I was just searching for info on the fires and found an article saying residents of Ramona were forced to leave their homes. Linda are you out there
and is everything okay??
I know we have several chatters in California, hope everyone is safe and sound right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Oh no. I hadn't heard this. Does anybody have Linda's number? I'll be worried about her all day. Let me know if anybody hears anything from her. Send it to my work email teresataylor@mail.lced.net
I didn't realize that Ramona was in the Malibu area. Linda, let us hear from you!
My nephew's wedding was at the chapel at Pepperdine University several years ago. I was glad to hear that the university was spared, but sad to hear
that the fire destroyed that big church. That area is so beautiful. I hope that they are able to get the fire under control ASAP.
I just heard about the evacution orders for Ramona..
Linda I know you have other things to think about right now.
But if you can let someone know if you and your family are alright. If anyone hears from her please let us know here at the chat.
Linda our prayers are with you!
I think Ramona, CA is between LA and San Diego, inland a little bit in the mountains. I hope Linda is OK. I hope she is OK and pops in here to give us an update.
I am in Northern CA and just heard about the Ramona evacuation. Ramona is east of San Diego, Malibu is north of Los Angeles. Different fires, but both
aggravated by those nasty Santa Ana winds.
Best of luck and safe wishes to Linda!
Jen
Hi I live in North San Diego County and Ramona is a little south and and about 35 miles east of us. I'm glad they had them evacuate even if the fire
hasn't reached them. There is a huge black wall of smoke all to the south and east of us.
It was soooo hot yesterday and the Santa Ana winds whipped up and almost 0 humidity. It's just a matter of where the fire is going to start with
those conditions.
You and your family are in my prayers Linda.
Update 8 am - Our news is reporting the fire in Rancho Bernardo which is about 25 miles south east of us that is getting in more residential suuburban
areas and west of Ramona. I don't know if that fire started somewhere else, but this is a big one. They have closed down most schools in our area
including the Community College my sons attend a mile from our house.
yes, thoughts and prayers that everyone is safe and sound.
houses can be rebuilt, people are not replacable.
I can't seem to find my cell phone number for Linda, but I was able to find this on the California Wildfire website....doesn't give us much
information, but at least its something. They are calling it the WITCH fire.....out west we name our fires, but geographic locations. I wasn't able
to find out when the fire started or in which direction it was moving, but will keep trying now. I honestly wasn't worried about Linda, because the
fires they were mentioning on the TV were about 150 miles north of her. This isn't its right on top of her.
NEW Witch (San Diego County): 10,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is one mile east of Ramona. The community of Ramona under evacuation.
Hwy 78 is closed from Ramona to Santa Ysabel, Wildcat Canyon is closed, and Hwy 67 is closed from Poway Rd to Ramona.
Hi Bonnie,
Witch is short for Witch creek or valley or somthing like that. Linda has for sure been evacuated because the news said they evacuated all of Ramona,
about 36,000 people. It's clear by us in Oceanside, but 15 minutes south it solid smoke. We are the northern most part of San Diego right below Camp
Pendleton.
Kerri,
Yes, they have evaculated the whole community as well they have an evacuation issued for Julian as well. This, is where Eleanor Burns lives....
Was able to find out that the fire started Sunday afternoon and the wind is blowing really bad. The zephyers off the water have no mositure so its
fanning the flames and not helping the firefighter at all. The State has asked for an addtional 1,000 people for this fire,....as of one hour ago the
wildfires were only about 1% contained and over 10,000 acres....Witch Creek fire has now blended into one other fire and they are execting it to go
clean to the coast before they can either get around it or over take it. All this is according to a new article published by CNN.
Hi you guys. I am safe. There are 8 fires burning out of control in southern California. The Witch Creek fire started about 8 miles from my house.
My MIL passed away Monday and we had to go up to the bay area to make arrangements. I left my DH up there because I had made a commitment to a friend
to have a longarmers booth in the Ramona quilt show. The show went well. I was behind on a deadline for a quilt so was working Sunday when I saw the
smoke. It was big, brown and looked closeby. Emergency services have improved since the Cedar fire 4 years ago Oct 22. I got 2 recorded "Prepare
to evacuate" phone calls starting about 2:30 PM. There were also police from other San Diego communities driving thru the Country Estates where I
live with a bullhorn announcing voluntary evacuations.
I did not want to repeat the same mistakes I made 4 years ago. "La-de-dah, we'll be back in time for dinner." We were not allowed to return to
our homes for 2 and a half days. The phones were out for over a week so we couldn't even call and get our answering machine so we would know if the
house had burned down or not. We have 2 neighbors who lost there houses and the folks across the street lost their back fences. The Cedar fire came
very close. So this time I packed clothes, meds and extra tanks. (I use oxygen during Santa Ana winds). Santa Anas are all a bit different but when
they blow from east to west, like this one, they do not die down at night. The firefighters do not get a break. The smoke was so bad that air
tankers could not fly to drop fire retardant or water so the fire burned unchecked.
I could see my neighbors packing up with their cars pointing toward the street, ready to leave when notified. I had already packed my customer quilts
in the car but I was determined to finish that quilt before I left in case I was away for 2 or 3 days. I know, dumb, huh. But a commitment is a
commitment. I finished it, folded it up, grabbed the dog and left. The roads were pretty clear. 25 minutes later they started mandatory
evacuations. I watched it on TV from a hotel room in Poway, 20 miles away. But then early this morning my son called and woke me with the news that
they were evacuating Poway, too. I changed hotels to Mission Valley in San Diego. I can see the smoke but I don't think I will have to put towels
over the door to keep the smoke out like I did in Poway last night.
DH is stuck in the bay area and feeling so helpless. He will be driving down but so many roads are closed. Please pray for his safe return and for
all those folks who lost their lives. The TV shows houses burning down from Malibu to Mexico, my heart goes out to those people. The fires continue
to rage out of control. We are nowhere near the end of this disaster. Lord, hear our prayers.
Thank you for your prayers and you encouragement. You guys are the best.
Linda,
Glad to hear that you are out of harms way and that you had enough warning to pack up what you needed. I too have been watching the news as the fires
just seem to do what they please.
I will be keeping you, your DH and everyone else that is affected by these fires in my prayers.
Oh Linda, I am so glad to hear that you are safe. I am sorry to hear about your MIL passing. With all the smoke in the air please be careful with your breathing. You and your husband are in our thoughts and prayers Please let us know if we can do anything from afar.
Oh my!!! Consider yourself prayed for!!!! Linda
Linda - thinking of your and yours this week. Take care and I'll be watching the news with you all in mind. Renee
It puts a whole new look on things when you actually know someone going through the fire. In Indiana we hear about the fires but it seems so unreal because it is so far away. You have put a face on it for me. I am so sorry for you. It is pouring rain right now here. How I wish I could send it to you!
Linda, thank you so much for taking time to log in here and post your news. I have been thinking about you (and others in that area) all day today.
Praying for the wind to switch directions so it burns itself out and dies down completely, a big storm cloud full of rain and many prayers to be
answered. Keep in touch. Your DH will be with you soon so you can comfort eachother and muddle through this together. Until then, know you have many
friends hanging in there with you, honey.
(((many hugs)))
Hi Linda,
I'm so happy that you checked in. I've been concerned and thinking about you and Terry since this started yesterday. Take care. Let me know if
you need anything.
Joann
prayers, of course!
RitaRose
Linda,
I'm so glad you are safe. I heard Ramona on the news this morning and said Ruh-Rhow. God's speed to you and all affected.
Donna
Linda,
You were in my thoughts all day. I will pray for all of the fires. My relatives are evacuated in Carlsbad. Many are ready to go. I talked to my aunt
in San Marcos and she said the smoke is terrible. The schools are closed and many can't go to work. My aunt said it's worse than you can really see
on the news. Let's all pray that this will be over soon with no more loss of life. Cheryll
All best thoughts are with you and everyone in Southern California. Thanks for letting us know you are safe. Take care and we we will keep you in our
prayers.
A former resident of Ramona.
Being safe is the most important thing. I was watching the news this morning and can only imagine how bad it really is! They interviewed many
families that had lost everything but their attitudes were so positive and it made me thankful for what my family and I have! There were very few
tears, most said they were happy to have gotten out with their families, everything else can be replaced. I would hope that if I were faced with that
situation I would be able to remember that! It must be gut wrenching to see everything go up in flames.
You, your family and all the other families are in my prayers.
Heidi
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as well as Southern California. Thank you so much for checking in. Judi
Linda, stay safe and know you are being prayed for and thought about by all of us here. Thank you for letting us know you are in a safe place.
Linda, prayers are lifted for you and others in this situation.
God be with you.
Sharon.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and hubby Linda.
Jean
Mille
Hi Linda,
I just noticed this thread of messages in regards to your location in So. Calif.
I do hope your home, and your neighborhood comes out safe in this terrible fire. I will keep you in my thoughts and evening prayers.
I just sent a customer in California a reminder email for a quilt payment...was ready to send the quilts but hadn't got a payment yet so sent a
reminder email.
She said she is in the middle of all of this mess...I feel like such a @#$%!
She is in Costa Mesa! Guess I'll go watch the news...
Yikes!!!
Linda I have you in my prayers and your home will be saved too. Material things can be replaced but you can't be so take care of yourself and your
family. At times like this we need each other.......if there is anything I can do from here PLEASE let me know. I will do whatever I can.
((((HUGS)))) Big hugs!! Hope these fires end soon, Renae
My best wishes for you and your family! Take care of yourselves. I know your community will stand together and be there for each other.
Linda, I will add my prayers and hugs with everybody elses. Such a scarey time. Please take care.
Prayers to all of you in this horrific mess. I cannot think of a thing to add to what has already been said. It is so surreal...
Take care and stay safe.
Anita
Linda, just joining my voice and my prayers to everyone else. Please stay safe. you can always come up to beautiful Oregon. I have an extra bedroom and you and your hubby are more than welcome.
| Quote: |
Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. I am in my second hotel. Got evac'd again yesterday from the first hotel. Bad smoke. 300,000
people evacuated so far.
The whole county is on fire. The Witch fire has spread to the Pacific Ocean. Smoke everywhere. So many people displaced and hundreds of homes lost.
I saw on TV that they are finally able to launch aircraft for water drops but not near Ramona, the winds are still bad. Now there is a power problem
and the pump station in Ramona is out and there is very little water pressure. I spoke with a friend who stayed behind and she said that the smoke is
off in the distance and the roads are still restricted to emergency vehicles.
The winds are predicted to die down tomorrow and we may even get an onshore flow (cool wind from ocean toward inland). I look at this as a mixed
blessing. The temperature will lower which will help the firefighters but if there are still active fires, that west-to-east wind could blow the
fires back inland.
DH just left Union City (the SF bay area) on his way back. Please keep him and all those thousands of folks impacted by these fires in your prayers.
just heard over a half million had been evacuated...
Stay safe!!!
I am so praying for your safety and your home.
All of the area. Just terrible.
Keep us posted if you can.
Gee at times like this you so wish there was something you could do.
God Speed to you,
Hugs,
Grammie
As I was watching the story on the TV news last night I was thinking of those of you from this group that might be affected. So glad you're ok
Linda, will be thinking of you and all those from your community and others affected by the fires. I hope some favourable weather pops up so the
fires can be controlled.
Judy
Western Australia.
Linda,
I'm glad we heard from you today. You remain in my prayers.
Take care.
Linda - You are in our prayers as well. We were out of town & just got back and read this thread. Take care of yourself. Did your DH make it back down to your hotel? I hope so. Stay safe. As many others have said, if there is anything that I could do to help, please let us know.
So glad to hear you are ok, Linda! I was thinking about you and Cheryl Uribe when I heard about the fires, I've been trying to track them but I know zip about where anything is in California! All I can compare it to is the evacuations during Rita and Katrina in my area. Praying for your husbands safe arrival and protection for your property as well as everyone else effected by all this. I know we have others from this site that we haven't heard form, I hope they check in with us when things settle down.
Thinking of all of my fellow quilters affected by the fires - even though we've never met ( and this is my very first post on this site )- the love
of quilting binds like minds and hearts together. We, too, in Australia have seen many serious bushfires and so my thoughts and prayers are with you
all.
Shelley Pinnell
Heritage Country Quilting
Western Australia
My heart and prayers go out to all in Southern Ca. Linda I am glad to hear you and your husband are safe. I have so many friends there and I am so
worried about you all.
Myrna
Glad to know you are safe. Those Santa Ana winds are brutal. I lived in San Diego for a short time but had the pleasure, if you can call it, of
experiencing a Santa Ana Wind. Not fun.
I think I will call my step-MIL, make sure everything is okay with her. She is in Santee, CA (east of San Diego). I know the fire is not near her,
but to hear her voice would be nice.
Cheryl
Got up early, early, early to see if there was any good news about the fires this morning. Nothing new that I see yet.
Just yesterday I went to the post office to pick up a couple of quilts from a friend in CA who decided to send them instead of making the drive up
right now. They didn't smell like smoke! but I think she's too far North to be affected by the fires. Gosh, I'm concerned for all of you living in
the path of the smoke and fires right now. Having lived through two house fires growing up, I can understand the absolute devastation a fire can cause
to a family.
We're thinking about you. We're praying for your safe return home. ~~ Eva H.
Linda,
Hope today goes well in California.
We have been on a mini vacation to Iowa to visit family, but I was able to watch and comment some on this message board. Tried to keep up on the news,
sometimes it's just so hard to watch. I wish there was something we could do from here. I know there is power in prayer, so will keep it up.
Still praying for everyone involved.
Mary Beth
Linda I'm glad to hear you are okay but still have hope your house will be standing when this is all over..BUT everyone please continue to pray for Mary Jo Rembold as she lives in Vally Center which was under mandatory evacuation and in a pretty bad way as of the last reports that I had heard yesterday.. and she hasn't been on this log so I'm really worried for her also..
I think it's Merry Beth Rembold not Mary Jo..but we know who I mean!!
Thanks for the personal report from the area. It's hard to get a feel of what is happening on the news and I do wonder about how it is really going.
Hope things get better soon.
Ferret
Thanks Hester. I knew we have more people in that area, and I know they are too busy to think about logging into this chat right now. So thoughts and prayers are going out to all.
Hi everyone,
My DH just called from the outskirts of town so I will see him soon. I also spoke with a quilting buddy who stayed behind and my house is still
standing. God is good.
They have had planes flying all day doing water drops. We are hoping to be able to get into Ramona tomorrow or Friday. The price for living in the
country is we have limited road/highways to get there.
Many people in other neighborhoods have been allowed to return to their homes. But many are still out, so many have lost their homes. Please keep
these folks in your prayers. We need to put these fires out soon.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Praise the Lord.....Thank you God for sparing the house....I know its just a material thing, but its still a thing of love and family.
Linda so glad you are with DH now....that will make it seem a bit better also.
Hoping and praying that everyone and their families stay safe. Make sure you all keep in touch with families if you can who live out of the area as they worry also--been there with my Mom and hurricanes, didn't get much quilting done during that time. Hope the rains come soon as that would help. jeri
So glad to hear your home was saved so far. My prayers are with you and all of California. Stay safe. Judi
adding my energy to the wave of goodwill and hopes for those in the midst of the mess in SO CA
I'm such a hermit I just found out YESTERDAY that it's on fire. take care and best luck to you Linda I'm glad you are okay.
Oregon is nice and wet wish I could blow the rain clouds your way
-dale
You never know how you can help others. It is such a small world.
For those of you who have a blog, you'll know that other folks can post a comment on your blog. I have mostly quilts on my blog and I am always
careful to use only first names. I got an email from that "anonymous" had made a comment.
| Quote: |
wow, it is a small world. Good job Linda, in the midst of crisis, I'm sitting here wondering how in the world I can help you and there you are helping others. You go girl!! So glad you are doing okay.
Linda,
That is so great that they were able to get through and find their loved ones! I'm sure it helps you to help others. Stay safe. The news is
looking more positive. Sure hope the fires get put out soon. My dh's brother is Mission Viejo and I understand the fires are only 2 miles from him.
Hopefully they will be safe too. So far no evacution for them.
Stay save and we'll keep praying!
Heidi
Linda I was worried and thinking about you the other night too - I do not
personally know anyone else in CA, but it is so sad to see all of the
destruction that these fires can do.....
Linda:
What great news about your home! I know it is terribly nerve racking right now. All of those in Calif. are in our prayers.
I'm glad that you and DH are both safe and also your home. It is so neat that you could connect with and help others during this time that can be so frustrating and fearfull for some. You and all of those people who lost their imes will continue to be in our prayers.
Still no word from Merry Jo and that's her correct name, as Valley Center was under evacuation..so hope we hear from her soon with some good
news..Thanks Linda for always having your computer at hand and letting us know what's going on down there..it does make us all feel a little better
about the situation.
I am so sad, my husband just called to say his friend lost their home.
It was a beautiful home, I guess living in the rainy Northwest has it advantages at times.
The picture is of the house before it collapsed.
I posted earlier on this thread about a customer I was bugging about a payment from before I realized she was in the midst of the fires...here is her
response when I apologized and hoped she was ok...I'm kind of teary-eyed...just can't imagine.
Hi Joanne
No I was one of the lucky ones and did not have to
evacuate, however the Irvine fire is all around us and
the air quality is very bad. Have to keep all windows
and doors closed. Everything is covered in black ash.
The wind has stopped so I am going to try and get to
the bank today. Most of the freeways around me are
closed, but I think I can get there. I am so sorry
you have had to wait so long. Who knew things would
get this bad here. Many of my friends have had to
leave their homes and now it looks as if my mother
will but she would not be able to get to my house.
Gods Good so I know everything will work out. My
brother lives out by my mother so I thought he would
be there to help her but he is in NY this week at a
jewelry show. She lives very close to Fall brook. I
am in the middle of the Irvine Fire. There are so
many fires going on you can't keep track of them. The
Irvine fire was set in 3 different places. I hope
they get the people who set that one.
Better go and see what I can get done today.
talk Later
Teri
Oh Linda, I am so sad about your friend's home! This is such a huge tragedy!
Joanne, Thanks for sharing this letter from Teri. I am glad she is OK and hanging in there. I am sure that they will catch the fools who started these
fires. The thing with fools is they can't keep their mouth shut; they have to brag and talk about it (ego thing) so sure, they will catch the fire
starters.
I continue to wish and hope and pray for all the people going through this.
We are thinking that the Witch fire may have started because some electirc wires blown down by the Santa Ana winds. The news said that there had been
a report that 2 guys were trying to loot in Ramona.
The Sheriff went on TV and told folks that looting is not a good idea. Law enforcement is pretty short on patience right now. The District Attorney
announced that looters would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Looting is like adding insult to injury.
In another back country community there were reports of suspected looters. One man had stayed behind to watch out for his house and his neighbors
home. He "convinced" the suspected looters to move on. He told the reporter that "out here we take care of our own". Sounds like frontier
justice.
One of the ladies I quilt for, Brenda, has some property filled with big oak trees at the edge of Ramona. A few years ago, Brenda and her father set
up a planned community called Oak Tree Ranch for manufactured homes. She contractd the grading, electrical and water setup for the lots. These
manufactured homes are not like the older mobile homes. They have stacked windows, fireplaces and garages. They were in Stage 3 of the park building
11 houses this past year. I just saw on TV that the park, Oak Tree Ranch, was hit pretty hard. I called Brenda to see if I could do anything. I
listened to her recorded message and just wanted to cry. Phase I homes 1 -54 total loss; Phase II homes 65, 74 and 79 total loss; Phase III no damage;
office and caretakers house (Brenda's) total loss. This is so tragic.
This is just one of so many stories playing out on the news.
Hester - I saw Merry Jo at the Ramona quilt show on Saturday. It seems like a hundred years ago that we all went to Nichole Webb's class in Vista.
I know that they are getting ready to start building a house in Julian up the mountain. But for now, they still live in Valley Center. She is
probably holed up in a hotel somewhere, like me.
...but my prayers are with you all!
Keep safe.......! I canīt find any other words....
Claudia Pfeil
Linda,
Are you able to get back home yet?
Day 5
Many citizens have been allowed back into their homes but Ramona remains evacuated. I am so frustrated. They supposedly put out all the fires up
there; we were the first community evacuated on Sunday. I want to go home.
Hundreds of residents are parked along the highway waiting to get into Ramona. One hot-head on TV just vowed to never evacuate again, he knows people
stayed behind. Ramona was the last to re-populate after the Cedar Fire in 2003. It was almost 3 days evacuation in 2003. I think that this hot-head
may be onto something. I believe that I will remember this the next time they send out a mandatory evacuation.
The President is here right now along with Arnold and some senators and reps. Maybe these VIPS are wanting a tour of where the Witch Creek fire
started so the polie are keeping folks out. Who knows? I just want to go home.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Hi Linda,
so glad to hear you are out of harm's way...I have been very concerned for my brother and his family in Lake Forest and my mother in Laguna Woods,
but from what they are telling me those fires are under control and not spreading to them.....It has been hard to watch all this on the news and not
be there to make sure my mom is ok......I am also glad to hear you had time to remove the customers quilts..i am sure that is a big
responsibility....i hope you had time to remove some important personal items too......I hope your home continues to be safe and you and your hubby
can get together...my sympathy on your motherinlaw....(new member) Denise in Wisconsin
PS. my brother has a huge RV (in storage) that was only a mile away from the flames yesterday...not sure how that fared....and he mentioned it was
full of gas and propane ready for their next trip...can you imagine if that blows??? Scary!!
Linda, so glad that you have checked in and are safe. Stay safe. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Linda and all who are going through this terriable time. My prayers are with you and all those brave souls out there fighting this thing.
I'm home. No damage here, thank God. We don't have any water, though. We brought in gallons for washing and a couple cases for drinking.
Some of the folks with wells have put up signs for "free water" so we can at least flush. This town really pulls together. I think my shower at the
hotel this morning will be my last for a few days. It's like we are camping. 
It is so good to be home. Thnk you again for your prayers.
Welcome Home!
I am so glad you are safe and sound, and back home. Things should be back to normal before you know it....oh boy, the last shower for a few days,
ick!
I'll take a no shower situation, just to be back home in my own bed with my own pillows anyday.
Linda its so good to hear that you are home finally....how close did the actual fire get to the house....I know its ugly, but can you take some
pictures of the devastation around your neighborhood....I guess the fire fighter in me won't die, and I would feel better sharing this with you, as
may be some of the other also would. Does that make sense .
Linda I'm glad you are home and have a bed to sleep in. Sounds like bird baths are in order 
. I hope you get water back soon. Nice to see the community help out.
Heidi
Good news, Linda! Welcome home...tough times ahead getting back to "normal" again, but everyone in your community will pull together to make it the
Ramona it has always been. Amazing things happen when amazing people come together. Some day you will look back on this tragedy and know that some
really good (humanity) things came from it. So thankful for you. Shana
Oh Linda
So glad that you are home, that you have a home to return to, and that you are such a gracious person to be able to help people in Minn. I've been
thinking and praying for the whole state it seems, the firefighters, the victims who are still evac'd.
Much love, Beth
Linda, So happy you made it back ok and that there's no damages, even if you have to camp for a few days!
It is so good to hear that you are back in your home and it is still intact. I hope that it won't be too long before you can have water so that you can take that shower. I'm glad you are safe.
Linda,
I'm so glad you're okay. I was thinking about you when I heard Ramona was being evacuated. I hope all stays well and you didn't lose your house.
Then we got the call...
I'm in Valley Center (No. San Diego County). I just spent 3 days in a shelter with my 10 yr. old daughter, 2 dogs, cat, and tortoise. I got my
horses out to an area that had already burned about 4 hours before I got the mandatory evacuation notice (4 a.m.) via reverse 911. Once there is a
mandatory evac. in place, people with trailers that could take your animals out are not allowed in, so I was lucky to have gotten them out when I did.
Never thought I'd be living in a shelter, thankful for a Red Cross meal, but they were great.
We lived in a 2-man tent in back of the local highschool which was the evac. center for 3 days. We had to be there because I had a huge flat bed
trailer on my truck with all the dog crates, etc. , and couldn't fit into the regular parking lot. We were at the Ag. Department where people were
walking, riding, and trailering large animals and livestock in. My horses were out of town, but I was able to help with the others left there. Some
just had phone numbers written on their halters or spray painted on their sides.
My MIL is in an electric wheelchair, so Grandma & Grandpa stayed up in the gymnasium. The Red Cross gave them cots, pillows and blankets and kept
everyone fed. They set up a TV so we could keep up with the fire, although they never said much about our area. We got briefings from the fire dept.
when they could come.
Basically, we were surrounded by fire and there was no way out of the area. The fire dept. told us they would save the school with us in it and let
the rest burn if they had to. They finally opened up one road out, but advised against leaving. Also, if you left, you couldn't come back. There
was one way out, but no way back in.
We were allowed back to our homes late yesterday afternoon. Tonight my neighbor just called me to tell me she can see flames and the wind is coming
our way. I knew better than to unpack when I came home, so I'm just waiting for another evac. call. I can be outta here in about 10 minutes. I
really hate picking through the house deciding what to take. I, like Linda, have all my quilts and my customer quilts packed. We called 911 and they
said there's no evac. yet, but the fire is less than 5 miles away right now. I think they wait until it's 3 miles away. Hopefully they'll stop
it.
My husband is a Deputy in Julian. He was at work when the fires started. Of course he has to remain there and is cut off from here. Julian was
evacuated as well. Don't have any idea when he'll be able to get back here, so I'll just wing it on my own.
We thought we were ok, but we aren't out of the woods just yet. I've been watching helicopters with water buckets and bombers flying over my house
to the fire. In the 2004 Cedar fire came less than a mile from the house and then turned. The winds are unpredictable, but I think the Santa Ana's
have died down and the on-shore are starting so hopefully this latest fire can be handled before it gets here. Just another night being afraid to go
to sleep. For right now, at least I still have a house. I'm not complaining.
I'll keep you posted. Linda, keep us posted when you can. Bye for now.
Merry Jo,
Glad to hear from you too, and glad to hear all is as well as it is so far. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We are still staying keeping an
eye on the news, hopefully you all will be back to normal and can relax before long.
I am very glad that you are safe at home again. i will continue to keep you and yours in my prayers.
Merry Jo, thanks for posting the news on your situation. I have been thinking about you, too. I hope you don't have to evacuate again and that soon this nightmare will be over. (((hugs)))