Customs Collection Lost in Malibu Fire

We dodged the bullet in Durango this summer. Fire started 6/1/18 and before the day was over, we had aerial drops thanks to the fact that the foam "factory" is at the Durango airport. No homes or out buildings were lost in the 416 fire. Biggest problem is the use of private drones. More than a few foam drops were called due to the fact that people were flying drones over the fire. This is a federal offense and there are measures to up the penalties in congress. This is what I saw from my home office window. You can see the Animas river in the foreground and we watched helicopters pull water right from the river for water drops.

 

Hello,
It is disheartening to see destruction in any part of the USA. Out West, it is primarily a desert with imported water to keep us alive. When tragic fires start, things go from bad to worse. Sorry for the loss to all of those people up north and in Ventura, Calabasas/Malibu area. The roads are narrow, the homes isolated and maybe that is the way their lives were selected. But, it wasn't all isolated losses.

Those fires have a mind of their own. Some structures get burned and some have flames all around, but are saved. It is very mysterious. On our way home from Thanksgiving in Santa Barbara, we decided that the roads were all open going South. (We diverted farther up North going to Santa Barbara and made plans to go around the damaged areas up to Santa Clarita/Ojai areas.)

The normal greenish hills during the late fall season were always something to look forward to seeing on the coastal drives North or South. But, the fire did its own thing burning some things here, skipping some others and continuing on down to the ocean. A restroom stucture at "Secos," a well known surf spot burned, as well as some of the campgrounds.

Homes were destroyed, the telephone poles bit the dust and electrical power was recently restored. Driving down the highway slowed down to the normal speeds. Traffic was slower as the re-construction workers from the power company, electrical, gas, and others worked feverishly to restore thing back to somewhat normal conditions.

Jnaki
Since we have seen the destruction, we can only sympathize with the people directly affected. Resilient as humans are, we will all bounce back after those tragedies. Lives are important, "things" can be replaced. Have your "GO" bags ready, just in case.

 

"And they called it paradise
The place to be....."
Don Henley /Glenn Frye

 

Update on my friend Larry Ladwig. Quoting from another friend:
"I spoke to Larry, he lost everything, every one of his cars had one little issue or another and he got in his brothers 90 Buick with the clothes on his back. He’s staying with a family from Oroville and is waiting on FEMA money".
At least he survived, thank goodness.