For Up-To-Date Santiago Fire Information
Hello All,
Kevin’s family and mine are at least 15 miles away from any current fire and should be safe as the winds are pretty much over and the fire crews should be able to get a handle on all of these burn areas before they get to us. There is always a chance though that new ones could pop up and the winds could start up again. The dry conditions from 2 years of drought have taken their toll and we see the results.
Mom is under voluntary evacuation orders and is staying with Kevin and Sara. I was not able to get in touch with her Monday afternoon and when I spoke with her that morning she was not aware yet how close the fire actually was. I guess she soon discovered first hand and gathered important documents and Misty (kitty) and left while the leaving was still easy. I did not know if she made it out so I drove up to the Foothill Ranch condo and the sight was amazing. Smoke was billowing up in a huge plume from about ¼ mile from her house. It seems to be safe now as the fire is burning in a different direction now.
My friend Mark’s parents lost their house in Running Springs and they don’t yet know about his sister’s house in the same area. I would imagine that at this point everyone in Southern California knows someone who has been displaced by this firestorm.
I’m writing this message from my car while stuck on Ortega Highway in flagged traffic. Ortega is currently under construction in the 1st year of a 3 year project. Normally during this project the traffic is delayed about 20-30 minutes each way, but due to the closure today of I5 between Oceanside and San Clemente due to the Camp Pendleton fire and all southbound traffic being directed now through Ortega I’m not sure how long the drive will take today. We just moved about 1 or 2 miles and are stopped again. The last stop was 30 minutes. But this is just an inconvenience and delay. My family and possessions are safe and that’s the important thing.
Wherever I look I can see smoke from one fire or another. From my house in Lake Elsinore I can see the smoke from San Diego, Lake Arrowhead and from Irvine. It really seems like all of Southern California is on fire. A few areas in San Diego are being allowed to go home and I believe that Malibu is 95% contained. Santiago is only 30% contained and has been at that status for the last 3 days so they’re not making any progress with that one, though the firefighters have saved thousands of homes.
Thank you to all the Firefighters who put their lives on the line to save our lives and property on a daily basis, and who sometimes must work unimaginable hours under horrific conditions. You are all truly Heroes.
Sincerely,
Keith Allen
alleymon