I've been following those stories closely, it's unreal what's happened up north but don't overlook Malibu. Yes, those are very rich people but still hundreds of big, expensive homes gone and those folks care about their personal lives too. Luckily only a few deaths there. Up in Paradise it's the perfect storm of isolation, very old wooden buildings, lots of hoarders with flammable stuff all over the place, poor internet or cell service and a whole forest backed right up to your porch. Oh, and one narrow winding road south and one north, that's it. That's why so many died in their vehicles. Too many switchbacks they couldn't make much headway away from the fire.

I moved the other direction to Warner Springs. It's in N. San Diego County about 40 miles from the huge fire around Julian 3 years ago. The weather here all week has been exactly the same as around Malibu. 8% humidity and Santa Ana winds blowing from the desert at 20-50 mph.

Everything around here is bone dry tinder. The electric company shut off my power from Tuesday morning until yesterday late afternoon. I was in LA last week and got home Tuesday afternoon to find no power. That totally sucked believe me. I just moved in last May and I'm still not completely settled yet. There were no fires anywhere around me and it didn't occur to me they would shut off power to this entire area as a precaution. Just to rub it in, this community was the very last to get the power back late Thursday.

I'm a big city boy, not a mountain man but up here I'm becoming one that's for sure. I had to run back into town Tuesday afternoon and I bought a 1600W generator. I know squat about them and got back after dark so I was unpacking it in my driveway by the lights on my car and a flashlight. Then I'm running extension cords all over my place in the dark but I got it all set up and saved the food in the fridge and put the lights on. Fun times. I'll be better prepared next time. At least I didn't get burned out or killed like so many have in other parts of the state.

Talking to other residents here there has never been a fire in the community but there have been plenty over the years in the general area. There's a Naval training base just a few miles down the road and I hear choppers frequently so that probably helps with fire control too. I'm told that when there's any little hot spot from a lightning strike they're on it immediately.

Bob


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