Official Luthiers Forum!

I live less than 5 minutes from Taylor. So, basically if you hear thats gone, my place is probably gone as well.  Have had numerous friends already evacuated and have been letting a family stay with us, until they get a chance to see if everything is still there.  Definitely a bad situation thats still ongoing.  I will say that I haven't been as close to the licking flames as I was during the last fires a few years ago, where the big lakeside one nearly started across the street from my place and we watched to see if it would jump the street until they evacuated us.  Wasn't allowed back into the area for days and the maps on the news said my area burned, but I was extremely fortunate to find everything was still there! Jason

Yeah, it definitely has gotten worse and no relief in sight.  The Harris fire has surprised me in how it has burned.  No threat just yet, but definitely more possible than I had ever expected.  I can't remember the count as of now, but it is the biggest evacuation in the US since Katrina.  I think over half a million evacuated.

You still alright SteveS? Palomar looks to be completey engulfed and blazing terribly as of now, hope all is well where you are, keep us posted. Jason

Cool, glad to hear your still good. I wasn't certain and within a couple hours after your post, it basically looked as though the entire Palomar Mountain burnt down, it was horrible. I know what you mean about those Oaks, I heard there also many dead ones that are the ultimate fuel for the fires.  Just crazy stuff all around.  I heard just now that the winds have shifted, which is what they were hoping for, however, this shift has caused some serious problems for certain fires and wasn't the break they were hoping for.

Anyhow, thanks for checking in and glad to hear everything is alright and glad you have a good escape route if need be.  As I have told many people in the past, I love San Diego and this is even more so now.  I was watching the news and they were interviewing people at the stadium and the people were as happy and comfortable as could be and one lady spoke about how she was worried to go their after the problems at the superdome during Katrina, which was a seriously horrible affair. So, it was just a moment that made me feel good about where I live.  The only bad thing is now I cannot make fun of people for living in Florida and having their houses blown down every year when a hurricane comes through.  Best wishes all. Jason

My friend and I were talking, by the way my friend is a degree psychologist and we both feel that probably 95% of these fires are arson based.  We could be wrong, but I honestly don't think so.  I believe they wait until they hear this red flag warning of low humidty, high winds, warm temps and they go out and set these fires.  Its not worth going into detail on why they have this fetish, but we both feel strongly that most of these are done by them.  Brush doesn't magically light on fire and to have so many different fires spring up in totally unrelated spots is almost proof enough that these are all arson.  Usually down the line the police somehow get word on who it was, by word of mouth.  I remember in the last fire it was like 6 months or more and they got a name. Those 03 fires I believe were found to all be arson. 

I cannot tell you the digust I have for these people that do this, it is just horrid to do that.  But for them this is the ultimate, a couple matches and they get to watch those fires for days on end.  If they could even imagine the damage they are inflicting... uggh frustrating.  I heard a few stories of people just getting the finals done on the houses they rebuilt from the 03 fires.  It took so long because of insurance delays and issues, and guess what those houses burnt down!! Can you imagine!  Like I said though, I feel glad to be in San Diego because for the most part its just great people that will help you out when you are in need. Anyhow, time for me to try and get some sleep finally, its 7am. Talk to you all later, hopefully this morning will bring some good news. Jason

[QUOTE=WaddyT] [QUOTE=SteveS] [QUOTE=WaddyT] Did you guys hear that they picked up a motorcycle rider setting fire to a hill?  I heard it on the news this morning.  The fire helicopter spotted him and called in the police. Amazingly, they got there in time to catch him.  How do people like that exist?
[/QUOTE]
I'm glad they caught him.
Would it sound too harsh if I think they should be able to execute him right there on the spot? Declare marshal law and ........
Sorry, right now my tolerance for that is absolutely zero. I don't think you have to live here to understand that.
We caught the guy that set one of last year's fires that killed several firefighters. The guy set many fires before that one. You can be sure that was not the first one from the guy they caught last night.
[/QUOTE]

Maybe they could just tie him to a chair in one of those houses that is just ready to go.  Give him a very close and personal look at his work.
[/QUOTE]

Either way would be fine, shot on sight is quick and easy and would be quicker at preventing more arsons, however, setting them amongst their own work sounds more deserving.  I'm an extremely compassionate person and honestly neither of these sound half bad.  With that sick and twisted of a mind, what could they contribute to society when they arne't burning it down.  Say they did contribute, could that ever balance what destruction they've caused, no way.  In other words, I see no use in letting them remain here to further kill and ruin people and their lives. 

Anyhow, glad to hear that they got that fire under control near you Steve and put it out.  That's how scary it is, even in areas that seem safe, if someone lights a fire close enough, you're toast.  I live in a large canyon that is just all brush and dry trees, if even a spark landed in there, I'd be homeless.  There are numerous ways for the fire to make it to where I am, but luckily all the ones that were heading this way either changed directions or stopped, but there has been numerous flare ups of the Harris fire, plus I think our conditions will be dangerous until about Sunday they said, so anytime between now and then more fires could be started very easily.

One of my classmates in my online school has lost their home and actually among the family they have 3 or 4 houses and 2 have been burnt down and they look to soon be evacuated from the home they are all at now. It's a terrible shame.  The inland air quality is also looking to get much, much worse here over the next few days.  As of tonight the coast had read the worst with inland being dangerous for sensitive people.  The coastal air will push inland with the incoming heavier onshore flow and make the air worse, at least that's what they feel.

As for more fireproof housing Steve, I think they definitely could make better housing, but especially for those rebuilding from that last fires, I highly doubt the insurance agencies would pay for such things.  If you notice most areas where houses burn will be all ash with a perfectly intact chimney, I'd imagine brick or other rock material would be the best, though I'm sure they must have some synthetic materail that could be fireproof.  Anyhow, I bet they could, I just don't know how resonable it would be for everyone.  If I had to rebuild it would be something I would look deeply into.  The homes so far that survived are the ones that did what was suggested, which was clear out all brush around you home giving your home a natural barrier and a place for firefighters to make a stand.  Streets usually work alright, but when the winds are blowing those flames can easily jump a 6 lane freeway, crazy stuff. 

I recall a clip I saw during the last fires of this flame that was blazing across this field, I know for certain not even the fastest person alive could have outrun this fire, it was insane, even driving you might not have made it, it was boosting at such a quick speed.  This is when I understood the danger and how you should leave as soon as they tell you, because those flames can come up on your in a hurry. 

Well, talk with you guys later. Its nice to have some people to chat with about this who can relate. Best wishes. Jason