Wrightwood Disaster Awareness

[MojaveSidecar]

Hi All

At some point in the near future, it might be wise to start a
Defense of WW thread.

As weekenders, we were planning to come up to enjoy the Weekend in the Pines" concert...

instead maybe we should be lining up to do some volunteer firefighting.

Now would probably be a good time for the moderators to start a thread.. summerizing... 

CERT info
Shortwave info
evacuation info
property preparation etc..

what do you guys think?

[Wrightwood]

There is a full forum on CERT, another on Radio Communications. Wrightwood CERT, Wrightwood Communications Group and Wrightwood Fire Safe Council all have webpages.

In CERT training you are taught to do basic fire suppression with a fire extinguisher and in no way shape or form prepared to battle 25'-75' flames. SBCFD will not use volunteers in fighting fires.

As far as shortwave radio goes: The Wrightwood Communications Group is the most active volunteer group of ham radio operators around. We hold training on a weekly basis along with full blown exercises from time to time. A few of the WCG members are also part of SBCFD Emergency Communications Service and have had extended training with plenty of classes in Incident Command System.

Property preparation is stressed by the Wrightwood Fire Safe Council and a great deal of information can be found on their website.

Preparing for emergencies is something that takes time to accomplish and not something that you do when an emergency takes place.

[MojaveSidecar]

Property preparation is stressed by the Wrightwood Fire Safe Council and a great deal of information can be found on their website.

Preparing for emergencies is something that takes time to accomplish and not something that you do when an emergency takes place.

Yep.. we have done everything we can as far as brush clearance etc...

But now we are sitting down in Burbank, planning to come up this weekend.. for the concerts, but now we don't know what else we should be doing... except to pray a lot.

[samsonite]

I guess I don't understand your current concern.  WW is not in any immediate danger at this point.  C'mon up and have a good time.

[Up Sheep Creek]

It's been smokey for about a week but the last few days I have closed all the windows and doors.  Ash is falling here in WW this evening. 

[ChrisLynnet]

It's very weird getting rained on (ashed on?) by ash flakes. And sunset today was just bizarre -- heavy and shadowed. I could hardly see the hill from my house on PinonMesa. I am extraordinarily grateful that I got my AC fixed two weeks ago. Not the kind of weather to be sitting behind closed windows and doors without some cooling available.

BTW, I canceled a business trip tomorrow. I think we'll be fine, but no need to come back from the Bay Area and not be able to get home.

[in my dreams]

No AC here. I was going to take advantage of the day off from school and go to the tide pools in Laguna, and maybe the seal/sea lion rescue place, but I think I will pick up my 2 air filters at the Ontario house. . . (and go to the Chino Youth Museum--really don't want to watch a 3 and 5 yr old at the beach by myself.)

The ash and smoke have been unreal west of town. The houses across the street have been slightly obscured many times during the day since Sunday, like a light fog.

[ChrisLynnet]

That sounds like a great plan, in your dreams. Heh, welcome to Wrightwood... 

This reminds me that my son and I moved up here in March 2003. In October 2003 we had the huge Old Fire and the other wildfire that met at the bottom of our canyon. We were packed and ready to leave. The fire never reached us and we were fine, but after that I felt like a real Wrightwoodian!

[kk_gizmo]

but after that I felt like a real Wrightwoodian!
Ahh, but you are a true veteran of fire season if you've ever kicked it in lawn chairs at the elementry school watching flames on the ridge behind Jensons dance about while they refill helicopters on the field.
In my 23 years of living in WW, we were never evacuated. Had a couple of close calls and raised eyebrows, but never had to pull out. However, it is always good to be prepared because there is always a first time.

[ChrisLynnet]

My long-time neighbors told me about that! They live on Pinon Mesa and their balconies face towards town. They were watching the fire on the ridges from there and were ready to leave at any moment. Like you said, they never had to. But believe me, I could cheerfully dispense with watching fires come that close! 

[RennMan]

but after that I felt like a real Wrightwoodian!
Ahh, but you are a true veteran of fire season if you've ever kicked it in lawn chairs at the elementry school watching flames on the ridge behind Jensons dance about while they refill helicopters on the field.
In my 23 years of living in WW, we were never evacuated. Had a couple of close calls and raised eyebrows, but never had to pull out. However, it is always good to be prepared because there is always a first time.

Gee, when was that fire?  We moved here in August 2003, and we were concerned about the Old/Grand Prix fire, and I know about the Curve and Narrows fires, but how long ago was the one you are referring to here?

Just curious...

[Wrightwood]

That would have been the Scout Fire in 1994

http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/Fires/MD_ANF.History.JPG