Thursday Evening Updates after 22:45 PDT



- I am in need of a break. I will be back early in the AM, especially checking on Twin Peaks. Keep the posts coming and pray for the best!

- Fires still going in a few locations. Keep an eye on them. The firefighters are SO close to winning this battle to a degree.

- Green Valley Lake needs a recon to see how close the fire is. It has NOT reached the community yet.

- Scanner updates: Flare ups coming up on CEDU that came in by surprise (they lost the line earlier today). The RimForest structure turned out to be a burning log, however, a fire is still hanging at Ash Meadow Rd.

- (9:35 P.M. Oct 30th Running Springs: the 2003 Alamo) Running Springs surrounded on four sides per RSFD: now burning towards Deer Lick, Fires on the south at the Elementary School. Expected to meet western perimeter tonight. Fog: 50 to 100 foot visibility: flames and spot fires hard to see 40 mile per hour gusts; No air support possible; the media has deserted the mountain. This is not a fair fight. [Lindaleescabin]

- Details on providing care packages for the crews to be delivered for the morning. Things needed: leather gloves, chap stick, sleeping cots, nasal spray (saline), sleeping bags, combs and brushes, trucks for transport. The drop-off site is at the old Stater Bros parking lot; 40th & Waterman. Now and until 9:30 tomorrow morning, you can drop off these items; someone will be in the motorhome to assist you. [Brenda Meyer]

- The tentative target date for the schools to open is November 14th. Again, this is tentative.

- I spoke with an emergency medical person and he was cautiously optimistic. The fire hasn't reached Big Bear Valley. I received the following email: 7PM Thursday: From Big Bear Grizzly - The Old Fire continues to remain outside of Big Bear Valley, moving slowly toward Running Springs. As of 4PM, the fire had moved slightly north and was burning about 1 mile south of Deer Lick. The change of weather has helped in the effort. There is no known date as to when residents may be allowed back into Big Bear or any of the other evacuated communities. Reopening the communities will not be done until is is completely safe, officials say. [Radha Khalsa, http://www.bigbear.us]

- A COMMUNITY IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE, NOT BUILDINGS. Please join your friends, family, and neighbors for a Mountain Communities Refugee Picnic, Saturday, Nov.1st, 12 Noon, at the Hilda Crooks Park, at the south end of Mtn.View Ave., on the border of Loma Linda and Bryn Mawr. Exit 10 east at Mtn. View and procede south. ALL are welcome. A good time for your children to play with their friends and for you to have some adult time. BYO food and beverage. For more info, please call me at (909) 499-5521. [Julie]

- I'm back at the house on Crest Forest Dr. again. It's martial law up here right now. The police are stopping cars and questioning people, looking out for looters. They have told me to either stay home or leave the mountain. That put a lid on my plans of checking on peoples' houses and animals. With the exception of 4 or 5 houses on Valley View off Playground, all of Valley View Park appears to be OK. If anyone has any needs for me to check on homes or pets in the immediate area (where I can walk to) in the vicinity of Crest Forest and Playground, you can call me at 338-1495. Please, only call for any requests within this immediate area. I ran into Woody this afternoon. His business is doing great! He is a very happy bar owner. [Dominique Dieken]

- Homes were spared at the earlier fire site of Yosemite & Yellowstone in Lake Arrowhead!

- Has anyone heard about a fire in Twin Peaks threatening the east end of Lake Gregory-Valley of the Moon and Dart Cyn? [Jane]

- I have been informed that the Lake Arrowhead Resort which was evac at 11:30pm last night is preparing to reopen as a command and rest center. Fingers crossed here. Best to all. [Phil]

- Between the Pea Soup and blocked up traffic, and downed trees, they are frustrated with transports.

- "I just returned from Job's Peak and things look great for all the homes that are south facing. I luckily received a ride with San Bernardino Police to feed my animals (I work at Mountain High). I received so many conflicting messages and the news coverage absolutely sucked! So I was determined to get a look at my house to see if it was still standing. My house is 21601 Peak Circle Dr. Every-house up to my house and three houses past my house survived. Unfortunately, the last two houses facing south on Peak Circle did not survive and the corner house across the street burnt also. We were stopped at the southwest corner of Peak Circle by a fireman. He said a fire truck was up ahead keeping an eye on hot-spots. It was really foggy and misty so it was hard to see beyond 100 feet. He said no concerns about the hot-spots on the north side of Job's Peak under the current conditions. I could not tell if any of the streets above Peak Circle Burned. I don't think so. I heard from people staying up there that it was all clear, but it seems to have gone around Jobs Peak Mountain on the West side and wrapped around to the north side above Lakeland View and Mozumdar and apparently headed south towards Silverwood Lake from there. I''m so sorry for those who lost homes there. I didn't get to verify what homes burned, but the fireman said it was pretty extensive below Peak Circle Dr. If there''s anything we can do for anyone in that area, let us know. I also saw many telephone poles heading up the mountain with wire coils and transistor boxes. Heard them say that they hoped to have everything back to normal in a week. I also overheard some police officers saying that they thought we would be able to return in 2 to 3 days, but I was just eavesdropping and that wasn't verified. God bless our mountain community. We are resilient people and everyone who is hurting right now, know that we all hurt with you and we will all get through this together, stronger. Now, maybe the GOV will do something about the trees. The firemen are all awesome in my eyes. I know they fought like hell and did their best for all of us. Thank you!" [Mark Warhol]

- Fire is being fought at the bottom of Running Springs School Rd near Seymour Rd. [Mike S.]

Mountain Residents can pick up their mail at 195 Del Rosa in San Bernardino! That is at the SB International Airport near the shelter. Pick it up from 11am-6pm through 11/7/03.

- I heard that it was clear up there... around the Yellowstone and Yosemite intersection (the one closest to 173) but it was a very close call. They saved it when the battle for the hospital was won. I think. But they are saying that the fire is going NE. [Mike S]

Posted: Thu - October 30, 2003 at 06:24 PM      

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