Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Wildfire season once again

As I was having breakfast yesterday morning, a report of a fire came on TV. I went upstairs and looked out from my balcony and this is what I saw, smoke coming from over the hill. It scared me. That fire could easily come this way, as there was gusty wind fanning it. I would guess that it was about 20 miles from my place.

It was the same month last year when there was wildfire all over Southern California. One came so close, about half a block away from my home, that we packed some of our belongings. My neighbors did the same. We all watched as the fire started to spread on the hill. Luckily a helicopter came and doused it, and that saved our homes. But there were some unfortunate ones whose homes were razed to the ground. (Click here for story.)

There were other fires blazing yesterday. This one pictured above was about 20 to 23 miles from my home. Some homes were burned to the ground. Residents had to evacuate, and as of last night the fire was still raging. There were more than 1000 fire crew battling the conflagration.

These fires could jump from one area to the other as the wind flies embers and it could easily ignite dry brush. We get very little rain here so that our hills turn brown during summer; turning brush tinder dry. Some fires are started by careless campers; others are ignited by sparks from cars; by children playing with matches; and some by arsonists.

Having experienced a close call last year makes me jittery when I see smoke billowing from the distance.

14 comments:

Vk-mahalkaayo said...

goodday, Mari,

hope my comment will be posted already, i try this morning but, can´t be posted....html is broken,
that´s always the reason.

i try first........

Vk-mahalkaayo said...

ok, thanks.......

nagulat ako, kasi kanina hindi ko pa ito nakita, yon pang youtube mo,

nakatatakot naman ano?

sana ok lang lahat, not like the last time.

We will pray together, that everything is ok.

have a nice Tuesday

Vk-mahalkaayo said...

ganda ng halloween decors mo.

malapit na ang halloween din ano?

noon, bc-bc kami sa mga bata, to makes their custome,

ngayon, wla na.......ayaw na rin nila.

pero i prepare some candies n choco or any sweets para kung may pumuntang mga bata meron akong ibigay.

self-made mo yon decors mo?, really nice.

Vk-mahalkaayo said...

natuwa ako sa sarili ko....heheheh

kasi nakita ko yon white-flower, sabi ko parang bulaklak ng kangkong....

sus ko, kasi hindi muna basa bago isip.....lol

kangkong flower nga........

noon elem. grds pa ako, punta kami sa c-mates namin, ang bus. ng nanay nya was kangkong, meron silang swamp or lake?....yon puro kangkong....

pagmaraming bulaklak ang kangkong, sabihin nya sa akin, punta kami, mamitas......ako naman namitas kasi para igisa lagyan ng garlic, tapos na......lol

kumusta na kaya yon cmates ko?... ang bait nya sa akin....saan na kaya siya ngayon?

dami nila kasi, pero kangkong lang ang hanapbuhay ng parents nila....
kumusta na kaya siya ngayon?
ilan na kaya ang anak nya?

high school...hindi ko alam kung naka pasok cya....wla na akong balita sa kanya, pero mabait cya, closed din kami.......

ay oo nga sakay pa kami ng Karomata ng kapitbahay nila....Karomata? alam mo ba ito, iwan ko sa tagalog, yon way of transportation nila, tapos carabao ang as maschine?
tama ba ako?

sigi, sorry, minsan marami akong naisip, pag meron akong nakita na may past happenings.

thanks again ha?

Vk-mahalkaayo said...

dito na lang ako comments ha....

namulaklak yon cactus mo, ganda pa ng color.

sabi pa nila, pag ang cactus namulaklak, there is a surprise....

meron ba?

superstitious talaga ako......lol

Vk-mahalkaayo said...

sorry, balik ako.........

oo nga, yon place namin, tahimik, clean n maliit lang.

pagdating ko dito, yon mga apts, na i posted, wla pa yon.

started lang siguro yon, 1995, hanggang ngayon tuloyan ang gawa nila, construct pa rin ng more residential houses.

parang malapit na rin magulo.

hindi ko na nga kilala ang mga new generations na nakatira dito,
some taga labas ng germany.

and you know what, the rent here is more expensive kay sa other town, kasi dahil sa BASF, mostly nagwrks doon, malapit lang kasi ang Main, dito sa amin.

siguro 10mins in tren and car 20mins lang....Ludwigshafen.

sigi, sorry sa mga comments ko.....daldal talaga ako ano?

thnks

bye

CONNIE said...

Good morning, Mari! I've seen the wildfire in the news! That's really really sad and scary at the same time. I'm praying for you and your family safety.

Keep us updated! Thanks for all your kind words. You're always a precious friend!

Photo Cache said...

at the same time the san fernando valley fires are going on, angel island off san francisco was also burning. we could see thick smoke on the drive to work the next day. hope you're all gonna be spared.

Dennis Villegas said...

Hi Mari,
Saw this news in CNN this morning. Medyo close pala sa inyo ito. I pray your home will be safe from this. Ingat po lagi :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Mari! One year na ba yung malaking fire dyan sa inyo noon? Nakakatakot talaga pag ganyang kita mo malapit lang sa place nyo. Ingat.

Anonymous said...

That's sad and scary Mari. I saw the news this morning thru CNN. Sana hindi na maulit, take care kayo diyan. I'm praying for you and your family's safety.
Ingat....

Nance said...

20-23 miles is real close ... I've been following this news,dudette, worried about you. i hope and pray that the fire will be contained soon.

ingat lang kayo dyan.

Anonymous said...

oh gosh, that really is scary. i hope you will continue to be spared. i'll include your safety in my prayers

Anonymous said...

hope everything's okay with you and family. i just got the chance to read what's happening out there and got worried. ingat lang diyan. sana ay mag-winter na at malayo na sa fire season ang lahat.

nini