MONDAY MORNING - SANTA BARBARA FIRE UPDATE

By Debbie Bulloch



Here is the latest information on the Jesusita (Santa Barbara) Fire. Information is current as of May 11, 2009, 7:00 a.m. PST (SL Time).

FIRE STATUS:

• 8,733 acres burned
• 65% contained
• Damage assessment in progress – initial estimate of 77 homes destroyed, 22 homes have been damaged, 60 outbuildings destroyed and 69 outbuildings damaged
• Approximately 145 properties evacuated (mandatory evacuation orders); affects approx. 362 people
• More than 3,900 properties under evacuation warning; approx. 9,754 people affected
• Residences threatened – 500; commercial properties threatened – 0
• 4,150 personnel on scene: 428 engines, 110 crews
• 5 air tankers and 15 helicopters
• 28 firefighter injuries to date
• Cause under investigation: Tip line – 805-686-5074
• Air quality warning remains in effect
• Estimated costs to date $9 million
• Expected containment 5/13/09

Every family in California needs to have a FAMILY DISASTER KIT ready at hand. In California we have fires, earthquakes and floods. (If the apocalyptic predictions of the Bible come true, we will also have plagues, locusts, etc.) Being prepared for these emergencies is ESSENTIAL.

The same advice applies to people in other parts of the USA and in the rest of the world as well. Click the link below for information on how to assemble a FAMILY DISASTER KIT.

FAMILY DISASTER KIT

The Red Cross also offers important information and tips. Click the link below for Red Cross information on how to prepare for and what to do in case of disasters.

Red Cross Disaster Information

PLEASE BE SAFE!

Finally, here are more photographs from the Santa Barbara fire. The photographs are courtesy of the L.A. Times website. The L.A. Times, or the individual photographers, are the copyright holders. The owner(s) reserve all rights to the photographs below.

Click on image for a larger view.

HELL ON EARTH!



AIR STRIKE TEAM (Please note, the plane's engines have not stopped; the photographer was using a very fast shutter speed, thus freezing the motion of the propeller's blades)



NOT EVEN BIKES WERE SAFE FROM THE FIRE'S DESTRUCTION.



TOUGH GOING IN BURNT OUT AREAS.



AMEN!!!

MAY 2009 - SANTA BARBARA FIRES

By Debbie Bulloch



Once upon a time California’s “Fire Season” usually lasted from August through December (with the highest incident of fires in September and October). These months coincide with the onset of the Santa Ana winds. That was in the past, however; nowadays “Fire Season” seems to last year round.

Yesterday (May 5), a fire began to burn on the hills above Santa Barbara. Today, the wind-driven fire continues to burn with no immediate end in sight. The “Sundowner” winds are pushing the flames making life miserable for the firefighters who are battling the fires.

As of this writing, over 8000 homes are threatened by the fire and their residents have been ordered to leave. Injuries, so far, include firemen and civilians. I will update this portion of the post as more information becomes available.

UPDATE: As of 10:30 p.m. SLT, more than 20 homes have been destroyed, 8000 evacuated and three firemen, all from Ventura County, are being treated for serious injuries. They are expected to recover, however.

A few weeks ago we worried about news of the spreading swine flu, last Friday night a mild earthquake hit the area, and now we have fires – what's next? Flights of locust? Frogs falling from the sky?

In spite of plagues, fires and earthquakes, life is good in California. We are, after all, the “Golden State.”

At Between Homes our thoughts and prayers (for those of us inclined to pray) are with the brave firefighters risking life and personal safety to fight these destructive fires. Our thoughts and prayers are also with all the fire victims.

The photos below were taken from the L.A. Times and Ventura County Star websites, respectively. The Times and the Star own the copyright to these photographs. All rights are fully reserved.

(Click on individual image for a full view.)

A view of the fire spreading over the hills.



A beachgoer taking a dog for a walk on the beach - the fires burn on the hills above.



A dangerous night drop from a helicopter.



Air tanker making a drop over the hills.



Another view of an air drop. Because of the steep terrain and gusting winds, these drops are very dangerous to the pilots who fly the air tankers.



A firefighting chopper - thick smoke makes these operations dangerous.



Even animals need rescuing - goats being rescued.



Evacuated horses are safely boarded up at the local Fair Grounds.



Fires and palm trees - a typical Southern California combination.



Here is a link to community resources available to those affected by the JESUSITA FIRE (Santa Barbara).

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

THE DAY AFTER THE STORM

By Debbie Bulloch


This past Sunday night, and into Monday, we had one of those rare Southern California occurrences - a winter storm!

But almost as soon as the storm rolled it, it was gone. Before leaving, however, the storm left us with a good soaking and some nice iamges.











Heavily overcast skies were a reminder of the storm briefly lived fury.



If you look closely at the horizon, you will see one of the five islands that, collectively, make up the Channel Islands. Right off the coast of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, the Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) and their ocean environment.

The Chumash Indians, who once populated the area, believed that the first people were created from the seeds planted on Limuw (Santa Cruz Island) by Hutash, the Earth Goddess. Hutash was married to the Sky Snake (The Milky Way), who made lightning with his tongue and gave the people their first fire. The people kept the fire burning to stay warm and cook their food. Since the people were getting more comfortable, their population grew until the Island became too crowded.

The people made so much noise that Hutash could not get any sleep, so she decided it was time to allow some of the people to cross over to the mainland. Hutash made Wishtoyo, a Rainbow Bridge which extended from the tallest peak of the Island to the tallest inland mountain near Carpinteria (between present day Ventura and Santa Barbara counties). Hutash told the people to cross carefully, and to never look down, but some did, and fell off the Rainbow Bridge and into the ocean, where they were turned into dolphins by Hutash to prevent them from drowning. This is why the Chumash Indians consider the dolphins to be their brothers.

After the storm the waves were flat, but that did not keep these two surfers away from the (very cold) waters.


And, of course, every storm brings its own rainbow.


Enjoy!