A Year Ago, We Experienced Hell

[PhoenixCadet]

In light of the recent fires in Los Angeles, I figured this would be a good time to post this.

Almost a year ago to this day (October 21st, 2007) one of the worst wildfires in California history (the Witch Creek Fire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_wildfires_of_October_2007)).

Over 23 fires burned across California during a period of almost a month. Out of those 23 fires, my neighborhood was hit the hardest. Of the 1,500 homes lost in California from that storm, 1,100 of them alone were in my general area.

Over 30 friends of mine were left homeless, and 360 students from my school district lost their homes, along with 20 staff (and one former teacher of mine).

Being that this is almost a year to the day of when they started, a memorial was set up at the community park across the freeway from my house. (Info on the various colored bows can be seen here (http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/9/l_f5aa543ca3df4163b8d575bfdc27d1d7.jpg).)

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/43/l_e2b419605c8e4022ae0c1df49f0607dd.jpg

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/7/l_b12bd80aeeff4b0fae4b3599db9876cb.jpg

http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/18/l_62cf5e527a5049e09554245b0c91a600.jpg

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/10/l_22b0ca528b1342ed83020e7ef987ad6e.jpg
(If you notice the hill in the background of this picture, there is a condo complex on the hill, just to the left of where the picture cuts it off. This is what it looked like that morning. Link (http://www.tacomaworld.com/p/pb/i9/albums/a94/flyboy8/DKfirex002.jpg))

For those who don't know what kind of damage a firestorm can do - I made these two videos to show just that. The first is pictures and video during the storm, and the second is after.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxigmmnxiro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI7V0wxJHFc

We've had a few small brush fires in the area (6 acres at the most), including the few small ones at Camp Pendleton (about 4000 to 5000 acres big), but nothing to worry about. We'll see how that goes with the rest of the month ahead of us.

-PC

[TruBlu]

I've never actually seen a firestorm before, like in person. I've seen videos, but not like raw footage not from a newscast. That must have been insane seeing a fire of that magnitude burning so close to you!

How has the area recovered? Have homes been rebuilt where they were burned down and stuff like that?

[Armed Drill Addict]

I understand what you have gone through, I live across the lake from New Orleans and I have done so for about 7 years. I went through Hurricane Katrina. It really is astounding to watch how nature can overcome anything we have worked for.

Two elements that are so diversely different, fire and water, can both have such insurmountable power and effect on our lives.

[PhoenixCadet]

How has the area recovered? Have homes been rebuilt where they were burned down and stuff like that?

All the lots in my area that suffered have been cleared out, and most have either rebuilt already, or have started to - but in driving around any of the areas around me, there are still a large amount that are still dirt lots.

[TruBlu]

All the lots in my area that suffered have been cleared out, and most have either rebuilt already, or have started to - but in driving around any of the areas around me, there are still a large amount that are still dirt lots.

It'll probably be like that for a good while won't it? I wasn't around when hurricane Hugo hit Charleston, but the damage was so great that many lots/buildings/bridges were damaged for years (my mom told me a great deal about all of it). Hopefully your area will recover much faster and within the next year or so be back to what it was, if that's ever possible.

[flyBoy2010]

I'm sure that the recent fires haven't helped much in the reconstruction. Those Santa Anna winds are just brutal.

[PhoenixCadet]

It'll probably be like that for a good while won't it? I wasn't around when hurricane Hugo hit Charleston, but the damage was so great that many lots/buildings/bridges were damaged for years (my mom told me a great deal about all of it). Hopefully your area will recover much faster and within the next year or so be back to what it was, if that's ever possible.

Aside from the crap with insurance companies basically conning people out of their money - another big reason why a lot of the houses in my area haven't been rebuilt is due to the large population of elderly folks here. Many who lost their homes simply decided to walk away.

-PC

[PhoenixCadet]

I'm sure that the recent fires haven't helped much in the reconstruction.

It didn't do anything for us down here, actually. The most recent fires were up in Los Angeles; I'm below Camp Pendleton in San Diego. We have had a few small brush fires, 10-15 acres, at the most. Definitely nothing to worry about.

[TruBlu]

Aside from the crap with insurance companies basically conning people out of their money - another big reason why a lot of the houses in my area haven't been rebuilt is due to the large population of elderly folks here. Many who lost their homes simply decided to walk away.

-PC

Damn insurance companies, only out to make a buck. And I see people just walking away from it, in fact, I probably would have been one of them if there wasn't much of a reason to stick around (not saying there wouldn't be a reason lol). A fresh start is needed for some in situations like these, you really can't blame them for it though.

[Drill for life]

I find that very awe-inspiring. I love to see memorials, I know it cause it grat suffering but the way a community pulls together to remeber such a horrible experience.

[PhoenixCadet]

I love to see memorials, I know it cause it grat suffering but the way a community pulls together to remeber such a horrible experience.

San Diego's quite good at that, aparrently. Aside from simply meorials - back during the fires, I recall sitting in a hotel room near downtown listening to a report on the news about the relief and aid volunteers at Jack Murphy Staduim (ok, ok, Qualcomm Staduim... where the Chargers play), and they said they were actually turning down volunteers because they had too many and not enough work.

If I recall correctly, a number somewhere around 10,000 comes to mind.

-PC

[flyBoy2010]

That field of flags reminds me of something a local cemetery does every Memorial Day.

Whenever a veteran is buried, his family is given the flag that was draped over his coffin. Most flags go into the attic or some kind of storage. This cemetery gives families the option of leaving the flag for the cemetery to take care of. Every Memorial Day the cemetery takes all of the flags, they have over 2,000 now with almost 200 added every year, and raises them all around the cemetery. On Friday, the flags of all the veterans who had died in past years are put up by the local JROTCs. On Saturday morning a special ceremony is held honoring those veterans who have passed away during the past year. Each cadet is given a flag to carry to a numbered flag pole and assist that veteran's family members in raising the flag.

When all the flags are up, the sight can easily bring tears to your eyes.

[flyBoy2010]

Here are two pictures of the "Avenue of Flags."

http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/board/picture.php?albumid=30&pictureid=175

http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/board/picture.php?albumid=30&pictureid=176

[MP_Girl]

Yes, I know I'm late in replying to this, don't shoot me.

I remember these fires very vividly, mostly because PC told me he had been evacuated due to them. I was at the time a volunteer firefighter with the Weare, NH FD and we were talking about how much we would have loved to be there to witness these fires, how ever what I realized after was that many people lost their homes, their lives, and even their families and friends. I realized that I had been selfishly thinking about only myself, and at least I had a roof over my head and how fortunate I was to still have all the things I had when these people lost everything.

My prayers are with all of the people in CA, and especially you PC. Be safe this year...

[PhoenixCadet]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/teaserimages/081023la-fire.jpg

More fires now in the Los Angeles area, due to more Santa Ana winds, heat, and low humidity. Record low today was 4%, it's up only 1 percent at the moment.