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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 11:35 am
The picture on the top of the page here is what it looked like here yesterday. That pic was taken just as you come over the mountains and see the valley spread out, so about 10-15 minutes away from the Acton fire. Even people who don't have allergies or breathing probs were complaining about itchy eyes, sore throats and noses. Our schools made the kids stay inside and Caleb's cancelled their basketball and cross country practices. Keeping the windows and doors closed really didn't help much, I walked around the house all day yesterday sniffing cuz it smelled like we'd just lit a fire. I can't really tell how bad the smoke is today cuz we're overcast, but I can smell it. We're like this quite a ways away from the fire, I'm so sorry for those of you right in the thick of it, cuz I know you guys have to be just miserable. Pamy, don't feel bad! For six weeks after Caleb was born Darren worked graveyard shift, I slept on the couch every night he wasn't there, one of my swords laying on the floor next to me!
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 1:32 pm
LOL War! and damn I dont have a sword.
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 2:08 pm
Uh oh, someone send Pamy a sword. A few drops of rain a while ago but not enough to do any good. I am hopeful that more drops will fall to help get rid of the smoke and particles.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 2:19 pm
The humidity is said to be much higher and that is a good thing. Winds are down. Here at the coast it has been quite overcast so far today. Zmom, are the students (some of them..) wearing those face masks? I gather they aren't much use against the very small particles. I took a friend to a doctor appt Wed. and went into the little pharmacy in the medical building and they had just received a new shipment but don't think they were the TB grade masks. They seemed to be better than the paint masks. Anyway I did pick up a box and shared a couple with my friend, who has to walk her dog several times a day, but really they were just to keep on hand. I gather a wet towel or bandana is really better for keeping out the tiny particles. And no I wouldn't think smoking would be good, especially since it would draw in that bad air more strongly.
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Tanzanite
Member
06-28-2005
| Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 8:05 pm
Wow, what a truth to consider, those small particles in the air of what could be most anything are so dangerous. It could be a year later before you experience the results of such inhalation. I have first hand knowledge of a relative undergoing recurrent bouts of pneumonia after being outside when a neighbors house burned to the ground. Who knows what chemical compositions build in such smoke. I don't know, but whatever she inhaled of this mix affected her a full year later and the hospital was unable to clear her lungs and keep them clear of the crud. In prayer thru all this, I was led to tell her to take 1,000 mg. of vitamin C daily along with plenty of fresh water. Finally, after a year of having had return 2 week long hospital stays every other month, the problem began to go awaywith the addition of the vitamin C. Said all that just to remind everyone in the midst of the turmoil to be sure to supplement your diets with the best vegestables, herbs, vitamins, water that you can. Build up your immune systems as best you can. This is a high time of stress and even if it's just a little irrational fear it is working against your typical immune function. Really, go inside yourself and find that knowingness that says "I'm okay". You're going to be just fine. I hope that I am building you up because you need to rely on your inner strength to get thru the madness of this midnight scenario. I am keeping all of you in Ca. lifted up in prayer. Typically, I would be able to say that I had seen this episode in a vision, but following my bout with illness I think I got a time of reprive on seeing the catatrosphic before it would happen. I recently heard another lady who prophesied this event 7 months ago say that it is not over, yet. She also said that it will occur in other areas , other states. I am hoping that we might be spared any furtherance, but we must get thru this occurrence and stay well in the process. Wet towels are better than masks? Get out the wet towels. Everybody, the strength is within, hang on, do all that you can do and leave the rest to the supreme being. This too shall pass.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 9:02 pm
Yes, most of the masks we would get (and they are sold out in most places) don't really seal and unless you find the TB grade masks they don't filter out the tiny particles. We've been told you won't feel effects for 24 hours after inhalation. I know there was grit in the air Sunday morning after my walk.. that was when the winds first picked up. But the fires in Orange County didn't start until early that evening and I was so fortunate that I had plenty of leftover pizza.. so I didn't even open a window or door except to grab the paper and the mail. I did go out Wednesday to take a friend to the doctor and it was still smokey. Funny to have to run the A/C in the car when it wasn't that warm, but seemed the best thing to do. So many people had no choice, really And great advice, Tanz.. I take a gram of C morning and evening, have for years, and other anti-oxidants. Especially good idea right now. ======== As for this thread... I plan to be "waiting" to see Bee return and to hear a final on others who are affected.
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Chiliwilli
Member
09-04-2006
| Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 10:49 pm
According to my fire department, that styrofoam insulation they use on a lot of houses is deadly poison when it burns. They told me that when my hot water tank caught on fire and there was a piece of that styrofoam near it when they came over. Of course, they couldn't tell you that before you put it on your house.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 8:15 am
While the fires are getting more and more under control, today seems to be the day that it's finally hit me. The smoke that had seemed to blow out is back over and I can smell it. And have so far spent the entire morning either in tears or trying to fight tears. I guess this would be a delayed reaction? PTSD? I don't know, and I don't know where I can go to escape this (normally, I'd go to Orange County or LA but I can't because of the fires up there). The loss of homes and loss of life makes this less devastating than the Cedar/Paradise fires four years ago. But these have been harder fires to fight and it has lasted longer (five days!). There's just no words today.
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Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 8:33 am
{{{{{{Costacat}}}}}} I'm so sorry you're having such a rough day.
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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 8:57 am
Costa~ I'm also sorry that you are suffering. I hope that things get better very soon~
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Treasure
Member
06-26-2002
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 10:15 am
Costa, I don't remember how involved, if any, you were with the Cedar/Paradise fires. Most likely, the fact that this time the fires came so very close to your family just makes it all the more difficult to handle right now. The fact you were personally involved in helping your dad protect his property drove the situation so much deeper into you. The delayed reaction probably is due to the fact that you were working so hard in the beginning, you didn't have time to consider it all. Not until you were able to stay at home, were you have so much time to relive what is going on. I wouldn't count out PTSD, either. This has been very traumatic for you personally. With all that said, I can only hope that you can find a way to distract your mind in an effort to keep it from being all consuming. I am sure that will be extremely hard right now. But maybe it would help a little. This will end, the fires will be put out, and in time you might even look back on it and remember how strong you were in helping your dad. That is something to be very proud of. Meantime, you know that you can always come here to release what ever needs to be vented. We will listen.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 12:41 pm
Chilli, I read the book, or a couple of them, about a firebug who would go into large stores and set up a device with a cigarette, so he could get out and then when the cig burned down it flamed up and he'd often go for styrofoam objects.. and he was guilty of several murders. === {{{Costa}}} it kinda makes sense that it would hit you now. All that adrenaline from the fire days, especially being out at your dad's place practicing with the fire hoses! And also I think to have your dad potentially in harm's way AGAIN. Here in Fountain Valley, the sky is blue with some actual fluffy clouds. I'm sort of amazed. We seem to have a very mild Santa Ana breeze which I assume has moved the cloud back offshore? And just judging from the view out my front door, can't see any horizons, but not seeing much smoke from the hills, either. Treasure, I think Costa's dad was actually more threatened by the previous fires.. or at least WAS in jeopardy. That was why he was one of the first I thought of in my short list of those close to the fires as the fires popped up. Costa, hope you can get some extra cat hugs and purrs from Costa and Kassie today. 
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Treasure
Member
06-26-2002
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 12:54 pm
Oh, wow! Thanks for the info, Sea. Extra, extra comforting thoughts sent your way, Costa.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 3:42 pm
I just heard from probably the only people I knew in the canyon who are still in the canyon (Modjeska).. I had found an online site they had and emailed them and they are ok!!! They lived two "doors" down from me... or I guess I lived two doors down from them, since they are still there.
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Chewpito
Member
01-04-2004
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 4:37 pm
My lil brother lives in Lake Forest and that is very close to the Santiago fires...close to Bee I think.. He took this from his back yard, this was two days ago but really explains alot.. very scary..
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 5:30 pm
Close enough, Chy! And I bet he got a ton of ash and smoke, too..
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 7:58 pm
OMIGOSH, Chewi, those fires are monstrous! Continued prayers this ends soon. (((Costa)))
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 8:12 pm
Chewi, hope he is safe and the fires have calmed down and arent close to him anymore ((Costa))
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Monday, October 29, 2007 - 8:04 am
Treasure, my father's property was completely burned from the Cedar fires four years ago. Had he not stayed to fight the fire, he would've lost everything. Instead, he lost only a small corner of the deck surrounding their home and several outbuildings and vehicles down at the bottom of their hill. That's why this week was so scary. We were afraid the two fires would meet on top of them, and it'd be deja vu all over again. This time, although we could see flames, they never did hit his property. So yes, Sea is right. The Cedar fire affected us more, but having gone thru that once, you really don't want to do it again. Today, I'm feeling almost normal. I just went and worked out, there's no smoke that I can smell. And I'm just crossing my fingers that the forecast Santa Ana this coming weekend doesn't make an appearance!
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Treasure
Member
06-26-2002
| Monday, October 29, 2007 - 10:58 am
Costa, So glad to read that you are feeling some better. And yes, after Sea posted about how the Cedar fire was SO hazardous for your dad, my thought was that this fire was like living through the first one all over again. BAD BAD!! It looks like containment on the fires is growing very nicely. I am hoping, right along with you, that the winds to NOT fire them up again. Keeping positive thoughts.
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Beekindpleez
Member
07-18-2006
| Monday, October 29, 2007 - 12:11 pm
I am home!!!!! So happy. Going to read a bit...then come back and tell our tale. But wanted to check in and let everyone know we are safe...and we are home.
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Monday, October 29, 2007 - 12:13 pm
Thank Heavens Bee!!! 
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Debra
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, October 29, 2007 - 12:18 pm
HURRAY, Woo Hoo!! So happy to hear from you Beek!!!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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Imbewitched
Member
03-08-2002
| Monday, October 29, 2007 - 12:24 pm
Oh my goodness! I am so happy for you and your family Bee!! Welcome home!!
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Beekindpleez
Member
07-18-2006
| Monday, October 29, 2007 - 12:29 pm
It's been quite a week...six days, actually. We were so close. All around is burned. Many of you probably saw my neighbor's house on the news as he was a focal point for quite some time. Two story (though it looks to be three) house with big porch all around. The fire came within feet of several homes here, but all homes were saved! We were let back in an hour ago, but the fire is still going and the air defense in going back and forth over our house. We have power and water, though! We sent two neighbor families with small children to our house in Long Beach, as we had moved the pets to a motel that first day and did NOT think we would be gone this long. Once they had settled in, we saw no point in upsetting them again. They slept most of the week. lol Our neighbors needed a place to go more than we did, plus we wanted to stay close. DH would get up every morning and make a scouting run. He would spend a few hours working at Cook's (a local restaurant and staging area) and get whatever info he could. This morning when he went, he saw no firefighters and lots of police and knew they would be opening it soon. He called me and told me to get the critters ready and we drove in. I think we were the first in. It's like a ghost town. Black EVERYWHERE! But there was a big sign at the check-in place where you had to show ID and it said "Welcome Home" It was amazing! The house and land has ash all over it, but no damage of any real substance. Just a lot of dirt and dust. What a crazy week it's been. I left without taking those numbers. It was scary leaving, but I could feel your prayers and good thoughts. I swear I could. I thank you all for you love and support. You will never know what it means to me.
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