UPDATE: 1200 Homes Lost, More In Danger

UPDATE: See latest post as San Diego County has announced 1,200 homes have burned and rising quickly!

This roller coaster ride we're on seems to never stop. Without the joy of the big drop at your local amusement park, each hour brings fear, heartache and the cold stark reality of what is happening.

Local reports from California Fire officials now say 500 homes have been lost in less than 24 hours as a result of this fire. That's not a typo - 500 homes.

The scope of the disaster has yet to sink in as we all just band together to offer support and hope. All of my friends are now displaced throughout the county and it seems as though we're playing a game with this blaze. It now appears two friends of mine have lost their homes. I don't know what to say to them other than that I am here for them.

We are now welcoming another family into our home as for some unknown reason we're in a very small safety zone. Here in Carlsbad, 30 miles north of downtown San Diego, we seem to have avoided disaster for today. We still have a long night ahead so we're not counting our chicks before they're hatched.

As nightfall fell, I couldn't help but worry about the safety of my family as well. Despite living in a very low-crime area, with police and emergency officials occupied with fighting fires, the thought of looters and hooligans has crossed my mind. Luckily I am armed and ready should my life or family be threatened.

The winds in my area are calm right now. That's not the typical report for San Diego County.

We badly need a break in this weather but the latest reports say we won't have it until Wednesday. I can't imagine two more days of this hell. It's taking its toll on me now as I've slept just about three hours total the past two days.

We'll be sleeping in shifts tonight...joined together to get through this day of despair.

Scott...

Comments

[Gully]

Thanks Richard...an honest mistake. Maybe you should relax a little and understand it was a mistake. I live here in San Diego as you do so there would be no reason to mislead. My credibility on my family blog?

Relax a little. An email to me would have been fine...

[Richard Laycock]

Your picture is very dramatic but you're probably aware that it's a phony. That is it's the El Cajon valley shot from Mt. Merritt in 2003.

You really shouldn't put up a picture of the 2003 fire in a post re: the 07 fires. Your picture is now circulating all over the net to people who think it's a current photo.

Maybe no real harm done I suppose except perhaps to your credibility.

R.