Wildfires force students from dorms, shut Pacific Coast Highway

[Saguaro]

CNN) -- A series of wildfires Sunday in Southern California led to evacuations in some areas, including the dormitories at Pepperdine University's campus in Malibu, and shut down the Malibu section of the Pacific Coast Highway.

Students at the campus were told to gather at Firestone Field House, while faculty and staff were gathering at Tyler Campus Center, campus police told CNN.

School spokesman Rick Gibson said school authorities went door-to-door clearing out the dorms. However, he said the school does not believe students and faculty are in any danger.

Los Angeles Fire Inspector Sam Padilla said the department was encouraging evacuations at the school because aerial views of the fires, fanned by winds, showed some buildings on the campus were threatened.

Power was also knocked out on the campus, he said.

The residential area Malibu Crest and vacation area Sierra Retreat also were evacuated Sunday, he said.

About 200 homes were evacuated, said Inspector Rick Dominguez of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

"We're all scared to death and we have nowhere to go," Susan Nuttall, 51, told The Associated Press as she sat in her black Mercedes in a cul-de-sac after fleeing her condominium near the Pepperdine campus. She was wearing a bathrobe and holding her Chihuahua.

Evacuation centers were set up at Zuma Beach, Dominguez said.

The winds -- between 60 and 70 mph -- could send embers flying "a mile or two," triggering flames wherever they land, Dominguez said. "With the erratic wind behavior, it's hard to see where they will land," he said. Authorities had aerial teams serving as lookouts, and sent helicopters and fire engines to areas as they became threatened, Dominguez said.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department's Web site said the Malibu Wildfire had consumed more than 500 acres and, as of 9:50 a.m. (12:50 p.m. ET), was at 0 percent containment. "Several homes have been destroyed," the site said.

About 250 firefighters were working to combat the fast-moving flames in Malibu, Padilla said.

Four homes were engulfed in flames and numerous businesses were threatened, CNN Producer Paul Vercammen reported from the scene.

Residents of the threatened areas include Dick Van Dyke, Mel Gibson, and Olivia Newton John.

Meanwhile, another wind-driven wildfire has burned more than 500 acres of woodland in the Townsend Peak area of California's Angeles National Forest, in the northern section of Los Angeles County, according to U.S. Forest Service spokesman Stanton Florea.

The fire, which started just before 10 p.m. PT Saturday, threatens a condor habitat and has destroyed one outbuilding, Florea said.

The U.S. Forest Service, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have sent 200 people to fight the fire, he said.

No evacuations have been ordered yet, he said.

Hot weather and Santa Ana winds marked the height of traditional wildfire season this weekend, after one of the driest years on record, AP reported.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/21/wildfire.ca/index.html

[Wabash]

According to CBS News last night...some gusts of wind were clocked at 108 mph!
That will make you a crispy critter before you can blink.

[Oceanbreeze]

Fires, earthquakes, mudslides, power grids,high cost of living, would be enough reason for me to leave. I hope they all stay safe.

[chinacat]

My family lives in Malibu & my BIL is a FF in San Diego county. :(

[patriotsblade]

My family lives in Malibu & my BIL is a FF in San Diego county. :(

I hope they all stay safe chinacat.

[Oceanbreeze]

I hope they all stay safe chinacat.

Ditto. I see they are evacuating nursing homes, prisons, ect. It's a mess..we have a couple of friend near Laguana Beach.

[Wabash]

I'm just sooooo glad that Ray Nagin is not there to help!:wink

[Wabash]

# Wildfires destroy 1,300 California homes
# More than 300,000 people seeking shelter


And so far...it has been organized and the people are calm.....gee, what a difference a State makes.

[Saguaro]

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Tuesday engaged Washington heavily in the wildfires sweeping across Southern California.

Bush briefly departed from his scheduled war on terror speech at the National Defense University to offer prayers for those losing houses and businesses—or about to.

“All of us across this nation are concerned for the families who have lost their homes and the many families who have been evacuated from their homes,” he said. “We send the help of the federal government.”

Bush spoke Monday with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Hours later, just before 4 a.m. EDT, he declared a federal emergency for seven California counties, a move that will speed disaster-relief efforts.

The president also sent top federal disaster officials to California to see what more could be done from Washington.

FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison and his boss, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, were expected to land on the West Coast in early evening.

As for a visit from the president himself, White House press secretary Dana Perino said it is “very premature to say.”

“They have an emergency situation and the last thing California needs right now is a trip from the president to take away assets,” she said.

Perino said the federal government is applying lessons learned from a disaster that deeply damaged Bush’s presidency—Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast in 2005 — to do a better job now.

“Integration, additional communication and cooperation amongst the state, local and federal governments has improved,” she said.

The dozen wildfires in California have burned more than 700 homes and set 245,957 acres -- 384 square miles—ablaze. At least 270,000 people have been evacuated. The wildfires have claimed at least one life and injured dozens, many firefighters. Forecasts call for hotter temperatures and high winds that most expect to dramatically increase the destruction.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21435512/

[VRWC]

# Wildfires destroy 1,300 California homes
# More than 300,000 people seeking shelter


And so far...it has been organized and the people are calm.....gee, what a difference a State makes.

:rofl:lmao:rofl:lmao

[Trueblue]

# Wildfires destroy 1,300 California homes
# More than 300,000 people seeking shelter


And so far...it has been organized and the people are calm.....gee, what a difference a State makes.

Figures you'd be unable to see the difference in the situations....so predictable. I knew before I ever logged on that some jackass would be comparing this to Katrina, as if fire and flood were identical, and the difference in response was purely the race of the victims.

[issac the dragon]

Maybe the difference is that the people who build their homes in the hills of California know they are going to burn, because the hills have burned every year for thousands of years. And maybe that is why they are calm and prepared.

[issac the dragon]

Another thing that probably adds to their calm is that they know the government workers are going to line up like good little soldiers and give them loans to build brand new homes. Unlike the people who got caught in Katrina who haven't gotten anything from anyone, except the back of the hand from people like Wabash. It pays to be rich and white.

[Wabash]

Figures you'd be unable to see the difference in the situations....so predictable. I knew before I ever logged on that some jackass would be comparing this to Katrina, as if fire and flood were identical, and the difference in response was purely the race of the victims.

I'm not comparing fire and flood...only the ethenicity and the educated, responsible citizens of this country, versus the uneducated, "govt. is the sole reason for our survival" types!

That's the truth of the matter and it is Self Evident!

[Trueblue]

I'm not comparing fire and flood...only the ethenicity and the educated, responsible citizens of this country, versus the uneducated, "govt. is the sole reason for our survival" types!

That's the truth of the matter and it is Self Evident!

You are comparing fire and flood, and black and white, and rich and poor.

You know perfectly well that plenty of those who suffered in NOLA had jobs.

[Wabash]

Another thing that probably adds to their calm is that they know the government workers are going to line up like good little soldiers and give them loans to build brand new homes. Unlike the people who got caught in Katrina who haven't gotten anything from anyone, except the back of the hand from people like Wabash. It pays to be rich and white.

Per usual ...you are full of shit and have it backwards....nothing new here...typical lib reaction!

[Trueblue]

Take two of your avatar, Wabash. It will chase away the reality.

[Wabash]

You are comparing fire and flood, and black and white, and rich and poor.

You know perfectly well that plenty of those who suffered in NOLA had jobs.

Black and White? There are PLENTY of Blacks in SD County...I've been there many times and Balboa Park is full of them every day!

Yet....they are calm, responsible, law abiding....gee, I wonder why. There is a VAST difference between the fuck offs in NO and the Good citizens of SD!
The ones in NO that had jobs, cops included, don't seem to have Brain One! Ray Nagin was and still is at the top of the "Stupid List"!!!!! The Gov. was right behind him! Stupid is as stupid does...

[Wabash]

Take two of your avatar, Wabash. It will chase away the reality.

It's not MY avatar, it was gifted to me and I would like it to be gone... I've never taken drugs for Anything....that's just STUPID! I don't need a crutch like liberals do!

[Trueblue]

Black and White? There are PLENTY of Blacks in SD County...I've been there many times and Balboa Park is full of them every day!

Yet....they are calm, responsible, law abiding....gee, I wonder why. There is a VAST difference between the fuck offs in NO and the Good citizens of SD!
The ones in NO that had jobs, cops included, don't seem to have Brain One! Ray Nagin was and still is at the top of the "Stupid List"!!!!! The Gov. was right behind him! Stupid is as stupid does...

The governor's and mayor's stupidity don't excuse the federal ineptitude.

You are not so stupid that you believe that the entire poor population of NOLA was on government assistance, or that they are all hysterical and law-breaking. Even you are not that ignorant.

Many of those who were left had stayed to work in the nursing homes, hospitals, and hotels.

[Wabash]

The governor's and mayor's stupidity don't excuse the federal ineptitude.

You are not so stupid that you believe that the entire poor population of NOLA was on government assistance, or that they are all hysterical and law-breaking. Even you are not that ignorant.

Many of those who were left had stayed to work in the nursing homes, hospitals, and hotels.

A small % compared to most of the dufuses that live there! SD County residents are far superior in every way to those of the back country of NO! "Deliverance" still exitists there...and La. is not the only state...the whole south is full of Goobers! Some of the most ignorant inbreds I have ever encountered!

[issac the dragon]

Like liberal Rush? Sorry folks, I had to say it. The :devil made me do it.

[Trueblue]

A small % compared to most of the dufuses that live there! SD County residents are far superior in every way to those of the back country of NO!

Bullshit. You are mistaken [again] about the number of welfare recipients in NOLA. Have you ever been there? Do you really believe that nobody works in all those hotels and restaurants? :lol

I don't sit around and decide which citizens are superior based on where they live. Neither do you, you are just :titanic.

[Wabash]

Like liberal Rush? Sorry folks, I had to say it. The :devil made me do it.

That makes no sense....as usual. Can you converse with a modicum of intelligence or just act like TB?

[Wabash]

Bullshit. You are mistaken [again] about the number of welfare recipients in NOLA. Have you ever been there? Do you really believe that nobody works in all those hotels and restaurants? :lol

I don't sit around and decide which citizens are superior based on where they live. Neither do you, you are just :titanic.

Nope, I don't just sit around, I've been all over the US and Europe and NO and the surrounding states have the dumbest people I have ever encountered.....just because they had jobs, doesn't qualify them for the Smart Card!:rofl2

The ignorance and stupidity was self evident and overwhelming...

[Wabash]

You libs keep talking about De Nile, I have work to do....

[patriotsblade]

It's not MY avatar, it was gifted to me and I would like it to be gone... I've never taken drugs for Anything....that's just STUPID! I don't need a crutch like liberals do!

Rush is a liberal?

[Trueblue]

Nope, I don't just sit around, I've been all over the US and Europe and NO and the surrounding states have the dumbest people I have ever encountered.....just because they had jobs, doesn't qualify them for the Smart Card!:rofl2

The ignorance and stupidity was self evident and overwhelming...

Then you've been places, you just didn't see.

And you've also changed your excuse to dislike people in NOLA but like them in CA-now it's because they are stupid. :lol

[Wabash]

Then you've been places, you just didn't see.

And you've also changed your excuse to dislike people in NOLA but like them in CA-now it's because they are stupid. :lol

Again...NO comparison!

[issac the dragon]

Rush is a liberal?

Sorry, I was responding to Wabash in post 19, when he said he didn't take drugs because he didn't need a crutch like liberals do. And I said, like liberal Rush. I should have put the quote in. I have a bad habit of watching tv while I post and I should not do it. Any way, thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it.:ringo

[Wabash]

Just heard a caller on Rush's show awhile ago...
He lives in SoCal and had to evacuate. He's mad as hell about Harry Reid's comments and the Feds in general for politicizing this disaster. He said they have a number of evacuation centers set up beside Qualcom Stadium, like high schools and the Del Mar Racetrack, etc..

At one time, he said they had more volunteers to help, than they had evacuees.


What people don't seem to understand is that these people in Ca. don't need help from the Feds....they are self sufficient, tough, and "Can Do" people! This guy said that they took 800 National Guardsmen off the border to help evacuees and fight the fires and they should leave em on the border where they belong.

In short, these folks can take care of themselves.....they aren't dependent on the Fed. Govt. for Anything!
They actually have state officials that know their jobs and how to handle the situation. They are basically having a tailgate party with everyone at the stadium!