July 17, 2015
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FIRE!
For those of you watching television this evening, there is a terrible fire burning north of San Bernardino. It began around 2:30 this afternoon, and by 4:30 it had burned 2,000 acres (by 8 pm, 3,500 acres), jumped a freeway, destroyed 20 vehicles, and damaged many more -- 50-75 cars were abandoned as people ran for their lives. The freeway is the main road from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and on Friday afternoons in the summer it is a very busy road as people begin their vacations or spend the weekends in Las Vegas or at the river (the Colorado River or Lake Mead). I've seen fires in the area previously, but this one moved so fast in heavy winds that they couldn't stop traffic in time to protect it from the flames. There are still evacuation orders, and the fire is nowhere near under control. Four structures have been destroyed. I can't remember ever seeing a fire this serious -- fortunately there were no injuries thus far -- but this is a harbinger of things to come later in the summer.
Comments (11)
Yikes! Already the fires start - I'll pray for rain!! Glad to know you are safe and sound!
It seems to be still at 3,500 acres, but still burning. It will burn overnight, but it seems to have moved away from the freeway -- they just opened the NB lanes! I think I saw that it's about 35% contained -- that may mean only that the freeway now is acting as a firebreak! The fire season has only just begun, and this is one of the worst I can remember ever seeing. Not only was it destructive, but it also disrupted lots of Las Vegas weekends and lots of vacations there and at the River (the Colorado River). And there are lots of people who commute that way to LA, who were on their way home to the high desert. What a mess! I'm quite safe this time, but I'll not take safety for granted these days!
Oh, wow. That is frightening. We've had six grandchildren here this week, so I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the news.
This was one of two bad fires that erupted last night. Today is a wintry rainy day (though a little warmer than winter), with thunder and lightning, and a slow, steady rain, so I hope they are getting some good soaking to put out the active fires! The beaches are closed today because lifeguards have spotted lightning!
I saw that on TV. Wow===that was incredible.
I've never seen anything quite like it -- apparently the fire moved on to a nearby village and burned 44 more cars and 4 or5 homes!
Wow, I am glad you are safe. It's many years since we have had serious fires here. Hopefully they will get this one under control and you will not have any worries.
Praying for your safety.
I'm quite safe at this point -- probably 30 miles (as the crow flies from the fires -- though it promises to be a wild summer and fall. And today we have a gray, wintry rainy day -- some thunder and lightning, but a slow, soaking rain that should help the firefighters put out any active fires! I feel sorry for the hundreds of people who were on their way home for a quiet weekend, for those who were on their way to Las Vegas for a wild weekend, and for those embarking on a longer vacation trip! What a way to start out!
This seems to be San Bernardino's worst fire since the one in 1980, which was deliberately set. That one infuriated me.
The storm today surely helped the fire control effort. It was most gratifying to have to drive as slowly as 50 MPH, in the heaviest of the downpours, driving from Escondido to Chula Vista, where my son lives.
Certainly in terms of damage done, this is one of the worst fires I can remember in the greater LA area! Today's storm did help -- this evening the North Fire was 45% contained, and I imagine the other active fires were somewhat subdued as well. Tomorrow is expected to be somewhat similar -- hopefully that will also help the firefighters! I'm glad traffic slowed down on your way to Chula Vista!
Cannot even imagine the terror! a horrible fire!
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