#1
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San Diego Fires
Hello everyone.
Just a bit of the story. Pretty amazing here in San Diego. This morning again I can smell the smoke as I write this. They are saying over 100,000 acres burned which is over 150 square miles. It happened so fast, in the morning the sun had been up for an hour and it was dull red, easily observed without protection, at times fading away. With binoculars, two large suns spots were apparent. At that time the fire was probably 20 miles away but the ash was falling rapidly. A few hours later the fire had grown from 10,000 acres to 80,000 and was crossing major freeways at will. Areas within 5 miles of here had been evacuated and were on fire, of the three North-South interstates, only I-5 was open. In the afternoon, the fire had advanced to within 2 miles of here and if it had jumped one more freeway, it would have rushed down the San Clemente canyon which is but a few hundred yards from here. We loaded the motorhome with our most valued belongings and were ready to leave. Fortunately the windshifted at that point and the fire retreated. Other areas are not so fortunate and no one knows what today will bring. More winds are predicted and there are many homes that could be at risk. The fire fighters are stretched thin and understaffed because of the number of fires in SoCal. Reinforcements are arriving as other fires in other places are brought under control. There is apparently no arial support because of the wind and because the smoke is so thick and also because the planes are in use else where. It should be perfectly clear in weather like this but visability was less than a mile for most of yesterday. The entire city is essentially shut down except for those people necessary for fire fighting and public safety. Nearly all schools are shut including the University of California, San Diego where I work (22,000 students and probably 15,000+ staff and academics.) Only critical personal of the city and county are to work today. Many companies are shut down. And yet consider this. 11 pm last night. The skies had cleared, the stars were out and they were dark. Darker than I have ever seen them here. I was able to see M31 naked eye and M33 with averted vision using my 10x50's. Never ever imagined I would see M31 naked eye from my normally 3.5 at absolute best backyard. Keeping my fingers crossed, best to all..... jon isaacs |
#2
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San Diego Fires
"Jon Isaacs" wrote in message
... Areas within 5 miles of here Jon, exactly where is "here"? 11 pm last night. The skies had cleared, the stars were out and they were dark. Darker than I have ever seen them here. presumably the smoke blotted out the light pollution affects from the city? terrible way to get dark skies, but it does offer tangible evidence that good lighting practices can dramatically improve visibility of the night skies. keep safe-- mark d. |
#3
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San Diego Fires
I live in LA about 2 miles from the Simi Fire. Unfortunately my yard has
been choked in smoke the last three nights, otherwise we would have had very good skies. No moon and lots of wind. "mark d. doiron" wrote in message news6anb.16727$5c2.678@okepread03... "Jon Isaacs" wrote in message ... Areas within 5 miles of here Jon, exactly where is "here"? 11 pm last night. The skies had cleared, the stars were out and they were dark. Darker than I have ever seen them here. presumably the smoke blotted out the light pollution affects from the city? terrible way to get dark skies, but it does offer tangible evidence that good lighting practices can dramatically improve visibility of the night skies. keep safe-- mark d. |
#4
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San Diego Fires
"Jon Isaacs" wrote in message
... In the afternoon, the fire had advanced to within 2 miles of here and if it had jumped one more freeway, it would have rushed down the San Clemente canyon which is but a few hundred yards from here. We loaded the motorhome with our most valued belongings and were ready to leave. Fortunately the windshifted at that point and the fire retreated. What are you waiting for? Take a few days off and head dark skies. Hope is good, but hope from a safe distance is better. -Stephen |
#5
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San Diego Fires
Jon, exactly where is "here"?
N32° 50.373' W117° 11.526' San Diego, North Clairemont, near highway 52 and Genesee Ave. A friend lost his house in the outback. Sherriffs were there but their escape route was cut off by the fire. The circled their cars in a clearing and they all huddled between their car and the fire passed over their heads, everyone lived but the houses were lost. Jon |
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San Diego Fires
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#7
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San Diego Fires
On 10/27/03 23:27 +0900, Jon Isaacs wrote:
Keeping my fingers crossed, best to all..... Jon, if things look bad, don't be slow about evacuating. trane -- //------------------------------------------------------------ // Trane Francks Tokyo, Japan // Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty. // http://mp3.com/trane_francks/ |
#8
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San Diego Fires
There are some more NASA fire images here...
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Nat...rds_v2.php3?i= mg_id=3D11806 -Florian |
#9
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San Diego Fires
Hang in Jon,
We're less than a mile South of the Santa Susana Pass, in a corner of Ventura County. Yesterday morning, the fire was Northwest of us, South of the 118. As of yesterday evening, the active front was Northeast of us. We've been under an evacuation order since 1:00PM yesterday. There have been no fire suppression personnel in our neighborhood. Our fire hoses are laid out and standing by, and there's been little sleep for a couple of nights. Things are looking better...maybe we've dodged another bullet! Things could be much worse, the house is still standing, all the expensive stuff is secure, and the escape route is clear. We send our sympathy to those who have lost their homes, or worse, loved ones. John |
#10
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San Diego Fires
Jon,
I know exactly where you are, I used to live not to far from there off=20 of Clairmont Mesa and 52. I feel for you. I'm in Orange County now and=20 while I don't have to deal with the fire, I do have the smole and ash to=20 contend with. Craig In article ,=20 says... Jon, exactly where is "here"? =20 N32=B0 50.373' W117=B0 11.526' =20 San Diego, North Clairemont, near highway 52 and Genesee Ave.=20 =20 A friend lost his house in the outback. Sherriffs were there but their = escape route was cut off by the fire. The circled their cars in a clearing and = they all huddled between their car and the fire passed over their heads, every= one lived but the houses were lost. =20 Jon =20 |
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