Live Blogging The CA Wildfires

We're about 1/2 mile from the fire and this weather station is on our roof....

Thought I'd send this in case you want to check the local weather

http://www.weatherusa.net/weathernet/ca-granada/

Sent in by Linda

Monday,on the 118 in the vicinity of Porter Ranch, I couldn't believe my eyes, as I watched this man toss a lite cigeretter out and over the roof of his car, I saw him again today, window open and flicking cig ashes out the window exiting Collins off the 118 near Moorpark, He must be stopped and held responsible. I rolled down my window and yelled" Are you trying to start another fire?
Sent in by Melanie

Description : Los Angeles County firefighter signals to a water dropping helicopter at the Merek Fire
Sent in by Steve

Description : fire over lost canyon golf corse in simi valley
Fire Conditions Seen : very windy
Sent in by Scott

I am 1 of about 278 a licensed, bonded Public Insurance Adjusters in California. There are so few of us because people with our knowledge go to work for the insurance companies. I only represent the people. I am also a Building & Engineering Contractor (projects as large as the Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX). I provided Judicial Services to AAA for 17 years on their large, Complext Case Panel before retiring. I live at the Park in Porter Ranch and watched this unfold. (News) comments about scam-artists and Contractors but fails to emphasize how much licensed experts can help; or even the real scam, the insurance company rip offs I see so frequently. You should let the people know that some legitimate people provide a good service, ones like me have AAA Rating with the Better Business Bureau and have gotten almost 40 Times more than what the insurance company offerred.
Sent in by Harman

http://www.piercecollege.edu/

Sent in by Lindsay

Sent in by Andy
Address Of Fire Observation : santiago estates - sylmar

Your reporter stated about the dozer operations not being able to stop a fire and that they where out there because "It was better than nothing" this statement can't be farther from the truth. First do you think that these brave operators would risk their lives for such a worthless attempt. The fact is that these highly trained and experienced professionals use the wind and the topography to chose a line and cut a fire break that not only stops but extinguishes that side of the fire. These huge dozers do the same thing as a handcrew but on a much larger scale and many times faster. If you would review your tape you would find footage of the operator putting himself and his maching in direct peril and attacking the fire head-on inmediately reducing the spread on that fire flank and infact controlling the burn. True, you can not use this same technic on the head of the fire but these firefighters are saving both civilian and firefighter lives by their expertise and braveness in putting themselves in harms way. You mjght notice that there are no fire trucks or hoselines to back them up. Their only protection is a coordinated operation with the Air Attack and their incredible knowledge and training in fire behavior. I worked on one of the City's teams and would be happy to educate you more on your many misconceptions of the fire operations.
-Sent in by Kirk

From Fire

Description : This morning 10/14/08, the day after the fire started. My job site trailer burned down to the ground.
Fire Conditions Seen : Yesterday we eveacuated teh job site, the ambers we saw were the size of hockeys pucks coming at us.
Sent in by Vince