My son battling California wildfires

[Ronni]

Pray, send warm vibes or good mojo, whatever your thing. My son is a firefighter in California and these forest fires are NO JOKE!

“California authorities have issued several evacuation orders as fires burn through parts of the state, while thousands more residents are without power amid a record-breaking heat wave.

The state is battling what some experts are calling historic weather conditions. Nearly 45 million people across the West are under an excessive heart warning or heat advisory Wednesday. High temperatures, gusty winds and low humidity are forecast, conditions that will likely contribute to a significant spread of both new and existing wildfires.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency Tuesday to deploy resources to "combat fires burning across the state which have been exacerbated by the effects of the historic West Coast heat wave and sustained high winds."


“

Story here

 

[Sliverfox]

Thoughts & prayers to all involved in fire fighting.

 

[hellomimi]

We coordinate with LAFD firefighters at the sites we do mass covid19 testing. My thoughts of protection and safety are with them.

ETA: If he works with Frank n Mellissa, there's a chance I'll get to meet your son @Ronni. Bless them gallant firefighters, I have high respect for them.

 

[Don M.]

Fighting forest fires, especially in such brutal heat to begin with, must be one of the hardest jobs on the planet. I hope he, and his fellow firefighters stay safe.

 

[Warrigal]

I understand your concern for him, Ronni.
I sincerely hope that all will be well with him as he faces the wild fires.
May angels watch over him for you, and stay by your side too.

 

[hollydolly]

I absolutely will be sending all positive thoughts, strength and prayers to your son, and all fire-fighters, who do a wonderful job with the wild fires. My daughter had a fire raging on her mountain this last week very close to her home. She could see the flames from her porch... it took 70 fire-fighters, and several planes to douse it.. Heroes all of them ..and I know from experience because my ex was a fire-fighter.
Video below of the 3rd day of the planes over my daughters' mountain...

..and you can see here just how close this was to my daughters' place...

 

[fuzzybuddy]

I have to hand it to you, Californians. If it's not forest fires, it's floods, it's draught, it's earthquake. it's the virus, it's the homeless, etc., etc. My God, we put you on the West Coast, but you want to fall into the Pacific.

 

[Pinky]

Your son is in my thoughts, Ronni.

 

[Pecos]

Ronni,

You and your son have my prayers. As best you can, try not to worry too much. He and his team will often arrive on the fire site with little logistic support. If you are able to help get fresh water, food. and sleeping gear to him it would be greatly appreciated.

My Grandson is a professional fire fighter in Washington State and has battled many of these big fires over the years. It can really get "hairy" out there and some of the photos he has sent are just plain scary.

One of the things that bothers me is how drastically underpaid these firefighters are, and how quick they are forgotten once the danger is past. In my Grandson's case the living conditions are very tough when they are out on the fire line. When he gets called to fight one in the backwoods, it is a case of grab your packable camping gear, what food you can readily stuff in your pack, and all that personally owned firefighting gear and get out the door. The unpredictability of these fires is incredible.

One of my nephews is a retired fire fighter in Red Bluff, CA. He has a lot of frightening stories as well. It is a tough, dangerous underappreciated job.

The weather conditions out West are certainly not very forgiving this year.

Again, you have my prayers.

 

[RadishRose]

Mine too, Ronni

 

[Mrs. Robinson]

[QUOTE="Pecos, post: 1454252, member:

One of the things that bothers me is how drastically underpaid these firefighters are, and how quick they are forgotten once the danger is past.
[/QUOTE]

If you mean "forgotten" as far as being fairly paid for the work they do-although in my mind,there is no amount of money that can fairly reimburse these firefighters for what they do-then I totally agree. If you mean forgotten as far as being appreciated for what they do,I`m here to tell you I, and I am definitely not alone,am thankful every single day for them.

Our county is on fire right now too-although thankfully not close to us. But we have go bags packed and ready. Had incredible thunder and lightning storms Sunday morning and all day Monday. They started 6-8 big fires here,that are now all blending into one. My DIL`s parents live a couple of hours south of us and have been evacuated,as well as our grandson`s gf and her family.Son in laws 2 grandmas-both in their 90s-are packed and ready to go if they get the word. They all live in the same town.

I am a California native,and have never in my life seen fires like this. This all started 5 or 6 years ago. So strange.

 

[Mrs. Robinson]

Oh,and Ronni,my prayers are with your son and all of his fellow firefighters.

 

[Barbiegirl]

Ronni, I will keep your son and your family in my thoughts. My cousin is retired from a 20+ year career fighting forest fires - those men and women are a very special breed. They quite literally rush in where angels fear to tread. May your son be safe, and may the fires soon abate.

 

[StarSong]

Thinking of him @Ronni, and grateful for his professionalism.

 

[RadishRose]

Mrs R. may you and your family all be safe.
You go through this almost every year I've known you, it seems.

 

[AnnieA]

Prayers for safety for your son, @Ronni and the people fighting along side him!

 

[PamfromTx]

Your son is in my thoughts and prayers
, Ronni.

 

[PopsnTuff]

Unbelievable task for your son and the crew....you and your family are in my thoughts daily for safety Ronnie (((( ❤ ))))

 

[gennie]

Tough job. I hope he stays safe.

 

[CinnamonSugar]

Prayers and appreciation for your son and his fellow firefighters

 

[MarkinPhx]

Thanks to your son for doing what he does. My thoughts to him , you, and the entire family. Let's hope this blasted high pressure over the area breaks soon.

 

[Mrs. Robinson]

Mrs R. may you and your family all be safe.
You go through this almost every year I've known you, it seems.

Thank you,RR-and yes,I`m about done with it. This morning a friend I went to high school with posted that she had been evacuated. Well,late this afternoon she posted that she lost her home. They were woken up and evacuated in the middle of the night and the flames,embers and smoke were swirling around their home. Power was out. So they got their dogs and cats and got out with nothing else. They have lived in their home for 30 years. Just heartbreaking.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

My online BFF, who I got finally got the chance to meet after 13 years, lives in California. The other day she posted a picture of the fire in the background. The other fires weren't close to her but this one seemed to be a bit too close and frightening to see. She said it was 20 miles but if it headed her direction, it could be a problem. I was worried for her. That being said, I sure will keep you son in prayer because he's literally too close for comfort. God bless him for his service and keep him safe!

 

[Mrs. Robinson]

My online BFF, who I got a chance to me finally after 13 years, lives in California. The other day she posted a picture of the fire in the background. The other fires weren't close to her but this one seemed to be a bit too close and frightening to see. She said it was 20 miles but if it headed her direction, it could be a problem. I was worried for her. That being said, I sure will keep you son and prayer because he's literally too close for comfort. God bless him for his service and keep him safe!

20 miles is nothing.As we left town in 2018 and were at the top of the mountain,we saw a small plume of smoke waaaaay off in the distance,many.many miles away.Then we went around another turn and saw another.By the next day,those fires had converged on our home-well,the driveway.I was stunned that they could have traveled that far that fast. I have decided that if we get anything closer than where it is now,we will be loading up the car. Getting woken up in the middle of the night and possibly having no power does not appeal to me at all!

 

[RadishRose]

@Ronni, what have you heard from your son today (if anything)?
God bless him and all the fighters!