CA fires cause 2 families to move into buses

[mak]

The first note is from a fellow bus conversion friend who converted a MCI 102A3. He needs no help, and is fine, just letting people know it "happens". The second note is about a Moose Creek Motorcabin being used.

To all our amigos,
As you all probably know by now, Rosita and I lost our
house at 2AM Tuesday morning in the Harris fire.   We
have just been in our new place for about a year and ahalf.  We lived up in Deerhorn Valley north east of
Jamul.  We lucked out and moved into a beautiful
neighborhood.  Our neighbors were as wonderful as our
old neighbors in Clairemont.  We lived next to the
Deerhorn Lodge.  Well, there is no more Lodge either.
Also at least seven of our neighbors are in the same
situation as us.
As of today Wedenesday, they still won't let us go up
there to check up on things.  But the local Sheriff, a
personal friend and neighbor of ours who worked the
fire called us to let us know we will be rebuilding.
He said there is nothing left, all gone.   We had
about 5 hours notice, so we were able to save some
documents, pictures, the truck and the bus.  All else
is gone.  Our intentions were to bring the bus and
loaded truck down to safety and return for more stuff
and the other cars.  They closed the road, couldn't go
back.  We went to our daughters house and than got
evacuated from there.  It was pretty hectic there for
a while.  We went to the Coronado State beach for
several days.

Thanks to God we are all ok.  Thank you all for your
support, but please know that we are fine and we will
rebuild.  We get to find out what it is to be fulltime
RV'ers for awhile anyway. 

Gracias to all,
Luis y Rosa

Moose Creek Motorcabin on scene.
My sister-in-law lives full time in Running Springs CA. When they evacutated the city of Running Springs on Monday, they went down the MT to the Home Depot lot to watch and wait. We drove out our Moose Creek MCI 9 to them for temp housing Monday night. It was erie, looking up the mountian and seeing the glow of the fire, flames and smoke. The hotels and motels were all full in the area. Would not have work for them anyway, they have 3 dogs and 1 cat (No kids), so the motorcabin was a good, quick choice. It's Wednesday afternoon now, they are still in the bus, waiting to here any news. Last night the fire was burning on there street... at there address according to a website, so it looks bad for them. The worst part is not knowing if you have a house left. But either way, they are fine with the animals and they have a bus to live in until?. Interesting reading on the Running Springs fire is at www.rimoftheworld.net then click on the incident report. It gives you a read out of the scanner conversations among the firefighters, police etc. If you read down to the 7:29 PM incent report last night (Tuesday) that address is my sister in laws house. But there are no updates to that and no way of knowing... Enjoy your home tonight, one never knows.
Mike

[cody]

Those fires are burning at a terrible rate, consuming everything in their paths, it's tragic to see that peoples entire lives and all they've worked for are going up in smoke.  Here in michigan we're physically untouched by what we see on the news but emotionally hurt by the terrible toll the fires are taking.  Many of us are safe in our homes, our lives are intact and it's easy to watch the news and feel badly for the ones affected, but it's more important for us to reach out and see if we can help in any way. A few years ago a good friend of mine, Roger Roth, lost his life and the lives of several of his coworkers when he fought a fire out west, he was what is called a "smoke jumper", they were the flown into the fire area and dropped in to fight it on the ground where the fire actually was, a dangerous place to be for sure.  Those who may be in the fire zone or have friends there, let us know how we can help make things just a little bit easier or better, people do care.

[bobofthenorth]

Thanks for the update MAK.  We've been watching the fires on Fox & wondering about the few people that we know in that area, which includes you and your family.  We hope you all continue to be OK.  Fire is a scary thing.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Mike,

A tragedy to say the least...

It's a good gesture to lend a moose to a family in need. I hope it wont Hurt you for long.

Should we set up a food drive? or fund raiser?

Nick-

[mak]

OK here's an update. My sister in law has been living in the Moose since Monday when the fire force evac of the Runing Springs area (slide fire) She still does not know if she has a house or not. Can you imagine... waiting 5 days to find out if your house was burned down or not. That seems to be a crime in itself. They do not let anybody up the mt  for obivoius reasons, but you would sure like to think they would have someone report address and damages,  or something.... But hey, FEMA is here giving every one money, so I guess she's fine. A couple things always amazes me. 1) Why is it if your displace for a few days, you automaticly have no food no money and no way of doing anything or buying anything unless Uncle Sam gives you money... and If you have no insurance, Uncle Sam to the rescue. I don't get it.
mike

[DrivingMissLazy]

OK here's an update. My sister in law has been living in the Moose since Monday when the fire force evac of the Runing Springs area (slide fire) She still does not know if she has a house or not. Can you imagine... waiting 5 days to find out if your house was burned down or not. That seems to be a crime in itself. They do not let anybody up the mt  for obivoius reasons, but you would sure like to think they would have someone report address and damages,  or something.... But hey, FEMA is here giving every one money, so I guess she's fine. A couple things always amazes me. 1) Why is it if your displace for a few days, you automaticly have no food no money and no way of doing anything or buying anything unless Uncle Sam gives you money... and If you have no insurance, Uncle Sam to the rescue. I don't get it.
mike[/size]

Mike, I feel sorry for you. Perhaps you have never been in this situation of no food or no money but I do not feel we should just let them starve. I have been there and it is a terrible feeling, believe me.
Richard

[bobofthenorth]

Richard I don't think Mike is saying "let them starve".  Its two separate issues - there may be a very small subset of the displaced population that can't feed themselves for the immediate future but they couldn't feed themselves anyway.  There are existing social structures in place that deal with people who can't help themselves.  I too don't believe that we need a whole 'nuther level of bureaucracy around disasters.

[DrivingMissLazy]

Richard I don't think Mike is saying "let them starve".  Its two separate issues - there may be a very small subset of the displaced population that can't feed themselves for the immediate future but they couldn't feed themselves anyway.  There are existing social structures in place that deal with people who can't help themselves.  I too don't believe that we need a whole 'nuther level of bureaucracy around disasters.

Until some one has been in a forced emergency evacuation, I really do not feel they are qualified to judge what a displaced family might need.

Richard

[Jerry Liebler]

Does anyone think FEMA will use the thousands of trailers they never used for Katrina?  Why hasn't there been a massive outcry over the ridiculous gift to the travel trailer builders?
As Mike and Bob worry about a few instances of the government giving a little more than the SHAFT to victims of fire disaster.   I wish they would do something about the Billions being wasted on fraud in Iraq and the Billions  going to Haliburton, Blackwater, the and the other war PROFITEERS. 
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120   

[Nusa]

http://www.sdcountyemergency.com/ has lots of good information about the status of evacuated areas, fire maps, and a growing list of confirmed destroyed or damaged properties. So if you have particular addresses you want to check, that might be a good place to start.

I'm not one of the evacuated myself, but the fires did seem uncomfortably close a few days ago.