August 10, 2018

Meanwhile, back in SoCal ... FIRE!

They called the flood in Kauai the "100 Year Flood".  In our neighborhood, they called this the "100 Year Fire" (not because of size or scope, but because our canyon hadn't burned in 100 years).  Our canyon probably could have resisted natural catastrophe even longer if not for some kid playing with fire.

I will let the pictures speak for themselves.  You will see that our emergency responders were AMAZING.  Firefighters, tanker planes, helicopters, bulldozers ... all amazing.  Not a single building burned.  They stayed on site for a week after.  They patrolled (from rim & helicopter) for another week after that.  Cameras installed at strategic spots for future continual overseeing.

View from our backyard, 1:30pm, June 2.  (note: all pics iPhone)










Not much distracts the dude from his writing ...





It was about this time when the sheriff department began evacuating our neighborhood.  (evacuation was lifted about 4 hours later).  







The morning after ... what the hills looked like (a little charred and fire-retardant-red).  
And what our streets looked like (a constant - WELCOME - parade of firetrucks).






A few days later, when we resumed our usual walk-the-dog-dude around the university ...









One week after the fire.  The canyon was re-opened to hikers, bikers, etc.  I was so happy to see the old historic ranch fencing still stood!











Anywhooo, summary story:  kids playing with fire in dry canyon = bad.  Firefighters = awesome.
So grateful this fire was contained as effectively as it was.  


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI TO MY FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHER FAMILY IN SOUTHERN CALIF...
DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REACH YOU EXCEPT FOR THIS COMMENT FORM...
YES I AM ACKNOWLEDGING THE FIRE THAT WAS SO CLOSE TO YOU...SO HAPPY ALL IS WELL....

SCARED TO DEATH FOR YOU AS A HURRICANE IS HEADING FOR HAWAII
AND I HOPE ALL YOUR HARD WORK IS NOT TAKEN DOWNSTREAM BY ANOTHER FLASH FLOOD.
KNOW THAT I AM THINKING OF YOU AND HOPE YOUR LITTLE PLACE OF PARADISE IN THE LITTLE HAWAIIAN VALLEY.
BEST WISHES FROM
MARY M
VANCOUVER,WA.







Skeller said...

Mary, thank you so much for your kindness and concern. Please excuse my delay in responding; just now seeing your comment. Good news: hurricane pretty much disintegrated before reaching Kauai. And then the tropical storm also disintegrated. So we're getting *some* rain (my neighbor said 7.5" since Wed), but no flooding. Whew. :-) Poor Big Island took the brunt of this hurricane (in the form of flooding, not wind damage).

Tracy P. said...

Holy moly, Susan. As long as you're into battling the elements, maybe you should winter in Minnesota this year. Y'know, prove once and for all that you're invincible. ;-)