Jamul Fire Help

Update:

Several people, including Daniel Tyack, wrote to say that the Jamul Fire Help site can now take donations by PayPal. We just made a donation; it was easy and fast. If you're not familiar with PayPal, it's the largest electronic payment service in the world, owned by eBay – it is very safe and reliable. I have used it personally for thousands of transactions.

Original Post:

I just heard from Daniel Tyack that he's helping the Jamul Community Church put up a web site to act as a hub for the effort to help our community rebuild. A worthy effort to be sure. You can find their new web site at www.jamulfirehelp.org. If you need help, or if you can help those who need it, pay them a visit...please.

Puzzler...

Last week's puzzler:

It seems like forever since I posted the last puzzler, about a strange early form of main memory for digital computers.

The correct answer was “mercury”, which got 41% of the 98 votes on this puzzler. To the best of my knowledge, none of the other elements figured in any early computer memory system, though silicon of course is the main constituent of current memory systems.

As one commenter noted, mercury was used in an early memory system that was essentially an acoustic delay line. The system that I worked on used long glass tubes of mercury, bent into a spiral much like a fully compressed spring. Each tube was about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, bent into a spiral that was about six inches in diameter and about four feet long. That means that the tubes, if fully extended, would have been about 100 feet long. The glass was coated with a soft plastic coating that was intended, I think, to provide some high-frequency acoustic isolation. The system had something like 40 of these tubes, providing a 30 bit word with error correction (the extra 10 or so bits). I can't remember some of the interesting details, such as the acoustic frequency or the number of bits held in each delay line. I do remember the main maintenance issue: thermal control. The operation of the system depended on (for those days) very tightly controlled, steady and even, temperatures across the entire array of tubes – not an easy thing to do.

This week's puzzler:

For this week's puzzler, I'm going back to history – this time, a little piece of American history that I happened to witness while I was serving in the U.S. Navy. As always, no fair Googling until you answer!

A Beautiful Chaparral Morning...

This is the view just now from the west-looking camera on Lyons Peak. Aside from the char in the foreground, you'd never know San Diego County was on fire just a few days ago. The white layer you see in the distance is just fog; our normal “marine layer” that we see on many mornings. I love this sight, especially as I drive down the last stretch of Skyline Truck Trail into the town of Jamul – the mountain tops look like islands rising out of an ethereal sea…

I received several emails from worried readers this morning, wondering why I wasn't posting. I suspect these are all new readers (and very welcome!) who have the impression from last week that I normally post a couple hundred times a day. This, I'm afraid, is simply not true. I actually have a job, where for some reason they expect me to do things for them <smile>. Normally I write a couple of posts a day, on average; some days more, some days none at all. It doesn't mean I've disappeared!

In response to another reader email, here's an offer: if you'd like your fire story to be up on the web (with photos, if you'd like), I'd be more than happy to let you do so on my blog. Just send me an email with what you want to say, and any photos you want to put up, and I'll take care of getting it up there. Make sure you let me know what personal details you do and don't want published (your real name, your address, etc.).

And one more excellent idea a reader had: if you have a story related to the firefighters and the wonderful job they did protecting our properties, or if you just want to say THANK YOU, I'd be happy to publish that as well. Again, just write up what you'd like to say in an email, and send it to me.

My email address is slightlyloony-at-jamulblog.com (replace the -at- with @). I have to write it in this odd way to keep the spambots from finding it an inundating me with disgusting email advertisements…

Reverse 911

Many of us who live in the remoter regions of San Diego County spend quite a bit of time many miles from home, at work, shopping, having fun, or whatever. A reverse 911 call to our homes when we're away is of little use.

I heard on the radio this morning that San Diego County very recently installed a second-generation reverse 911 system that is much more capable than the old one. It can make hundreds of thousands of calls per hour (a huge improvement), and it can handle cell phones and email addresses. But – a big but – it can only do this if you tell it what numbers or email addresses to call when your address is threatened.

Fortunately they've made it very easy. I just did it for our home, and it took less than a minute to register my cell phone, my wife's cell phone, and both our email addresses. All you need to do is to go to the County's sign-up web site, and fill in one simple form.

Take a few moments and do it now, while you're thinking of it…

Harris Fire Movies...

Hans-Werner Braun is one of the folks who run the HPWREN cameras on Lyons Peaks. These are the cameras that provide the images I use on my camera web site.

This morning, Hans-Werner sent me a link for some movies he has made from the images captured from all four cameras on Lyons Peak. They make for very interesting – and sobering – viewing…

All Those Thank-You Notes...

One last thing before I go back to unpacking…

When I picked up my email this morning, after getting the computers back up, I found notes from quite a few of my readers. In many different ways, they all said basically the same thing: thank you for the blogging and the cameras during the fire. When I get some time, I'll answer every one of them – but for now, a collective response:

You are all very welcome – it was indeed my pleasure to be able to do something useful and helpful for my friends and neighbors during the fire. Your notes are very much appreciated, as they tell me that I did some good. Thank you so very much for taking the time to let me know…

Home Sweet Home...

We are home at last. Like most people in our area, we are busy unpacking the vehicles we evacuated in (we stuffed a one-butt RV and a full size pickup as full as they could get, and left a stuffed SUV in the middle of our yard). Blogging will be light-to-nonexistant today after this post. I'm expecting to be rather tired tonight.

We drove back in at dusk last night. Once we got the official word that Lawson Valley was open, we packed as fast as we could (the cats were the main challenge!) and headed back. On the drive back, in the poor evening light, we didn't see very much of the damage. Driving through Spring Valley on Jamacha Avenue, we could see that San Miguel was burned over, and the places where the firefighters stopped the fire looked ominously close to town. As we turned right on state 94 in Rancho San Diego, we could see burns almost down to 94 as they came down San Miguel on our right. Then as we drove up Skyline Truck Trail out of the town of Jamul, the light was starting to fail, and we could just make out some burned spots off to our right, in the hills. Lyons Peak was too dim for me to actually see anything.

The best moment of the return trip came as we turned left from Skyline Truck Trail onto Lawson Valley Road. A fire truck, loaded with a tired-looking crew, was sitting at the stop sign waiting to come out of our valley. We opened our windows and yelled “THANK YOU!!!” at the top of our lungs – and were rewarded with big smiles and waves back. It felt so very good to be able to do that…

As we rolled into our driveway, of course we did a quick visual survey. There was not a thing out of place, not a single bit of damage. After all that drama and anxiety, everything looked so very normal, with the singular exception of our SUV and tractor parked in the middle of our yard, as far as possible from anything combustible. The house wasn't quite so normal, as we'd stripped a great deal out of the house when we evacuated – but of course we knew this, and expected the house to look odd. The main thing is that it was there, standing, and not a pile of ashes. We were very, very lucky here in Lawson Valley. It could have been much worse for us…

Last night we just unloaded the animals (who were very happy to be in their home again!), took a long, hot shower, and went to bed early. This morning we slept in until after daybreak, and then went to work. As I write this, around noon, we have most of the art back on the walls (which goes a long way to making the house look more normal), my slide rule collection is back indoors, and the computers are back in and running (allowing me to make this post). We're probably halfway through the unloading process. We're expecting to be quite tired tonight…

Restrictions Lifted?

Rusty Beatty emailed me a few minutes ago, saying that the word was out at Steele Canyon that all restrictions were lifted and everybody could go home. I didn't want to publish that without corroboration, but I just found it on SignonSanDiego's wildfire blog:

As of 3 p.m., all evacuation orders in the Harris fire area have been lifted for the following communities/areas:

Carveacre
Lawson Valley
Jamul
Potrero
Tecate
Dulzura
Barrett Junction
Engineer Springs
Deerhorn Valley
Indian Springs

There areas are open to RESIDENTS ONLY.

The following road closures REMAIN IN EFFECT due to road work:
State Route 94 at Barrett Smith East
State Route 188 and SR-94

Woo hoo! I think it's time to go home!

Harris Fire Update...

I captured this photo off the east-looking Lyons Peak camera about 45 minutes ago, but I had trouble posting it – Google appears to be having some kind of difficulty. If you expand this photo and look closely, toward the right side of the base of the dark gray smoke, you can see flames. They're the first I've seen all day. Hopefully this is still part of the backfiring operation we heard about earlier, and not something to be worried about. It appears to be very close to where Barber Mountain road comes around the north side of Elena Mountain.

And we finally got another MODIS satellite thermal imagery pass. This time the only hotspot on the Harris Fire is the one pictured above. Three miles southeast of my house – it figures. For this shot, I cleared everything except the last 24 hours of MODIS data, so that (if you blow it up) you can see exactly where the hotspot is.

News and reports from readers have slowed way down – which means that most of the folks that have been helping make this blog a great source of information for the Jamulian community are now themselves busied with things far more important that this silly blog: they're getting back home. It feels very nice – and normal – to know this is happening. With any luck at all, we'll soon be joining them. It's not looking too good for tonight (for us to return home, I mean), but perhaps tomorrow morning.

I've been thinking a lot today of all the people who have lost their home. I sure hope the rebuilding process is easier for them than it was for the people who lost their homes in the Cedar Fire – some of whom, we've read, are still trying to get their building permits…

Reader Report...

Rusty Beatty passes this along:

Here is a great link. I watched the road closure starting on Sunday until my computer was evacuated on Tuesday. We had a good idea of how fast the fire was coming down 94. The CHP site is updated every 20 seconds. http://cad.chp.ca.gov/ click on San Diego and then click on Harrs Fire.

It took me a couple of minutes to figure out how to make this work. First you click on "San Diego", in the box on the upper left hand side of the page. Then you look through the list of incidents that pops up, to find the one that includes "HARRIS FIRE" in the description. Then you click on the link in the same row (line), but in the "Type" column. When you do that, the bottom of the page will fill in with a sort of event log, with all kinds of useful information, especially about road closures.

Thanks, Randy!

Reader Question...

From Lauren:

Your updates and maps have been invaluable - thanks for the great, continuous and responsible information.

We are awaiting the fate of Wisecarver Truck Trail. We saw the Modis fire map on your site last night showing the fire moving nearly to our back door.

Does anyone have any information on this area? Was the fire that crossed Lyons Valley Road south of Lawson Peak extinguished?

Thanks for the kind words, Lauren. To the best of my knowledge, the fire never got to Wisecarver Truck Trail – but the remote part of that road, closest to Lawson Peak, was very close to where I believe it did burn, and might have burned over. I'm pretty darned sure that the end of Wisecarver Truck Trail near Skyline Truck Trail is undamaged. From all the information I have, the fire in that area is out. Does anyone out there have any more information about these areas?

Reader Report...

Trey M. writes with this report:

FYI, at 11:30 Skyline TT was closed at Babel about a quarter mile up the hill from the scool. CHP said they had not heard anything other than is was to remain closed until they heard otherwise.

Thanks for the update, Trey!

Reader Query...

Alexandra asks:

We heard that Deerhorn Valley was open, but camera shows active fire around what is maybe Barbour Mt. Rd.? that runs into DHV Rd. I'll bet that end of DHV is still closed. Authorities don't know. Do you know?

If I've got my roads straight, I think that is the area where there is a fire – a backfire, I believe (and hope!)...but does anyone out there know for sure?

Harris Fire Update...

San Diego Online's wildfire blog is reporting this:

If you live in the vicinity of Wilson Creek and you see smoke coming up, you may be seeing backfires being set by firefighters to deprive the Harris fire of the fuels it needs to keep burning.

According to Cal Fire, backfiring began in that area yesterday and worked out well, so they're continuing with that this morning.

Elsewhere on the Harris fire, firefighters are putting in containment lines in Hauser Canyon near Barrett Lake.

It seems likely that's the smoke we see in that area; it's in the right place.

Reader Report...

Rusty Beatty files this report from the Steele Canyon briefing, via Blackberry:

I am at steele canyon h s for the 10 am update meeting. Looks likes 6 pm to move back in. Depends on fire burn today.

Thanks, Rusty!

Reader Plea...

From Carlene:

Can someone please call me as to when I might reach my home @ Lawson Valley & Rudnick. Thank you all so much. 760-801-6877.

Carlene, that's the same area where Debbie and I live, so we're watching it closely – keep checking back here for news. And we'll give you a call when we actually make it back home.

Help From Iraq...

I just read this post over at OPFOR:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071026-01
October 26, 2007

Iraqi Army at Besmaya Installation Support San Diego Fire Victims
By U.S. Army Sgt 1st Class Charlene Sipperly
Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq Public Affairs

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Members of the Iraqi Army in Besmaya collected a donation for the San Diego, Calif., fire victims Thursday night at the Besmaya Range Complex in a moving ceremony to support Besmaya's San Diego residents.

Iraqi Army Col. Abbass, the commander of the complex, presented a gift of $1,000 to U.S. Army Col. Darel Maxfield, Besmaya Range Complex officer in charge, Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, to send to the fire victims in California.

The money was collected from Iraqi officers and enlisted soldiers in Besmaya. In a speech given during the presentation, Col. Abbass stated that he and the Iraqi soldiers were connected with the American people in many ways, and they will not forget the help that the American government has given the Iraqi people. Abbass was honored to participate by sending a simple fund of $1,000 to the American people in San Diego, to lower the suffering felt by the tragedy.

Foreign soldiers that have lived through over 3 years of hell, thinking of us and taking up a collection. Amazing.

Reader Report...

Sawdave reports:

Hi as of 1000 the caltrans sign at 94 and vista diego still says LVR closed at STT.

I did NOT drive to ck point to verify.

Thanks for the report, sawdave...

Harris Fire Update...

No new news, really. The photo is the east-looking scene from Lyons Peak cameras. There's a little bit of smoke visible; something is burning out toward where the Barrett Lake access road first approaches the shore of the lake – considerably further from Lawson Valley than the scary flareup we saw yesterday afternoon. This is a fairly remote and inaccessible location, making the job much tougher for the ground crews…

Reader Report...

Tom S. reports:

We are back in our house in Skyline Ranch. However, when I drove down at 9am to the LVR/STT intersection, the CHP told me it was a hard closure there. They tried to make me leave and I had to tell them my family was back at my house and insist on turning around. It was touch and go for a moment. They have set up another roadblock at STT and Babel Dr., up the hill a ways. It doesn't make much sense because why put a block there is the STT/LV block is a hard closure? I suspect there is a lot of confusion going on. They clearly have let some people back because there are many more cars in our neighborhood now.

They said there would be a meeting at Steele Canyon HS at 10am to clarify things, though how much clarity there will be I don't know.

Thanks for the report, Tom. You be careful near those checkpoints – I'd sure hate to hear you were dragged away, kicking and screaming!

Lyons Peak Cameras...

Update (9:34 AM):

The good folks at HPWREN have already responded to my query. They suspect that there was some sort of problem with daylight saving time (specifically, the changes mandated by congress last year). In any case, they've fixed the problem and the cameras are now updating and timestamping properly.

Thanks, guys – there's a whole bunch of Jamulians who very much appreciate your quick response...

Original Post (9:12 AM):

I'm not sure what's going on with the cameras on Lyons Peak. They seemed not to update for a long time, and the timestamp on the photos seems to be one hour off. Just a moment ago, the photos updated, but still with a screwy timestamp. Keep an eye on those timestamps to make sure the information you see is current (or not)...

Reader Report...

Linda I. called in with some news from her attempt to get into Lawson Valley this morning. She said there was still a checkpoint turning back cars partway up the hill from the stop sign on Skyline Truck Trail – no way through. She was told there may be some news at the 10 AM news conference at Steele Canyon. If any of my readers are attending that conference (I cannot), I would sure appreciate a report.

Linda also mentioned that she saw a lot of police cars approaching the Pius X church in Jamul; she speculates they're going there to get their morning briefing and orders, so perhaps there will be some changes when they're done.

Reader Report...

CLW writes in with this news:

Just so everyone knows, the road closure at Lyons Vly and Skyline Truck Trail by the school is still closed. They're trying to move it farther up the hill so the residents on the lower part of Lyons Vly by Jamul Highlands can get back in.

Great view from Ava Loma, has always been my lookout when ever we have a fire.

Dang it! We are so ready to go back home!

Reader Report...

Reader Rusty Beatty sent in the photo at right and this report:

I wish I had my computer all week. They were sent down the hill on Tuesday. I had friends relaying info from your blog to us on the hill by way of cell phone.

What a week. Hiding for 3 days, had 3 cops come into my house at gun point yesterday. Lived thru fire and get shot by cops, not what I expected. Your blog is the best info I received. Great service.

Here is a picture I took at the top of Ava Loma on Sunday towards Honey Springs. You can see the wind on the pool water. I have more if you are interested.

When did you have to leave? Where do you live in Jamul? I am just up from Rocky Mountain and Lyons Valley Rd , my buddy is hiding at the top of Ava Loma. He has the best views of the fire. The pool picture is his back yard overlooking lee valley.

My sons came back today at 10:00 am and we decided to meet mom for lunch. She had been out since 4:00am Tuesday The boys stayed with me till Wednesday when the fire started coming towards us and the smoke was getting bad. I have been out of my home for only 12 hours and I am getting very upset at how poorly this is being handled. I don't know how you cope. I am almost ready to hike back in. I was misinformed and should never had left, oh well it just another important thing I learned this week. I watched many fire fights on my 4 days of hiding in the hills. I have a 3 page time line from the S D County webpage that I copied only Harris fire information and added comments of what I saw.

I will send some pictures of the fire along Old Burn Way where the helicopters saved all the houses on the street.

Its ok to use my name.

Debbie and I had to evacuate late Tuesday afternoon; we're living out of our RV at a good friend's home in Chula Vista. We live in Lawson Valley, near the intersection of Lawson Valley Road and Rudnick Road.

Harris Fire Update...

This is the view from the east-looking camera on Lyons Peak this morning. Peaceful, beautiful; no sign of the hellish smoke plumes and flame of yesterday.

All four cameras show a fire-free scene.

I have no other information this morning, most especially no new reader reports (since 10 PM last night) or satellite data.

Does anyone know if Lawson Valley is opened back up yet?

Reader Report...

Sawdave reports:

Hi i went to 511.com and then used a link to 211 which led to a link to sdcdpw dot org which showed that as of 6 pm lyons valley was closed at skyline, and skyline was closed at lyons valley.

translation, cant go up the hill on skyline, ALSO cant go over on kimball grade into Lee valley on Lyons valley.

of course 4 corners will ahve checkpoint as it is next to active fire.

Sorry

Reader Question...

From an anonymous commenter:

Can anyone confirm if access to Lee Valley is possible; and if so, which way is best to enter? Thanks for any accurate info - from a Jamulian homeowner

Sunset from Lyons Peak...

A beautiful scene from Lyons Peak, if you can put the reasons for the haze out of your mind for a moment...

Reader Report...

From an anonymous commenter:

As of 10 minutes ago, about 1705, the checkpoint at Pius X = Jamul Drive/Lyons valley. has been moved.

Its up on skyline where you go left for lawson vally and right for lee valley.

No Lawson people will be let back in , according to the officer left behind to direct the deconstruction of the Pius X roadblock.

people are causing problems by using various dirt trails to by passs the roadblocks, making the LEOs very less inclined to help us.

saw amn.

Thanks for the update!

Harris Fire Update...

Here's the current view from the east-looking camera on Lyons Peak. This plume is coming from, as best I can tell, from right around the intersection of Lyons Valley Road and the Barrett Lake access road, and the hill that rises to the south of there.

Harris Fire Update...

Here's the latest pass of MODIS satellite thermal imagery. The same area we've been following all afternoon. On this pass, there's a hotspot showing on the southern flank of Lawson Peak, right where I guessed the latest flareup started (from the smoke visible on the Lyons Peak cameras).

The only real news in this imagery is the extent of the currently burning part. Or rather, the part burning a few hours ago when the satellite made the pass that collected this data – that would have been at the peak of the flareup...

Reader Report...

Tom S. reports:

I just drove down Skyline Truck to the intersection with LV by the
school. They had just opened up Skyline Truck, and the CHP said it
would be open to "the top of the grade". But he said if I left I might
not be able to get back in, as it could change at any time. He said
it had changed about 10 times today. I drove down LV road and there
was another road block at Jamul Drive. They said if I left I might
well not be able to get back in, so I decided to turn around, and pick
up my dogs and son who are at friends' houses tomorrow.

Thanks again for your great blogging. It has really helped me try to
understand where things are.

Thanks, Tom. And you're very welcome...

Reader Report...

Cris reports:

He is home-thanks!
But that smoke on the other side on Lyons Valley doesn't look too good...

Glad to hear Mike made it home ok. I'm ready to go home myself!

Reader Report...

CLW reports:

Just spoke w/the CHP at the corner of Lyons Vly and Skyline Truck Trail. He has orders of a hard closure for this area of Jamul Highlands, but his Sergent just went down the hill to see about opening it up. Some people have been escorted in. Told me to be patient they are trying to get us home. He was very polite and helpful!

Thanks!

Reader Report...

An anonyomous commentor reports:

94 just opened back up!

Yay! Now maybe Mike W. can get home!

Reader Report...

From Cris W.:

We got home today to Hillside near Simpson's, no stops at all anywhere on 94. Then my husband Mike went out to get the mail in El Cajon. He's still trying to get back home!

Hope he makes it soon, Cris. Please let us know if you hear anything about the situation up towards Lawson Valley...

Reader Question...

From CLW:

Do we know if they're going to open up Lyons Valley Rd by Skyline Truck Trail and Jamul Highlands Area?? Some of our family made it in this morning, but then they closed the road again and now several families are split up. If anyone had any info please let us know.

Thanks!!

Do any of my readers know?

Reader Report

From fellow Jamulian blogger Bob Clay:

211 tells me that "West Jamul" is open. I came home to my house on Pleasant View LN OK, which is between St Pius and the Primary School. After that my folks came home to all the way to Lawson Valley. When my wife tried to come home, she got turned around at the corner of Jamul DR and Lyons Valley RD. The road block seems to keep moving around and occasionally disappears.

Most frustrating for my wife, who had three cats and a canary with her. You could walk to our house from where she got turned around if there were no animals to carry.

Any information on what is going on currently would be appreciated. I called the Highway Patrol since they were manning the checkpoints and I basically got a bunch of useless smart ass answers.

From all I've been able to tell, the situation has been very fluid today. As best I can tell, this reflects the changing situation – especially as regards the big flareup I've been following all day. I have no sense that any authorities are being arbitrary and capricious. Chaotic, yes, but then, this is truly a chaotic situation…

Reader Reports...

From sawdave:

Hi Anon, thanks for the up to the minute update!

Breeze here by Catholic church is onshore, not quite steady at estimated 5-10 mph.

It was reported to me that Dorthy from twisted scissors salon in Jamul, who lives in Dulzura, lost her home. I think it was in the area east of Romo and before you drop down into the valley where barret is.

If any news is available on what parts of deerhorn and honey springs burned it would be appreciated.

i heard rumors from the jamul drive checkpoint on Wednesday, but dont watn to pass tehm on until source is more reliable.

Thanks again Silly!
sawdave

From Linda I:

Diane and Paul Jacob currently live in Steele Canyon Golf course estates.
Please note that the list circulating is not 100% accurate. It listed our brother-in-laws parents house in Deerhorn Valley as destroyed and actually just two outbuildings burned. (Doublechecked this afternoon)

From an anonymous commenter:

Thank you for all your updates, now that the fire is out by the star's homes in Malibu, the rest of the fires don't exist anymore. Does anyone know if the fire crossed Lyons Valley Road just east of Four Corners? My mother-in-law lives there and we have not been able to get any solid information.

Thank you, one and all...

Reader Report...

From (presumably) a fellow evacuee, staying at Steele Canyon:

I'm still at Steele Canyon. News that you may already know. I just talked to a fireman. There are currently 50 engines out there, and lots of air power. They are using the massive plane from Canada that fills up at Lake Elsinore. The firemen set a back fire today and that is what has caused most of the smoke. I asked if they were able to maintain the line they drew (Four Corners, Lyons Valley area) and the reply was that they are trying their best.

There is a list distributed here daily of address of houses destroyed or damaged. It is not complete, and covers the whole county, but it was 9 pages of small print this morning, and there will be a new list tomorrow as they assess. There is also a map posted of what areas have burned so far. The briefings are at 10 am and 8 pm. We have direct access to Diane Jacobs daily and to the head fire people as well. They take as much time as needed to answer all the questions.

Thank you so much for this report. My readers and I would appreciate further reports from these briefings, or any other sources of solid information... I believe Diane Jacobs and her husband live in Deerhorn Valley – does anyone know if her home is ok?

Harris Fire Update...

Here's the latest MODIS satellite thermal imagery; just came through in the past few minutes. The only hotspot left on the Harris Fire is the one threatening our home. The red splotches are the actively burning areas detected on the current pass. If there were orange splotches, they'd indicate spots that were burning within the past 24 hours, but not on this pass. The black spots are spots that were burning more than 24 hours ago, and the grey were burning more than 48 hours ago.

The area where I suspect the current flareup originated is just north (up) from the center of the row of four red splotches forming the northern flank of the fire in this data. Or home is just on the other side of the ridge that's north of the current fire location. You can imagine why we've been losing a lot of sleep this week, can't you?

If you'd like more information about where I obtain this data (and other information), check out the “Wildfire Information” link in the sidebar at right, just below the Day-by-Day cartoon. That will take you to a post I dedicated to exactly this topic…

Harris Flareup Update...

Looks to me like this flareup is on it's way to being history. I've now had several readers write in about the firefight against this flareup – very quick action by both ground crews and lots of aircraft. On several occasions, I've even caught aircraft in the Lyons Peak cameras.

Once again: thank you, firefighters!

After seeing the animations I referenced in a previous post, I got out my maps and tried to estimate where that northern flareup originated. I believe it was on the southern flank of Lawson Peak, almost due south of the peak, between halfway and two thirds of the way down the slope. That's way too close for comfort!

Harris Flareup Animations

These are courtesy of the HPWREN site, which is the organization that supplies the photos I've been using this week.

There are two animations pertinent to this flareup: from 9 to 12 this morning, and from 12 to now. I can see from these that there are two separate, nearly simultaneous flareups. The northern one (left) appears to have started on or possibly even north of Lyons Valley Road.

The most comforting part of these movies is the last part of the second one – the progress the firefighters are making is very evident...

Harris Flareup Update...

This is looking much better. The one ugly gray plume left is the furthest one from Lawson Valley; looks like it's near the dam on Barrett Lake, likely on the west side. The earlier fires even further out (in Hauser Canyon) are no longer in evidence.

My stomach is starting to untie itself...

Reader Report...

Linda I. reports:

94 appears closed to eastbound, probably to prevent traffic from interfering with emergency crews.

Ron Muller tells us there are 5 or 6 water trucks roaming Rudnick. We are trying to get them to issue us a windshield number so we can go set a pump at the lake (really a pond). We have one last chance to get in with the 1 water truck remaining here at our house and it might be our only ticket in. Grandpa tells us there is a steady stream of aircraft.
: (

Scary moments for us and our neighbors in Lawson Valley…

Harris Flareup Update...

If you look carefully at the base of the northern end of this flareup (to the left side of where the smoke is emerging), you can see that the flareup is greatly reduced in intensity in that area. I think it would be reasonable to attribute that to the firefighter's actions (including, possibly, air resources), as that's an area that I know is full of fuel, and I can't imagine why it would go out by itself.

Compared with a few days ago, when there were dozens and dozens of hotspots and flareups throughout the county, there should be lots of both ground and air resources to throw at this. Hopefully that's exactly what's happening…

The bottom photo shows the view to the north from Lyons Peak, with that horrible pall of smoke. A couple of hours ago, we thought the danger was over and we were going home. Now we're back to wondering whether we're going to have a home…

Reader Report...

A reader writes with this:

Hi SL, its hard to tell from the angle of the photo, but it appears tht maybe the fire is mostly burning downhill towards Lyons Valley Road, and the area from where the Drinkard trailer has been parked on the side of the road, and the turnoff to go fishing at barrett?

It would be very dangerous to put crews above any active fire that size, but especially while its growing like that.

Below there would be lots of rocks and boulders tumbling down as chaparral holding them burns, also prob some burning limbs and such.

We did see lots of apparatus scurrying around in RSD and also in our area by Pius X when we returned home about 1300.

I hope they can get a line on it and keep it in between the lake and what already burned in the horse fire.

I hope it has not jumped Lyons or skyline in the area around four corners.

hang in there, the folks over here are hoping and praying for you all and the FF and our peeps in Deerhorn/upper honey springs

Thank you for that report, and the good wishes.

I may be fooling myself, but my last couple of peeks at the east-looking camera look a little bit better to me...

Harris Flareup Update...

This flareup is growing very quickly. As best I can tell, the northernmost (leftmost) reach of it is in the near the intersection of Lyons Valley Road and the access road to Barrett Lake. The smoke is thick, dark gray, and ugly – new fuel is burning.

The winds appear to be to the north or maybe a little northeast. The pall of smoke extends to the northwest, however – directly over our home, and therefore very worrisome, as that indicates the probable direction the fire will burn.

The rightmost extent looks like it's burning in the western reaches of Hauser Canyon.

As always, more specific information would be greatly appreciated.

We need those firefighters and aircraft…

Flareup on the Harris Fire

This is very worrisome for us – it appears to be directly upwind from our home.

This is the view from the east-looking camera on Lyons Peak.

Reader Report...

Linda I., on hearing of the on-again, off-again lifting of the evacuation order, ran up the road from her house to see what was going on. She was able to confirm that there is now a roadblock on Skyline Truck Trail (toward the top of the hill east of Jamul) and that cars are being turned back.

Double dang!

Reader Reports...

Dang! Two readers have reported that the entry into Lawson Valley is closed:

Hi as of 12:05 law enforcement officers (Leos) PA-ed the line of cars waiting to get by the checkpoitn at L VLY and Skyline by the eelmentary school. PA was so loud we could here it, since the cars are backed down to the Olive Grove at Lazy M ranch. (just past 1 mile marker on L VLY )

"Due to flareup the road is again closed at skyline and lawson Valley"

I take this to mean they will not let Lawson and Lee Valley rsidents through right now.

The flare up looks pretty bad from here just uphill from the catholic church.

FYI, hope this helps, sorry for the bad news, sawdave.

And this:

The police let me past the roadblock at the start of Skyline Truck Trail going north with ID and said I would be able to come and go. But when I tried to leave to check out of the motel, they said if I left, I would not be able to come back. Also, they were turning all cars back (there was a long line) at the roadblock. They said it had been changed into a "hard closure" and that they were not even letting some emergency vehicles through. I don't know what the story is. Confusion or some change in fire status.

We can see smoke to the east of Lyons Peak, from two hotspots near Barrett Lake; this seems the likely cause.

Dang it!

Reader Report...

Mike S. reports:

Tom: The roads are open into Lawson Valley, they are checking ID for residents only at the beginning of Skyline Truck Trail. The turn off of Skyline to the south though is still closed.

I also called Linda I. and she confirmed that residents are being allowed into Lawson Valley. We're going home!

Reader Report...

From Linda I., a very welcome report for us:

Just came back from Lawson Valley. We were up there last night because of the again mandatory evacuation. Had to stay and take care of Grandpa and his place! The fire had jumped Honey Springs at 4 corners so they were concerned and did a reverse 911 and then a very stern door to door. When we saw at about 10:00 last night that they had a handle on it I came home and Robby stayed. There was no sign of the many police who had been there earlier. The road block was gone from Lawson Valley Rd. so I assumed I could get back up there this morning.
I needed to take Grandpa his medicine so I tried to run the checkpoint after unsuccessfully trying to persuade the Highway Patrol. He backed up faster than I could go forward!
But I pleaded and left my license said give me 45 minutes.
Well when I came down they have now opened it to residents all the way up. However I just talked to a friend and she said 94 by Steele Canyon is rather backed up but open.
Glad this is over for now.
I hate Santa Ana winds!
God Bless!
Linda

(from a follow-up email):

I forgot to add Tom that Proctor Valley is open.
Also here are still roadblocks at both of the ends of Lyons Valley Road, by the schools and at the top by Lawson Valley. I am really not sure if that is cleared for residents yet.
Thanks for keeping everyone posted.

Thanks, Linda. That bit about trying to run the checkpoint raised a cheer in Chula Vista…

More Reader Reports...

First this report from Loretta:

I am in the Animal Rescue Reserve and I was able to drive a little ways past the schools on Lyons Valley Rd. The houses looked fine up to Rocky Mountain Rd?? I didn't go any farther. Houses on Rocky Mt road looked fine also.

And now this one from Bob C.:

I am back in my house as of ~ 8 am this morning. My house is between the primary school and the St. Pius X Church. My folks still can't get back yet as the road is blocked on Lyons valley just beyond my street.

Bob didn't mention this, but I know he didn't run around any roadblocks or anything: the western parts of Jamul have had the evacuation orders lifted.

Thank you, Loretta and Bob. People in our area really appreciate the updates…

A Reader Reports...

Just received this by email from Sally H.:

Thanks for your posts. I am heading to SD to fetch my mom back here to Springville, CA. My brother was able to get in to Dulzura on Wednesday evening. All structures in Dulzura Proper were looking good. San Diego Gas and Electric had requested permission to park on our land by the CDF station and were starting to get electricity back up. Your posts were wonderful. I just LOVE the internet. Thanks again.

You're very welcome, Sally. And thank you for both the report and the kind words...

Poomacha Fire...

I haven't posted much about the Poomacha Fire, burning in the north part of San Diego County. Judging by the latest satellite data, it is by far the biggest remaining active fire in our county. For any of you who love the backcountry of San Diego County, as we do, this is terrible news.

The most actively burning part is north of the peak and the telescope site, and its burning into some of the most remote chaparral and high desert ecosystems in our county. Access is difficult in there, so I suspect there will be even more dependence on air resources than elsewhere. I hope the firefighters can save some of this area…

Harris Fire Update...

All the information I can get my hands on looks like good news to me. First, the top photo is the north-looking camera on Lyons Peak. There is no fresh smoke visible anywhere, and certainly not in Lawson Valley, where our home is. Given the word put out at the briefing (mentioned in my previous post), this must mean that the firefighters were successful at holding the line down around Lyons Valley Road.

Thank you, firefighters. We don't have the words…

This second photo is the camera looking west from Lyons Peak, toward the town of Jamul and the coast. There's not even a wisp of smoke visible. All the hills and mountains that have been obscured for days are now clearly visible.

On the east camera (which I have not posted), you can see some smoke hanging in the Barrett Canyon and Hauser Canyon areas. The south-looking camera shows no fresh smoke over Deerhorn Valley, but the entire view looks monochromatic – shades of grays. I hope, for the sake of the folks who live in Deerhorn Valley, that we're seeing an artifact of the camera and the light, and not reality.

Finally, here's the latest MODIS satellite thermal imagery of the Harris Fire. The first thing to note is that there are no red splotches at all: the satellite did not detect any hotspots on its last pass. The orange splotches were hotspots within the past 24 hours, but not any longer.

It all looks good.

If any of my readers have personal knowledge of conditions on the ground, or if you have attended briefings where good information was put out, please write me (the email address is at right, down toward the bottom) or leave a comment.

A Plea...

An anonymous commenter on the previous post notes that there are twice-daily briefings at Steele Canyon High School on the local situation. At a briefing yesterday, they heard that the Lawson Valley area was at risk, and that they talked about stationing engines on the north side of Lawson Valley (near Loveland reservoir) as a next line of defense.

That's not good news, but it is good information. The commenter recommended that I attend the briefings, but I am far away in Chula Vista (evacuated) and cannot. Hence my plea: if any of my readers can attend these briefings and report on them – either by email to me personally, or in a comment – I'd sure appreciate it. On a similar note, if there are any such briefings where good local information is put out (for any locality), I'd be happy to do the same.

A Beautiful Sight...

The cameras on Lyons Peak show no burning places at all, in any direction, for the first time since last Saturday night.

What a beautiful sight!

Harris Fire Update...

The news is all good this evening as our sun sets. The top photo is a capture of the north-facing camera on top of Lyons Peak. You can see smoke in the air, to be sure – but not a plume or a burn anywhere in sight. Very comforting for this inhabitant of Lawson Valley!

The air seems to be a bit clearer tonight, both here in Chula Vista and out in Lawson Valley. A few minutes ago I was out walking our dogs, and a flight of four (I think) Sea Stallion helicopters – huge, heavy-lifting military helicopters – flew by a mile or so away, clearly visible through the smoky haze. It looked like they were returning to the Coronado Naval Air Station from the direction of the Harris Fire. The sight of them was immensely cheering…

The view to the east is in the second photo down. The big flareup evident earlier in the day is completely gone. The air is much clearer in that direction than it was just a couple of hours ago. The smaller flareup right near Lyons Peak is also gone. Deerhorn Valley (the lower right quadrant of this photo) is completely free of plumes. A lovely sight, that is.

A couple of hours ago I called 211 to find out if Lawson Valley was ready for “repopulation” (the term many local officials are using to describe letting people go back home – seems like a strange and perhaps ill-advised turn of phrase). A very polite, sympathetic, and well-connected young lady sadly informed me that not only was Lawson Valley not ready for repopulation, it had just come under mandatory evacuation order this very morning, and law enforcement was having trouble getting everyone out of there. Knowing some of my neighbors, this is very easy to believe.

The third photo down is the view south from Lyons Peak. In the lower left is the other half of Deerhorn Valley, with no plumes from hot spots there, either. For the first time in several days, we can see Otay Mountain and Tecate Peak. Plenty of hanging smoke is in evidence, but so far as I can tell, none of it is from current burns.

Until last night, all the smoke from the fires has been blown by the Santa Ana winds coming out of the northeast at an average of 25 or 30 miles per hour. The smoke plume extended for hundreds of miles out to sea. Now that the winds have turned around into their normal pattern of onshore winds, all that smoke out over the ocean is blowing back toward land. Some of it is coming right back to us, some to the north and south of us. I'm sure this “blow-back” is a major part of the haze visible here.

Finally, the bottom photo is the west-looking camera, looking over Jamul toward Chula Vista. If you didn't know that was smoke and that we'd had these horrid fires, the scene is almost romantic – like something from the Smoky Mountains back east. But all that smoke used to be trees, chaparral, and homes…

After the Cedar Fire, when immediate threat to human life was over, we (San Diegans, I mean) started assessing the damage to our environment and our wildlife. That was four years ago, and we've learned much watching the flora and fauna start its recovery. Some things have surprised us positively, such as the oak trees that we thought were dead and gone – they've sprouted from deep within their branches. They're survivors. Other things are going to take much longer, especially the large conifers like the beautiful Ponderosa pines of our higher mountains. The wildlife has only just begun to return; we've seen only a few deer up in Cuyamaca, and I've read that the mountain lion population is still a tiny fraction of what it used to be. This year's fires have burned even more territory. Even worse, I suspect, is that much of the remaining unburned area has gone up – not all of it, mind you, but a good fraction of it. Or to say the same thing in a different way: San Diego County's backcountry will look much different in the next decade or two than it has since I moved here in 1974. I'll miss it, especially the large conifer forests. I got to having these sad thoughts today as I looked at the map of the fire burning on Palomar Mountain, where the best stands of Ponderosa I know were. If the satellite imagery is accurate, most of those pines are now charcoal…

Harris Fire Update...

The California Fire Alliance web site (the same place where I get MODIS thermal imagery) just posted a “fire perimeter” – to the best of my knowledge, this is the fire command's best estimate of the current perimeter of the burned area. In this image, it is the light blue cross-hatched area.

This map corresponds very well to both the MODIS data and observations from the cameras on Lyons Peak – but (assuming it's accurate) it fills in some details not obtainable from either of those sources. A word of caution as you look at this image: just because your home lies within the blue hatched area does NOT mean it was lost! The firefighters had (and still have) structure protection teams fighting at the fire's flanks and at hotspots throughout the entire fire. We have seen on the news many stories of their successes – and we know that the number of homes lost in the Harris Fire is a tiny fraction of the total number of homes within that area…

Harris Fire Update...

The top photo shows the view east from Lyons Peak as of a couple of minutes ago. You can see that the plume near Barrett Lake is greatly reduced; I'm not sure whether that's the result of firefighter's action or it just burned out. The smaller, closer plume near the lookout tower is also smaller and much lighter in color, hopefully on its way out.

The bottom photo shows the view west from Lyons Peak, toward the town of Jamul. The smoke plume we saw earlier just south (left) of Jamul Butte is completely gone. I watched news reports of the firefighters working hard there, with lots of helicopter support; I'd bet that their efforts are why that hotspot is dead…

San Diego Fires Update...

This is the latest MODIS satellite thermal imagery; I just captured this data a couple of minutes ago. I still have the light red cross-hatching for the older fires showing (these are fires dating back to 2000). The top capture is a closeup of the Harris Fire. The town of Jamul is on the left edge, about 1/3 of the way down the picture. Barrett Lake is the big lake on the right. Loveland reservoir is at the top, just to the left of center. Our home is south of the right edge of Loveland, about halfway down the unburned part.

The current hotspots (the red hatched areas) are exactly where I'd guessed from the earlier smoke plumes. You can see four red splotches just west (left) of Lake Barrett, right in that canyon I posted about earlier. The other hotspot is just south of the town of Jamul, and a little bit east, just north of state 94. This satellite data was actually captured several hours ago (it takes them a few hours to get it posted on the web), so the cameras are giving us more current information – and what they show is great progress. I'll post a capture of them in a few minutes.

The lower image is a “wide angle” view of all of San Diego County, along with the southern parts of Orange County. Palomar Mountain looks like the worst hotspot left in the county, though we know from news reports that there are still big hotspots near Julian, and also on Camp Pendleton (the fire visible near the coast). You can also see a fire burning up in Orange County; I know nothing about that one.

We've turned the corner on the fires overall in the county. Most of the news now is not new evacuation orders (as it has been), but rather announcements that people can now return to their homes. The evacuation centers are starting to empty out. There's optimism in the air, and neighbors helping neighbors…

Hotspot Update...

I posted earlier on the new flareup out toward Barrett Lake, and you can still see the smoke plume from that. New is the dark gray plume that appears to be coming from on Lyons Peak itself, just down the eastern slope from the camera. I'd be worried about the camera surviving except that I know that all four cameras have already survived a burn-over two nights ago.

Some Perspective...

I just saw Duncan Hunter (our Representative and one of the 87 announced candidates for President in 2008) on KUSI TV. He said something that resonated with me. I can't quote his words precisely. The context was a comparison between the emergency response to our wildfires and the response to the Katrina hurricane. He pointed out that the people of San Diego had demonstrated their good character in their response to these fires – almost no looting, so many volunteers and donated items that the relief agencies are begging people to stop contributing, and the complete absence of the “victim mentality” so much on display in New Orleans. He's right, and I'm glad he took the time to made the point…

The map at right is much like the other that I've posted this week, except that I have added the light red cross-hatched areas that show the perimeters of ALL the fires we've had since 2000. Between those past fires and this current fire, it looks to me like well over 50% of the land in the county has burned in the past 8 years. Our home is in that odd-shaped corridor that has not burned at all in that time, trending roughly east from La Mesa. We've been very lucky…

Another Flareup...

I just captured this view from Lyons Peak, looking east. That big, ugly, gray column of smoke is new in the past half hour. It appears to be coming from the small canyon that runs WNW from Barrett Lake towards Lyons Valley Road. This is the canyon that has an unpaved access road to the lake running through it, with a big steel gate along Lyons Valley Road.

Right now the the winds are very light, trending to the northeast if anything at all, so this doesn't look like an immediate threat to Lawson Valley...but I can't help but worry when there's a flareup that close…

Skyline Truck Trail Report...

One of our readers (thank you, Linda I.!) sent me the report below just a few minutes ago. She and her husband live near 94, between the Lyons Valley Road and Steele Canyon Road intersections. If you're a local, you most likely know who she is (but I'm not using her name here without permission). Suffice it to say that she's a reliable source. Here's her report:

We just returned from a trip up Skyline Truck Trail. Didn't go into Lawson Valley but will go back later. An update on Lyons Peak; appears the whole lower East side is still smoldering but I actually did not see flames this morning. That is the smoke you see from the cameras except the smoke is staying lower then the peak. At least one helicopter is working that area. Saw probably 8 fire trucks going into the area with strike teams... probably for structure protection in case in gets to the bottom by Lyons Valley Road. Saw many many cars patrolling the neighborhoods keeping them safe. There were three patrol cars turning into Lawson Valley as we went by. Just talked to --- and --- (the house --- Rudnick) and the air quality is bad, but it is bad here too. I think it is probably bad every where because of the calm winds. I understand they have tightened security at Steele Canyon and 94 adding a second block at Rancho Miguel. They are supposed to review the road closures at noon.

Trouble Near Jamul?

Update (10:23 AM):

Another photo capture at right. Unfortunately the smoke plume seems to be growing. It appears to be emerging from an area just south of Jamul Butte, just south of the gated community that is east of 94, a mile or so south of the town of Jamul. I can't tell where it is along an east-west line, but it seems to be fairly close to the butte itself…

Update (10:12 AM):

A reader just left a comment (thank you!) saying that everything was fine near the Catholic church in the town of Jamul; he lives nearby. He can't see far enough away to know exactly where the burn is…

Original Post (9:58 AM):

I've been watching the Lyons Peak cameras very carefully this morning, and I just spotted some new smoke – dark gray smoke risking from the area just to the left of Jamul Butte in the photo at right (click to enlarge). I can't tell exactly where that is (too much smoke in the air), but in general it appears to be south of the town of Jamul, somewhere along the line between Lyons Peak and the Jamul Indian Reservation. Much of that area is open space, so this doesn't necessarily mean that any homes are threatened. Also, we heard on the news that in the area just south of there was the location of a large backfire placed last night as part of the firefighting operation; this could be remnants of that operation and so might actually even be good news. If I learn any more, I will of course post about it. If anyone still in the area knows more, please let me know…

Lawson Valley Update...

The image at right is a capture of a small piece of the view from the north-looking camera on Lyons Peak. The ridge you see below and extending to the right of Viejas Mountain is the unnamed ridge that forms the north side of Lawson Valley. Below that ridge is Lawson Valley itself. Our home is out of sight, on the north slope of the ridge even lower down that forms the south side of Lawson Valley. In that space are hundreds of homes of our friends and neighbors – and they've all made it unscathed at this point.

Harris Fire Update...

Until about ten minutes ago, I thought today was Friday – but it's actually only Thursday! That's a measure of how Debbie and I have been disoriented by this whole experience. We both were able to sleep well last night, which helps considerably...

The news on the Harris Fire this morning is 100% good news. It's just delightful to be able to say that.

First, the satellite map (showing the entire county and all the fires). The Harris Fire is the southern fire, and there's not a single hotpot remaining in it. The gray, black, and orange splotches show the extent of the burned areas – a huge area. As I write this, I'm listening to the morning news conference, with County Supervisor Ron Roberts speaking. He introduced the session with some statistics, calling this the largest fire or disaster ever to strike in California, and in some ways the largest ever in the U.S. The burned areas are about 350,000 acres in extent. Their best estimate is that 1,470 homes have been burned, and “thousands” of other buildings (note: in the Cedar Fire four years ago, these early government estimates proved to be low, so I won't be surprised if the numbers go up). They are estimating 560,000 people have been evacuated.

The photo at right is the north view from Lyons Peak, captured around dawn this morning, toward Lawson Valley and our home. It looks great; the only smoke visible is from very near the peak. We called our home phone this morning; the answering machine still picks up. It is amazing how comforting to hear that stupid greeting message… The satellite imagery above confirms what we've heard from every other source: the fire never crossed significantly north of Lyons Valley Road, and not at all north of Skyline Truck Trail.

The view east is at right. There is still a lot of smoke in the area, but it is far better looking than it was yesterday. In the distance, you can see smoke plumes coming from the Barrett Dam area, and even further east. These are all too far from us to be a threat.

I'm still listening to the news conference, and official after official is blathering on about how well the official emergency response went, and also about how well the community itself has responded. With some amazement, one official said that the evacuation centers are requesting residents to stop bringing in non-monetary donations – they have more than they need. Certainly from our perspective the official response is far better than it was four years ago in the Cedar Fire. The one sour note – actually a very bitter note – is that the news is reporting that many perfectly functional, manned, and well-equipped firefighting aircraft were kept on the ground for two or three days because of bureaucratic infighting between CalFire (the coordinating agency) and the agencies controlling the aircraft. If that is true (and I suspect it is), it is just awful…

The view south is at right. We can see the peaks south of us for the first time since Monday. Deerhorn Valley, in the foreground, is smoky – but I don't see any remaining burning areas. I'm sure there are embers and small fires out there, but the dozens of major hotspots that we saw yesterday are all gone.

The firefighters are now speaking at the news conference. A consistent note from them is that the end of the Santa Ana winds has greatly helped their efforts. The fire chief for San Diego City just announced that 10,700 acres burned within the city limits – that's hard to wrap my brains around. The Harris Fire (the one that threatens our home) destroyed 170 homes, and it still burning in the Lyons Valley area, which they see now as the major threat from the Harris Fire. That is the front that threatens our home, so we're not quite out of the woods yet (though things look very good now).

Finally, here's the view from Lyons Peak to the west, toward the coast. It looks a bit like a normal foggy morning, but all that white stuff is smoke, not fog. I'm writing this from the livingroom of my friend's home in Chula Vista, out in that smoke you see just the left and above San Miguel peak.

We are hopeful that we will be allowed to return to our home today, or tomorrow at the latest. We're feeling very fortunate compared to so many of our neighbors – all those that we love, all the stuff we care about, is still fine. The worst we've suffered is some anxiety, discomfort, and inconvenience; we're fortunate to be able to stay with friends instead of an evacuation center. We're looking forward to going home; our hearts are with those who don't know whether their homes have survived, or who already know their home has burned…