News is reporting that a lost hunter started a fire to find his companion around 1am that got out of control. That is the story and he is now in custody. Unfortunatly it was at the worst time. Weather conditions at the time were Santa Ana, a worse case scenario for a fire. It literally snuck up on the rest of us as well. Sunday morning typically means late risers in our house since we don't have church till Noon. We did notice that it smelled like a fire in the morining but we were aware of the San Bernadino/Camp Pendleton fires and simply figured the expected Santa Ana's had brought in the smoke. It was not until I walked out the door to head to a 10am meeting that I realized the fire was closer than we thought. Looking out the front door the light on the ground was an orangish/amber color, like the light of sunrise. We looked up to see a smoke filled sky and then noticed the ash on the ground. The fire closest to us and immediatly in view appeared to be over the hill in Valley Center. And we thought it was the only fire in the region. It wasn't until I got into the car and heard the radio that I realized ours was one of 3 fires in San Diego county. Besides the one threating us from Valley Center, There was one burning in Scripps ranch threating Poway and other in Alpine threating Santee. See Maps showing affected fire areas

At our church building we could clearly see flames on on distant but visible ridge. While at church I got the first news of evacuations. My brother who lives in Tierra Santa/Santee in Southeast San Diego was told to evacuate. A short time later Valley Center residents showed up at our church building mentioning they were told to evacuate and that they decided to come down here. Now that made 2 locations were poeple were being evacuated.

Finally upon returning home we truly got an idea of how bad the situation was as reports came out that major freeways were being closed, all schools in the county were being asked to close doors, the mayor asked business to close thier doors for the next day so roads would be clear for emergency crews and those being evacuated. We have readied necessary 72 hour kits and supplies so we can go if the notice comes. We are keeping and eye on the Fire reports and ears glued to radio as it was the medium giving the most updated reports. Keep us in your prayers and ask for rain to be sent to us.

10/27/03 We are doing our best to keep out ears glued to the radio and remain sane. Outside the during the day the light is strangly filtered. As of right now, Fires seems to be blown north and south of us so we are not in any imminent danger. But to assist emergency vehicles on getting to hotspots and to conserve precious resources, public officials have called for school closures and for all businesses in the San Diego areas to let their workers stay home today. Fires most recently are being blown away from our homes. Looks like most people that are able are being asked to return to work and other normal activities tommorrow. The ash in the air is near overwhelming filled with particulate matter. Although we seem to be out of danger, I am not looking forward to leaving my family tommorrow.

10/28/03 The fires in our area are all but contained in the main city areas, now we are just worrying about friends in more remote areas that are still in the path of the fire. I went to work today but it was very hard to concentrate especially fires had been very near my workplace and the smoky atmosphere left a heavy lump in us the mirrored out feelings as we got sad reports of fellow co-workers who had lost their homes and community members who had lost lives or were seriously injured. We were encouraged by the fact that high winds of the Santa Ana miracuosly calmed even though the warm temputatures continued. This made it easier for firefighters to direct the flames away from populated areas.

I was alarmed at work when I received a message that my wife was taking our children down to my mothers house near me in Poway. When the fires had been near us if we were to be evacuated, we had made it our plan to go to my mothers house. Before I could make an excuse to call my wife and find out why she was leaving, when I had been assured by reports that our home was no danger. I received another message that the smoke was so bad in Escondido and the kids were coughing so much she felt it was in our best interest to stay for at least a day and that night in my mothers home where she had an air filter that made the air much clearer in her home compared to ours. As the day continued a marine layer rolled in from the ocean and combined with heavy polluted air to turning the sky obscure orange and strangely "dark as night" by 3pm. Whispers around work included things like "last days" and "isn't this in the bible". But it turned out that marine layer was more of a blessing instead of a dark omen. The water in the air combined with particulate matter weighing it down alot making the air much clearer the next day.

As I rejoined my family after work, we did our best to take advantage of the opportunity to stay up late. Mother was still not working because schools were closed due to the poor air quality in the county and because I was going to be staying in Poway I could sleep in a little as I was so near to work. We played board games to pass the evening and keep a happy face for the children. But after spending the whole day at grandmas Rachel knew that normally we would be going home. The only time we spent the night at Grandmas before we had arrived in the evening and spent the next day there. So when we informed Rachel that it was bedtime she said "ok, go home now." When we told her were staying here, she was not happy, this was not want we normally did. She demanded as 2 yrs olds do that we go home so she could sleep in her bed. We told her we couldn't. Rachel did not want to hear that and threw a fit. We made a game out of it and eventually got her to bed but only after we agreed that we sleep in the same room as her. No matter how hard we tried Rachel knew something wasn't right.

10/29/03 Just when we thought we San Diego as a whole was in the clear, the high winds have started back up. Where the fires are still burning in remote areas flames are moving rapidly again and now threating homes in the more inland areas or Ramona, Julian, and Palomar Mountain. Even with the concern for out inland neighbors a sense of normalcy returns and we mourn for the losses of our friends and efforts begin to start collections for fellow co-workers that have lost homes, property and worst of all, lives of loved-ones. As the day rolls on, those in the city areas unthreatened by approaching fires give thanks for winds that further cleared the air and let us breath easier, but with heavy hearts we watched as smoke still billowed in the distance meaning the fires in more rural areas were still not completly contained and fear for friends and loved ones still held portions of out hearts.

When my wife stopped by the house to get additional clothes for the kids she felt ok that we could return home by nightfall and so we could put our children at ease. As much as the kids like being at Grandmas, we could tell that they could sense that all was not normal. And returning home to their comfort zone we could immediatly see relief in my daughter expressions that told us she may have understood more than we know about how dangerous the situation might have been and as much as we tried to hide it and put on a good face for the kids, to a point the could see mommy and daddy were worried. To further put them at ease we went out to dinner to celebrate our good fortune and safety. The waitress was very kind though we could see she they were shortstaffed. Actually there were not many customers anyway and they were glad that we would celebrate during these trying times. As bedtimes neared there was little of the normal stalling for a later bedtime and Rachel asked if she could say the nightly family prayer. It was simple yet beatiful. The high stress of the previous days has left me exausted so I close this now hoping it is the final chapter of this personal saga that I will feel compelled to share. If I see you not again. Good morning, Good Afternoon and Good night.