San Diego fires

[JSQ]

To make this thread some what LR relevant...

I chose the disco as my evacuation vehicle.
I always wondered whether I would take the 110 or the disco in an emergency, but when it was time to pack there was no doubt in my mind. Nevermind the weather conditions that make a hardtop preferable, but the capability of the disco far exceeds the 110. I always thought the reliability of the diesel would give it an edge, but if there was a potential fuel shortage I want something I can siphon out of any car on the road. Gasoline. It's like having a weapon chambered in 5.56. I now believe it's the way to go. I'd hate to have to leave the 110, but the disco is the armageddon truck for sure.

I have a better HAM radio in the disco and that also made it a no brainer. I'm hardly using the local news at all any more. The repeater fire net is a much more efficient way to get information and it is mobile and constant. We keep it tuned in in the house and have it on in the truck. We have HTs for person to person comm. Radios are the way to go. If the fire got big and cell towers started burning the reduced coverage coupled with the extreme workload would kill cell service quickly.

The whole process of getting ready to leave has been an educational exercise.

Here's the disco all ready to go and loaded up.
It was very easy and fast to pack because I simply loaded up for an extended tough trip. That means I can do it on autopilot. Everything has it's place and I know just what I'm bringing. Who knows what's next? I want to be prepared for anything. If I try to leave and the freeways are closed by fire or I get stranded somewhere I want to be able to live off what I have. I doubt it would ever come to that, but what's the harm in being prepared? Having that luxury allows your decision making to follow a calm process.
The only additions to a normal trip load were some basic personal gear. And a few firearms that wouldn't come on a trip to the Rubicon. Otherwise it was pretty standard.
I already had fuel, water and food at the house. All the offroad gear was already either in the truck or close at hand.

On top of that I allowed myself once UK case and one duffle of personal gear. It's interesting to see what you bring. I have a ton of shit, but I didn't pack that much. Most of the stuff I have is normal material items that can be replaced. I grabbed photos, diplomas, some things from Oman and some special irreplaceable stuff (An issue of Harper's Illustrated Weekly that's old enough to feature reports on the Civil War battles and a cartoon of Abraham Lincoln as a crow). There was a bit of room left so I ended up packing full formal wear. No joke. Brooks Brothers tuxedo, Cole Haan velvet tuxedo slippers and a Brooks Brothers Chesterfield topcoat. I had room and I had time so I figured I'd save it. I managed to grab almost all my bird hunting gear and three sporting shotguns. That stuff means so much to me I couldn't leave it. Pretty funny what you choose to save.

I'm not a survivalist by any means, but I have talked over subject of disaster preparedness a few times with like minded friends. We were right about somethings and way off on others. I already know I need to be more disciplined and this wasn't even real crisis for me personally so far.

Quite the eye opener.

 

[Jay Allen]

Peter- Your Santa Ana bound party should be fine. All major roads are open. Just parts of the 241 and Santiago Cyn Rd are closed. If the fire gets into O'neill Park things could get ugly, but he wind had laid down for now.

 

[LR3 Owner]

My sister is supposed to fly her sales team to a resort about 20 minutes south of LA (iirc) tomorrow for a reward weekend....I would doubt that they are going now!

Where like Long Beach. There are no fires in long beach.

 

[LR3 Owner]

The Santiago fire is in Irvine you fucking moron.

I'm not panicking in the least. I'm just actually prepared to some extent. At what point do you go out and get supplies? When you're homeless?

What ever jack ass... if its not Irvine its Long Beach... Its not like all of california is going to burn... and if it does there is always arizona... Your a panicker... Over prepared jack ass... Most people have enough food in their pantry to survive at least a week...


To stay when your told to go is just plain dumb... great risk your life to save some stuff... be properly insured and take your photos with you... Its that simple...


People like you cause an unnesassary panick over everyone...

 

[az_max]

If you come east to phoenix, I can offer you a couch, inflatable bed and no fire. I hear Guv Janet opened up the armories in yuma and they're planning some evac shelters in metro phoenix. Probably the fair grounds/coluseum at 19th and mcdowell.

My Ex says she's got 6 people piled in her house in Huntington Beach, the air is very hazy from the fires to her east. No signs of fire coming closer yet. They can always run to Compton. Nothing will burn there anymore

and here's a good map I found:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-firemap,0,6179739.htmlpage

 

[az_max]

What ever jack ass... if its not Irvine its Long Beach... Its not like all of california is going to burn... and if it does there is always arizona... Your a panicker... Over prepared jack ass... Most people have enough food in their pantry to survive at least a week...


To stay when your told to go is just plain dumb... great risk your life to save some stuff... be properly insured and take your photos with you... Its that simple...


People like you cause an unnesassary panick over everyone...

I don't think Jack is overreacting or panicking. Just like an approaching storm, you stock up on essentials and pack your shit for quick evac. The people panicking will be the people who have no plan, no food and 20 minutes to decide what to take.

My parents had to prepair to evac from N Az a few years ago for a wildfire (chedisky/rodeo). I told em to put the important papers and three days worth of clothes in the van, pack food/water last as the orders came down to evac. There's only two ways out of their development, so I said "when they say go, you go". Luckily the fire turned south from their location and they didn't lose everything.

Good Luck to all the leftcoasters. atriot:

 

[mjv]

What ever jack ass... if its not Irvine its Long Beach... Its not like all of california is going to burn... and if it does there is always arizona... Your a panicker... Over prepared jack ass... Most people have enough food in their pantry to survive at least a week...


To stay when your told to go is just plain dumb... great risk your life to save some stuff... be properly insured and take your photos with you... Its that simple...


People like you cause an unnesassary panick over everyone...

this is why i hate sharing. you can never be too prepared, get ready and get out. it is amazing the stuff you forget to pack that you really need. and again....i am not sharing with people who did not prepare for themselves or relyed on what burnt in their pantry.

 

[TNROVERS]

I'm headed that way with the Feds in the morning....

 

[Rover Puppy]

I'm headed that way with the Feds in the morning....

Godspeed and Stay Safe.

What ever jack ass... if its not Irvine its Long Beach... Its not like all of california is going to burn... and if it does there is always arizona... Your a panicker... Over prepared jack ass... Most people have enough food in their pantry to survive at least a week...


To stay when your told to go is just plain dumb... great risk your life to save some stuff... be properly insured and take your photos with you... Its that simple...


People like you cause an unnesassary panick over everyone...

It is people like Jack that stop panic.

In fact, prepared citizens do not panic.

 

[antichrist]

To make this thread some what LR relevant...

I chose the disco as my evacuation vehicle.
I always wondered whether I would take the 110 or the disco in an emergency, but when it was time to pack there was no doubt in my mind. Nevermind the weather conditions that make a hardtop preferable, but the capability of the disco far exceeds the 110. I always thought the reliability of the diesel would give it an edge, but if there was a potential fuel shortage I want something I can siphon out of any car on the road. Gasoline. It's like having a weapon chambered in 5.56. I now believe it's the way to go. I'd hate to have to leave the 110, but the disco is the armageddon truck for sure.

I can see your point, considering how your vehicles are currently set up. You defintely would want a hard top when people go crazy, and also especially in a fire risk area.
From the fuel perspective, yeah, I suppose petrol has somewhat of an edge, but personally I wouldn't want to have to count on siphoning fuel if there's a shortage. For me, I'd rather carry enough diesel fuel on board to get me well out of the danger zone, say, 1000 miles hwy range. That's 3 built in tanks plus however many jerry cans stowed inside under cover (I wouldn't want people seeing I have extra fuel, that could lead to confrontation with folks who decide I should give them some). Also there are so many diesels on the road now, plus fuel in the tanks of service stations (petrol would be the first emptied) plus fuel in tanks where people heat with oil, that finding fuel wouldn't be that difficult.
But given how your 110 is set up compared to your Disco, I'd have made the same choice.

 

[gil stevens]

What ever jack ass... if its not Irvine its Long Beach... Its not like all of california is going to burn... and if it does there is always arizona... Your a panicker... Over prepared jack ass... Most people have enough food in their pantry to survive at least a week...


To stay when your told to go is just plain dumb... great risk your life to save some stuff... be properly insured and take your photos with you... Its that simple...


People like you cause an unnesassary panick over everyone...

theres no such thing as being over prepared you mule dick.. food in their pantry? this is FIRE.. the pantry disappears. a panicker is someone who runs around in circles pulling their hair out when a firestorm is at their doorstep.. not somebody whos loaded for bear and ready to roll at a moments notice. its *YOUR* ignorance that creates societal meltdown. theres always Arizona?? typical lr3 owner doucebag comment..

 

[F18Guy]

Jack,

Thanks for sharing your perspective and photos.

 

[Nargun]

If I lived in a area where there was a real threat I would be hard pressed to leave my home. Most homes could be saved with a little preparation unless caught in a true fire storm. Many times a home owner can duck inside the house as the flames pass then go outside as soon as is safe and put out the eaves and whatever else is starting to take off with a simple garden hose if they had the foresight to pull the hose in so it doesnt get burned up.

This is especially true right now when the resources are stretched extremely thin and firefighters are forced to let homes burn.

I live in South Eastern Australia, which, with Southern California and the South of France, is one of the three most fire prone areas of the world.

20 years ago, a fire started about 3 km from where I now live and in the space of 6 hours it took the lives of 49 people, burnt out more than 2000 homes and wiped out 3 towns. After this, the Fire authorities and government did some research which has become the model of Australia?s current approach to uncontrolled fire.

The basis of it is; you live in a fire prone area, so be prepared. Develop a fire plan, and take action to fireproof your house and ensure you are well insured

If it is a day of high fire risk or danger and you don?t believe you can defend your house, get out early and definitely ensure that you are somewhere safe and off the roads well before fire is within range (20 or 30 km away) The fire burnt 20 km in about 2 hours before the wind changed, turning it into a fire front of 20 km. Your house is the safest place to be in a fire. Some interesting facts came out of the research; 85% of house where there was at least one able bodied person were saved by the actions of that person. No houses explode in flames as the fire draws near, most are lost by ember attack lodging in the roof or under the floors. Don?t expect the fire fighters to save your house. They will be fighting the fire, and if you can defend your house it frees them to do more important things. Only 5 people lost their lives in their houses, and they were all elderly, infirm or drunk. All the rest lost their lives in the open on foot or in cars (or fighting the fire).

Ensure you have plenty of water with you to drink, dress in natural fibres, have a transistor radio and most importantly don?t panic. If you are prepared and plan ahead you will save your life, and most probably your property.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (similar to the BBC) turns into the emergency network replacing all AM and FM broadcasts to the area with information about the fire from fire control headquarters, even to the point of telling the street names where the fire front is.

I find it interesting this concept of hoarding food when you are fleeing. If you are staying with your house you have food in the place, if you are travelling to another town, they will have food there. Personally, I would sooner spend the time, energy and money getting ready to defend my property.

Interestingly, for a country which by American standards is a socialist state, the fire authorities refuse to do mandatory evacuations. They leave it to us to make an informed and timely decision of what to do and live or die with the consequences. The broadcasts during last year?s fires were ?The fire is here and residents of these areas are urged to implement their fire plans?
Garth

 

[chrisvonc]

Interestingly, for a country which by American standards is a socialist state, the fire authorities refuse to do mandatory evacuations. They leave it to us to make an informed and timely decision of what to do and live or die with the consequences. The broadcasts during last year?s fires were ?The fire is here and residents of these areas are urged to implement their fire plans?
Garth

Sadly, Americans don't seem to have the ability to make informed and timely decision of what to do and live or die with the consequences on our own. Our society continually re-enforces that and if others don't make those choices for us, we simply find lawyers to sue them, moronic judges that entertain the case, and retarded jurors who award millions of dollars because in America, no one is responsible for their own actions really.

 

[antichrist]

The broadcasts during last year?s fires were ?The fire is here and residents of these areas are urged to implement their fire plans?
Garth

That's the problem here, most people have the mind set, "The [insert appropriate emergency service] will save me." Most people don't have any sort of plan for accidents, much less natural disasters. Kudo's to Jack.
Personally, I try to keep enough food on hand in dry and canned goods for a couple of weeks. Things that can be easily loaded and taken with me if needed. I also have 4 20litre jerry cans for potable water that I fill if I think I might need them. Along with other sorts of supplies like kerosene for lamps, gaz for shower water heating and so on.

 

[kennith]

Jack has done precisely what he should have done. He has made his life mobile should the need arise.

Jack, if you don'thave one already, you might look into a very nice water filtration sytem. It brings a lot of peace of mind to any endeavor.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[kellymoe]

I was absolutely appalled by the Orange County Fire Authority Chief who stated that if they had the air support they could have stopped the fire. No amount of air support during a heavy Santa Anna wind event will stop a fire. Now the blame game will start which pisses me off to no end. There was no stopping this tragedy from occurring. If people want to live in a rural areas they have to face the fact that this could happen. It wouldn't stop me from living in a rural area but I sure as hell wouldnt blame anyone but myself if my home burned to the ground. People need to accept that once or twice a year there is an unstoppable force that sweeps across Southern California and no amount of equipment and man power will stop it until the wind dies down.

 

[MarkP]

Early on the winds grounded both the state and NG air support. I also remember seeing some guy removing brush from his land along with a reference to "the hell with regulations and laws" which seemed to indicate clearing brush and downed trees/limbs was illegal. If so they created a lot of fuel over the years with these laws.

 

[kellymoe]

Early on the winds grounded both the state and NG air support. I also remember seeing some guy removing brush from his land along with a reference to "the hell with regulations and laws" which seemed to indicate clearing brush and downed trees/limbs was illegal. If so they created a lot of fuel over the years with these laws.

I believe LA County has a 100' minimum clearance law and LA City has a200' clearance law. If a home backs up to a state park or National Forest then the home owner may be limited in the clearing he can do. He had the right attitude though, do what you need to do to save your home.

I went to fires in April and May of this year that behaved like Sept and Oct. fires. The fires were topography fires and not wind driven and they still exploded as if they had been wind driven. This was an ominous sign as to what the fire behavior was going to be like this Fall and it has so far proven correct. The fuel moisture level is at a record low and we had hardly any rain to speak of last winter. This combined with even a mild Santa Anna event is a recipe for disaster.

The "Big One" that we are waiting for is a fire start in the Santa Monica Mountains during a Santa Anna. This will truely be a horrific event with the potential for hundreds of thousands of homes to be lost. Homes are packed in the mountains like cord wood with heavy fuel all around. It would be similar to the Oakland Hills fire but 100X worse.

Unless we get some significant rain it will be like this all through the winter.

 

[p m]

For a society that wants to keep its forests and live around them, we do amazingly dumb things.

I've been to two "trail clean-ups" in the last few years.
First was in burnt area of San Bernardino Nat'l Forest; the turnout of 4x4 volunteers was amazing. We could've cleared hundreds of acres of undergrowth; instead, FS made us pick up dead branches near the roads, and toss them all over the roads to make them impassable.
Second was near Lake Morena (Sidewinder trail) in San Diego County (very close to currently burning Harris Fire). We've been told to trim vegetation on the sides of the trail, and ... toss the cut material into the bushes!
Mind it, we were trimming the branches that could leave pinstriping on the sides of the vehicles on a trail that will render a stock 4x4 a pile of bent sheetmetal!

I don't think I'll go to any trail clean-up any more. Both times we were doing something exactly against common sense.

As far as disaster preparedness goes, thank God I don't own or ever wear any formal clothes...