Los Angeles Fires

[JFBNY]

Hello friends,

I am wondering how people who live in the LA area, like Tall Allen, are managing with the devastating fires?

Take care.

James

[Tall_Allen]

Thanks for asking. My throat is raw from breathing the smoky air, but otherwise I'm safe. The two main fires are about 20 miles in opposite directions from where I live. I lost power for only an hour. My friend in Altadena lost his home, sadly.

[Ridethetide in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thinking about you and all the others impacted by this hellish disaster

[Tall_Allen in reply to Ridethetide]

Thanks. I think that with Global Warming, we will see more of this kind of thing.

[Nusch in reply to Tall_Allen]

Definitely! It’s sad, that we don’t find a better way to fight global warming all together.

[fast_eddie in reply to Tall_Allen]

I wonder if advances will need to be made in construction to make structures more fire resistant in areas prone to fires. Maybe steel framing instead of wood framing? Pre-cast concrete walls typical of commercial construction instead of the wood framed chicken wire and stucco walls like my home in the Phoenix area? It is a tragedy on a scale never seen before in terms of destruction and displacement of people and complete loss of personal belongings.

[CrackerOcala in reply to fast_eddie]

My friend in San Diego had fire retardant lumber for his roof joists and sheathing and concrete tile roof. . . Here in Florida it is common to construct with concrete blocks. That combined with a clay tile roof would go a long way.

[OldTiredSailor in reply to fast_eddie]

We tried to build a house halfway between Ramona and Julian in San Diego County, the foothills of the San Diego mountains. We discovered a lot of newer technology that could be integrated into the new home construction. Using the correct materials and technology, and keeping adequate defensible space, would have made the home almost fire proof. The fire adaption only added about 5% to the cost of the house.

But... new & changing county fire regulations required us to improve the road (half-mile up a 10% grade with two switch backs) for fire equipment access and to install a 20,000 gallon water tank with a normal fire hydrant. There was also a lot of BS about inspecting and permitting. That would have added another 20% to the cost of the build.

Eventually we decided dealing with all the new code and compliance issues was more than we wanted to engage.

PS - it was 10-acres on top of a ridge with fantastic view. There was a great patio and pool because the prior house had burned down in the '07 Witch Fire.

[NIKKIWOOD in reply to Ridethetide]

Allen -- I too am glad you escaped the ravages of the fire, but I'm sorry about breathing all that smoke. This forum needs you.................. probably more than you know.

[Fran57 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Good to hear you are ok. Stay safe.

Fran 🤞🏻

[Fozzworth in reply to Tall_Allen]

I fly to Los Angeles on Sunday to go to UCLA radiation oncology

[Tall_Allen in reply to Fozzworth]

Say hi to Amar Kishan for me. Bring N95 masks to filter out the smoke particles.

[Fozzworth in reply to Tall_Allen]

Were you treated me Kishan?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Fozzworth]

No, but he knows me well.

[garyjp9 in reply to Tall_Allen]

TA, I am also glad to hear you are OK. I did not realize you were in LA proper. My nephew in Pasadena has smoke damage from the Eaton Fire, but fortunately his house is still there.

[JFBNY]

I'm glad for you. It seems like a war zone and I know of at least two people who have lost their homes and others who have been evacuated. I hope you and all Angelenos take care of yourselves. Jim

[Mike968]

Seeing all of the destruction and loss makes my PCa issues seem more manageable somehow. All about perspective…

Glad you’re ok TA, and here’s hoping they get these fires under control soon.

[j-o-h-n]

Global warming?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[fast_eddie in reply to j-o-h-n]

Santa Ana warming for sure.

[CrackerOcala in reply to fast_eddie]

Ana ain’t no saint.