

[JDPNYY]

Stay safe

[Mark19]

It is a true shame.

I'll never understand why the allure of living in the hills among the dry scrub outweighs the obvious potential for catastrophic wildfires. My brother moved to Hollywood Hills and it never crossed his mind. The people who obliterate the landscape for the sake of their hilltop mansions should have to arrange for their own fire protection. The same rationale should apply to those who build houses on stilts on the beaches of Cape Hatteras and then ask for government aid when hurricanes blast ashore. Not everyone affected is a millionaire but I don't see why fire crews should be using public resources up in the hills while the valleys are at high risk.

[ritaylnil]

How frightening, Russ! I hope you are able to remain in your home and avoid the danger. God bless all of the families affected and all of the emergency workers.

[Tifoso]

Today started off so beautiful. Light Santa Ana breeze and warm, sunny morning. By 12 pm the day went into the toilet. A fire started in Corona and now has consumed a lot of acreage in Corona, Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda. A second fire started earlier in Brea and is headed into Diamond Bar and Chino. You East Coasters can look up the area. I live in YL, and we are being ringed by fire. Fortunately I don't live near any hills, and, although we have the cars packed, I think we'll be o.k. Please keep us in your prayers as well as everyone in this area and in the Sylmar/L.A. area. This is one of the worst fires I seen in a long time. It's dry and windy out here and that's never a good thing. It's very scary out here right now. Also keep all the cops and firefighters in your prayers too. God Bless them all.

I have prayed for you all. Please keep us posted. Stay safe.

[WashingtonYankee]

Hey hun! I'm praying for you your family and friends...

And all of the fire fighters in that area!

You might remember that I posted something a few months back about my friend who was a firefighter who died in northern Cali.

[PalmerGA]

Russ, my birthday-sharing west coast conservative bud... my prayers are with you and your family. Be safe and keep the water hose handy. God, that's an awful situation.

[Casey at the Bat]

anyone who wants to see exactly what's going on live, can look at www.abc7.com for a live feed. We have a lot of fires going on here in so cal. Today was supposed to be the inaugural Pasadena marathon, which was cancelled due to the air quality.

Hope everyone else who lives in the area is doing okay as well.

[Zippythepinhead]

It is a true shame.

I'll never understand why the allure of living in the hills among the dry scrub outweighs the obvious potential for catastrophic wildfires. My brother moved to Hollywood Hills and it never crossed his mind. The people who obliterate the landscape for the sake of their hilltop mansions should have to arrange for their own fire protection. The same rationale should apply to those who build houses on stilts on the beaches of Cape Hatteras and then ask for government aid when hurricanes blast ashore. Not everyone affected is a millionaire but I don't see why fire crews should be using public resources up in the hills while the valleys are at high risk.

Why do peope live in areas prone to flooding, tornadoes, earthquake, snowstorms, etc.? The people whose homes are burning aren't exactly isolated -- it's basically urban sprawl.

As for obliterating the landscape, the mountains and coast remain the most beautiful parts of southern California despite building on both. People need to live somewhere.

CalifYanksFan, good luck. I'm at least 50 miles away from you yet the smoke is pretty strong here. I hope the Santa Anas are subsiding down there.

[penfold]

anyone who wants to see exactly what's going on live, can look at www.abc7.com for a live feed. We have a lot of fires going on here in so cal. Today was supposed to be the inaugural Pasadena marathon, which was cancelled due to the air quality.

Hope everyone else who lives in the area is doing okay as well.

It's smoggy & smells like smoke where I am (Culver City) but there's no fire (or hills or brush) here. This is an area that's been urbanized forever -- in California terms.

The smoke scent is pretty heavy, though, which means it is BAD out there.

[b-ball-lunachick]

How scary Russ - stay safe..I'll be keeping you in my prayers!

[CalifYanksFan]

Thanks everyone for the prayers and good thoughts. My family and I were packed and ready to get out if the word came down to evacuate. The fire got between 1/2 and a mile from my house. We could see the flames all around us, but God smiled on us and my immediate neighbors and we were bypassed.

The devastation is enormous and the fires are still moving quickly. We have several around the southland. Right now the fires affecting my area have moved over the mountains toward Diamond Bar and Chino/Chino Hills. I just got finished emptying our cars and we're now putting stuff away.

We still haven't learned how the fire started other than it started in a riverbed in the Corona area bordering Yorba Linda. If the fire was deliberately set, and they find out who did it, death would be too good for them. I'm just hoping it was something accidental. It would be a little more comforting knowing some lunatic didn't do this on purpose. Either way a lot of my neighbors are without homes today. Please continue to pray for them.

[Casey at the Bat]

Thanks everyone for the prayers and good thoughts. My family and I were packed and ready to get out if the word came down to evacuate. The fire got between 1/2 and a mile from my house. We could see the flames all around us, but God smiled on us and my immediate neighbors and we were bypassed.

The devastation is enormous and the fires are still moving quickly. We have several around the southland. Right now the fires affecting my area have moved over the mountains toward Diamond Bar and Chino/Chino Hills. I just got finished emptying our cars and we're now putting stuff away.

We still haven't learned how the fire started other than it started in a riverbed in the Corona area bordering Yorba Linda. If the fire was deliberately set, and they find out who did it, death would be too good for them. I'm just hoping it was something accidental. It would be a little more comforting knowing some lunatic didn't do this on purpose. Either way a lot of my neighbors are without homes today. Please continue to pray for them.

Glad you are okay. I had to let some of the staff at work go home at 10:30pm the night the Sylmar fires broke out. It was right in her back yard. Last I heard, either her home was okay, or she just didn't know yet. Hope she's okay.

Fires are still burning crazy. I live in Pasadena, and the sky is orangish red from the sun rays going through all the smoke. I just stepped outside while writing this to get my pizza delivery, and started coughing from all the smoke and ash... and the fires aren't ANYWHERE close to me. Again, hope all the so cal posters and their families are getting through okay.

[ajra21]

the area of rome i lived in was prone to bush fires. hope evreything is ok russ.

[NYYFAN]

Why do peope live in areas prone to flooding, tornadoes, earthquake, snowstorms, etc.? The people whose homes are burning aren't exactly isolated -- it's basically urban sprawl.

Based on your list there wouldn't be much area left to put everyone, pinhead.

[Zippythepinhead]

Based on your list there wouldn't be much area left to put everyone, pinhead.

Yes, that was my point, sorry if I wasn't clear.

[CalifYanksFan]

We're still a long way from being out of the woods. The sky was clear for most of the day, but now it is thick with smoke. I don't see any flames, but it's just crazy how these fires are just jumping up everywhere. Right now L.A. County is experiencing a flare up in the Placerita area, and we're getting some activity near Coal Canyon which is east of me, about 8 miles. Every freaking year we get these killer Santa Ana winds and every year we're putting up with fires. California was in a drought before, and now we're really going to be bone dry.

[PinstripePride]

Glad to hear you appear to have avoided disaster, Russ. Hopefully the milder winds today allow firefighters to get better control of things out there..

[Luvtino]

I'm praying for you and yours, Russ. Cali has been on my mind quite a bit these days. It's so sad to watch the fires burn down so many homes. My heart and prayers are with all of you. May God bless and watch over you all. Hugs.

[yankeesAZ]

Good luck and be safe.

[jlw1980]

Best wishes to you and your family and friends!!

[Barb51850]

To Russ and all who live in the area. My prayers are with you. This is so very sad.

[4bronxbombers]

Very sad pics in the paper and on TV today. I can't imagine.

[allybear]

I know - it's so sad!

We've heard from a few people here - where are our other Cali folks? Anyone hear from Giambi Rocks or Octoberbaby?

[LDG]

So sorry to be reading about these fires. What a tragedy for all involved. Hope our NYYFans friends all stay safe.

[krystl]

Hope everyone is ok. I can't imagine how scary it must be.

[penfold]

Actually, one of the truly disturbing things about this batch of fires is that several times yesterday, I smelled the distinct odor of melting plastic.

The coastal area -- which usually has the best air quality because of the sea breezes -- has air that's been labeled unhealthy by the weather folks.

Ick.

[Tabata]

I know how you feel. With the drought this fire season here will be the worst yet. Keep safe.

[Casey at the Bat]

I know - it's so sad!

We've heard from a few people here - where are our other Cali folks? Anyone hear from Giambi Rocks or Octoberbaby?

I think Giabi Rocks is from santa barbara, which is where the first fires started. They were mostly multimillion dollar homes that burned there... like Oprah's $50 million home. Hopefully GR lives in another neighborhood.

I don't know where Octoberbaby lives. Hopefully they check in soon.

The worst seems to be over. The winds have died down, and containments have started. I can't even smell fire anymore, and most of the freeways opened up. I think the AQMD may even suggest letting kids play outside tomorrow. Now comes the sad part... digging through the ruins.

[CalifYanksFan]

Around our area, things are looking pretty good, except for all the blackened hills around here. My family and I are very fortunate not to have suffered the losses that some of my fellow Yorba Lindans did. This is an older community and many people are retired. To lose their homes and a lifetime of memories is just so very sad. The safety personnel (fire and police) did an awesome job in minimizing damage and loss. My hat goes off to them. Again, thanks for all your prayers and good wishes. I'm sure it helped with the man upstairs.

[allybear]

Glad to hear you're OK, Russ! Really scary stuff, especially the melting plastic smell - ugh! And it just makes you wonder what's melting!

Hopefully the worst is over now.

[4bronxbombers]

I think Lorraine is in or near Beverly Hills. Still waiting to hear from her.....

[PalmerGA]

Russ - you think the powers that be will ever wake up and allow (or insist on) controlled burning and minimizing underbrush growth in those areas that burn out of control nearly every year? The biliions of dollars of property damage it costs is outrageous.

Perhaps they already do, but it doesn't seem so. What's the deal... really?

[ksison]

How did these fires start? I heard in the news yesterday morning that it could have been from college kids starting a bonfire? Dont quote me on that, I'm just stating what I heard on the news.


Anyways, I hope everything turns out alright, and i hope the best for the firefighters and their safety

[Zippythepinhead]

Russ - you think the powers that be will ever wake up and allow (or insist on) controlled burning and minimizing underbrush growth in those areas that burn out of control nearly every year? The biliions of dollars of property damage it costs is outrageous.

Perhaps they already do, but it doesn't seem so. What's the deal... really?

I don't know if it's the case everywhere, but in LA County they're fairly adamant about cutting and clearing brush. The Fire Department makes regular inspections and issues citations.

[GiambiRocks]

The Santa Barbara fire was caused by a BONFIRE in a HIGH FIRE ALERT area that students set. They thought they put it out properly obviously they didn't.

[Octoberbaby]

It's smoggy & smells like smoke where I am (Culver City) but there's no fire (or hills or brush) here. This is an area that's been urbanized forever -- in California terms.

The smoke scent is pretty heavy, though, which means it is BAD out there.

I'm in West Hollywood and now, days later, I can still smell that burnt smell in the air. It is awful on the allergies and, I am sure, not very healthy.

[Octoberbaby]

I know - it's so sad!

We've heard from a few people here - where are our other Cali folks? Anyone hear from Giambi Rocks or Octoberbaby?

I'm still here. Thank goodness I don't live near the areas that usually get hit. However, I do worry about the Hollywood Hills ever catching fire. When these things happen it is so easy to forget how it could happen to you. Christopher Lloyd said that on the news now that he is one of the victims and it is so true.

[fredgmuggs]

I'm still here. Thank goodness I don't live near the areas that usually get hit. However, I do worry about the Hollywood Hills ever catching fire. When these things happen it is so easy to forget how it could happen to you. Christopher Lloyd said that on the news now that he is one of the victims and it is so true.

Glad to see you present and accounted for... and especially that your safe and sound, Lorraine.

[4bronxbombers]

I'm still here. Thank goodness I don't live near the areas that usually get hit. However, I do worry about the Hollywood Hills ever catching fire. When these things happen it is so easy to forget how it could happen to you. Christopher Lloyd said that on the news now that he is one of the victims and it is so true.

Glad you're safe Lorraine. Scary times.....