David Zephyr's home is still standing (literally a miracle)

They were on their way there when I spoke to him this AM. The thing that saved his home was it happened to be WHERE the firefighters were set up meeting the forest, and attempting to hold back the fire.

Their yard is gone and their neighborhood looks like a war zone of burned out foundations...many neighbors didn't do so well.

They are certain they will need to move out for awhile, the smoke damage is sever but the home is there.

He thanked everyone for the well wishes.

:-)

Firefighters are an amazing lot. They have my highest respect.

The danger they put themselves in is unquantifiable.

Whew.

Meanwhile, my friend is being evacuated from her Box Canyon house - can we send her and her neighbors some of the same positive vibes? Thanks! :hi:

Very happy to hear it. Give him and his partner our best.

sending positive vibes

eom

I've been so worried about my family members in the San Diego area last night that I about puked when I saw the post about Zephyr's house.

This is WONDERFUL!!! I am doing a happy dance right now! :-)

It's depressing when bad things happen to good people, and Dave's definitely one of the good ones. I was so bummed about his predicament, it just sounded hopeless. Thanks for the news NSMA, my spirits are up, up, up!!

Boy, when there are smoke clouds on the horizon (or visible flames), that big red truck and those anonymous figures in heavy yellow coats and helmets are a sight for sore eyes. Hosers ROCK!

(It's a cop friend of mine who calls 'em the hosers - I picked it up from her.)

I'm glad David is okay and his house is still intact. Hope you're doing okay, too, Teena.

I am so HAPPY and RELIEVED for David!!! :bounce: I hope everyone else will be as lucky.

All I can say is my heart is with everyone through this.

But at least it's over with for you.

That's great news. I thought for sure after your thread yesterday NSMA that DZ's house would be gone today.
How nice it is to be 'pleasantly shocked' for a change.

My folks and their house made it through OK too. It was close, not as close as DZ's house, but close enough.

Thank Goddess :-)

This makes me so happy. :hug: to all the DUers going through this crisis.

:hi:

The fire was up to 80 feet high and miles wide and came upon Claremont so fast that we had to scamper out of our homes with hardly any warning at all.

I have just come down to my company for a few moments from the war zone that once was our postcard-like neighborhood and wanted to express my gratitude for the private messages of well wishes in my inbox and those who posted publicly here for your thoughts and kind words of support.

Thank you, Nothingshocksmeanymore, for being such a good and caring friend and for your phone calls of support.

Our home was spared only because of the valient efforts of a host of firefighters, both men and women. Still, there is nothing but destruction all around our home with others not being as fortunate as we were. It has been a living hell since Saturday night, a living hell.

Our home should have been the first to go up in flames as it sits at the very beginning of the Angeles National Forest. However, since it was the front line, it is also where all of the firefighters and equipment was stationed...this alone saved our home, our memories, and a lifetime of collecting books.

One of the saddest aspects of this horrific fire which is seldom mentioned and which we are grieving over is the unforgivable loss of precious and inocent wildlife. The deer, bears, coyotes, mountain lions, hundreds of species of birds and California plants and trees.

Our backyard is now filled with dozens of wild rabbits with no place else to go.

The human race is really destroying our sacred planet.

Thanks again to all those who have expressed concern for our welfare.

I'm heading back up the mountain now to help Carlos with the clean-up.

I hope that no one here ever has to go through such an experience as this.

--DZ

and some of us are available for clean-up ;-)

Just know you have alot of friends that care and some that are lucky enough to be close by to give you a helping hand like NSMA as offered, she has been terrific informing all of us.
You & Carlos are in our thoughts and prays friend.

NSMA...Give David a Big Hug From All Of Us!:grouphug:

Here's a Big One For You Teena,
you are quite the friend we love! :hug:

has to be very hard, even if his home is still there. To see all that around, and as you said in your earlier post there may be very bad smoke damage, so he isn't in the clear yet, but still he has the walls and personal stuff.

I look forward to your updates. It's so bad out there, it's good to know we can be aware of what fellow DU'ers are going through from your posts.

Again, thanks.

I'm so glad to hear this but at the same time devastated
at the total loss of so many homes and lives .