This has nothing to do with flying.  I grew up in San Diego, (barely) graduating from Ramona High School.  I was shocked when I woke up at 5am (EDT) to hear the national news mention the evacuation of my hometown.

I knew my brother was living in the path of the fire.  So I sent an email hoping to hear everything was ok.  Here’s what I got back via his Blackberry.  It’s a chilling picture of what one person experienced during this fire.

Fire blew through this morning and burned five or six houses on the next street over, but really not that close to our place (maybe 1/8 mile—close enough to hear the trees exploding). Anyway, it moved across the horizon and ended up in Rancho Bernardo this morning. That’s the same fire we dealt with last night.

Thought we were out of the woods (so to speak) but now the fire has kicked up again in a big way over by the Wild Animal Park and it is heading our way. I can go over to neighbor’s house (they evacuated) and have a good view of the fire line…mostly smoke, not much flame. I’m out of here when we
see flame, since that hill that we would see is only about a three minute walk from our house.

Lady across street says person behind her had a fence burn overnight, so the fire was actually pretty close.

Still no air tankers…may be too windy. Sky looks like end of the world – no sun. Can’t breathe very well too gritty. Just helped a neighbor I never met cut up and move a tree that blocked their driveway—most of the neighbors have gone but those who are left (about ten houses) are all talking and will warn each other. Just don’t want to have a tree in your driveway at this time.

Spoke to Robert B. —he said that he raced out of his home this morning and embers were banging against the side of his car, so not too sure if his house made it. Also spoke to old neighbors on Valle Verde (Poway) and pretty sure fire went through that neighborhood…said it was bumper to bumper getting out of there at 4 am—absolute panic. Said their cul de sac had flames coming up the hill, so not so promising there.

We do not currently have another mandatory evac order so we are home and monitoring, but buddy of mine about ½ mile east (toward fire) got mandatory evac about an hour ago. Trying to monitor conditions but have watered down house and cars are packed and backed into driveway.

This sucks. Will call later—if we leave our house we can’t get back onto our street, so we’ll hold out here a bit longer but will not hesitate to head to evac center if things go south.