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Reaper: All you guys rock - although I am 500 miles away in No. Calif, the news is dominated with our state's devastating fires. It brings back memories of watching a wildfire on the ridge of the next canyon over from our home while living in Laguna Beach years ago. Such a scary and unsettling experience.

My best buddy lives in South Lake Tahoe and was very close to that fire, mandatory evacuation. She has a friend whose parents lost everything a few months ago. Although there was no loss of lives, everyone can imagine the emotional impact, sense of loss and grief caused by losing your home - the place we can definitely chill, that gives us the most comfort and security. After all of that, every neighbor, friend, etc. who lost their home, all said this: how grateful and thankful they were to all the firefighters in their brave efforts to save their property and later, how it all made them feel a sense of comfort in the major disruption of their lives.

That is pretty cool and a great compliment.

When I was in Bocas Town, Panama 2 years ago, the town had a major celebration, parade, the whole works, honoring Panamanian firefighters. I was lucky enough to watch the procession, closing down the main drag in the small town. They are quite an honored group there as well.

Reaper thanks so much for the update. We're all praying for you and the other S. Californians. Stay safe!

Great to see the board members joining in prayer over the situation in SoCal.We join with everyone else speaking to the winds to die down and that reaper and all the emergency workers are protected by the hand of God.We ask for provision for those who have lost homes and belongings---- Preacher Man

Amen

I can attest to the fantastic job the firefighters are doing. I live in Poway - one of the most devastated areas. Luckily, the fires were turned back about 2 miles from my house. This is the second fire to come this close in the past 4 years. I saw some of the devastation when I drove to a friend's house today. She told me I wouldn't have to deal with firestorms if I moved to Belize. But then there ARE hurricanes...

Mike - hurricanes do not do the damage that a fire storm does. And it doesn't smell bad for months to come. LOL So, come on down and build a cement house.

Seems like cement might be a good option anyplace!

my sister (in malibu) and my mom's cousins (SD) have been evacuated too. keep those good thoughts coming...

sis has been evacuated 4 times now. at times like this, PA doesn't look so bad.

I have staff en route to San Diego tonight. We are doing some triage claims training for new streamlined processes to help our policyholders. I'm proud of my company right now -- hope we can add a little comfort during this very trying time.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.
It is still smokey as hell, there are fires burning, and it is still hot, but not like the past few days. The wind has died down and helped out the firefighting efforts. We still have about 30 guys out at the Lake Arrowhead blaze.
One of our guys lost his entire home to the fire in Running Springs, by Lake Arrowhead. Some of our San Diego friends have lost everything.
Maybe if I get energetic I'll do a blog about what a firestorm is like. I still can't understand why people stay behind to save their house. It's just a house unless they stay alive to make it a home...
GWB and Arnold were in San Diego back slapping and posing for photo ops. As a firefighter it makes me sick to my stomach to see them using politics during a disaster. They are comparing it to Katrina. The two of them haven't made a bit of difference in this disaster, we go through this every year, not to this magnitude though. The California fire service is very efficient at getting things handled. We have been perfecting it for years. In New Orleans and the Gulf coast area it was way overwelming of a disaster for the locals to handle. They needed lots more than an Air Force One flyover down there.
After 9-11, GWB realized that the fire service in America is the first line of defense against a terror attack. We were promised billions to upgrade equipment and training. Iraq got 90 new fire engines right after "Mission Accomplished". They weren't even purchased from a US manufacturer. We got squat. The air attack planes we have are from the Orville and Wilbur era, federal firefighters work a 72 hour work week and get very low pay. In San Diego, the fire chief quit after the Cedar fire killed 22 people, including a firefighter. He requested some new stations, equipment and firefighters for the RANCHO BERNARDO area. He retired when the mayor and Governator turned him down. This was unfortunately predicted to happen, a massive firestorm racing through the North County area. Ahnold has been screwing with the fire service since he was elected, trying to lay off manpower, raid the pension fund to balance the budget and doing away with political action funds to help save our benefits. And then whenever a photo opportunity to pose with us he gushes how great we are to the world. It's time for him to put his money where his mouth is.
OK, I just fell of of my soapbox! Enough of that!

So yeah, I'm a little worn out after five days on duty and 68 calls later, but I get to go home in the morning, see the family and give big hugs, and then go help some friends dig through the rubble.

Thanks for all of the positive vibes! I shared this with a few of the guys and they crack up that a bunch of folks around the globe with Belize in common all care about each other so much!
You guys are the BEST!

I was talking with Kristine tonight about writing a book. We talk about it once in a while after I tell her some of the funny or horrible things I witness. When I got on the fire dept. in 1979 I figured I would just get a few cats out of trees and run into a burning building once in a while.
Who knew it would involve firestorms, water rescues, riots, floods, earthquakes, 100 car pileups, delivering babies and patching up gang bangers...

He TacoGirl, can you show me how to blog next time I'm down??????:)