Having done a “bug out” for a fire evacuation for the first time, I can look back and give ourselves about a B+ grade overall. We were able to get organized as a family pretty well. I managed to grab clothing, toiletries, passport, laptop, phone charger, my favorite pillow, and some handicrafts to keep me busy for an unknown number of days. (For those curious: I grabbed one SCA dress and there was one bellydance outfit already in my car. If we lost everything, I would have had one of each.) Turned out my toothbrush was missing from my standard travel bag of toiletries. But my sister had more toothbrushes at her house, so that was an easy remedy. When I left my sister’s place, I forgot to pack up my shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, and toothpaste. But overall, we managed to evacuate efficiently. Both my Sweetie and Boyo forgot shampoo when they grabbed their toiletries. Sweetie forgot a phone charger that went to a wall outlet (just had a USB cord version). And Boyo forgot the power cord to his laptop. Sweetie also grabbed absolutely all his Santa gear, since that’s his living for the next two months. Final tally: we all had our passports and the “important papers” folder, clothing, shoes, important gear, prescriptions, and each other.
My sister lives “29 miles away” from my house, which I normally consider an hour away. Her new home is tucked into some extreme canyons and hills, so I had zero cell coverage at her home. It’s very odd to only have Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and email available, and no calls or texts. I created a “meme image” that I could post on all the social media just to let friends and family know how to contact me.
Sweetie and Boyo went back home a day before me and spent extra time running the humidifier and fans to air out and improve the air in the house. Plus they had time to unpack the Santa gear and start airing it out from the heavy smoke smell. We were *extremely* fortunate because the fire skipped our neighborhood entirely. There’s open wilderness across the street from us, and fire came to that hill. But we are on the edge of a densely packed residential section and the fire fighters saved us all.
The rest of this area is not as lucky. There are still freeway closures. There were homes lost about 1-2 miles due east of us (“south” on the 101 freeway from us). And the wilderness between the 101 and PCH is where “Old Mullholand” runs along the ridges of the mountains. I don’t know how many homes and ranches were lost. And there are still active fires being fought.
For now, I am just inconvenienced. I have to drive long paths out of my way to go around the freeway closures. And I am awake today before 4 AM, to make certain I can get to work on time / early. But I have a home to go to. I have my entire family. My job was not affected.
I am thankful beyond belief.
* * * * *
Also? Apparently I handle the stress of waiting by making things by hand that require my attention.
5:00 AM - I live under the "Westlake Village" section of this map. Currently the fire maps say this is what's burning. Trying to see if there's a way to get to work or not.
6:15 AM - I've stopped at the end of my driveway, looking over the golf course across the street.
6:15 AM - That heavy smoke to my right is supposed to be the direction I would drive to work.
6:20 AM - The cops have turned me around at Reyes Adobe. I'm headed back to my house, and I've pulled over on the side of the road. This is what I can see on the other side of the freeway from me. This is looking towards Oak Park.
6:20 AM - The Woolsey Fire has blocked my ability to drive to work. Trying to figure out if I have to just evacuate or go to work another route. Frustrated, confused. #fire #woolseyfire
6:45 AM - So. I definitely am not going to be able to get to work. Am trying to figure out if I have to evacuate today. Sitting tight, packing quietly. #WoolseyFire
10 AM - Tried to take Boyo to work, but it was locked up. We've already packed my car with my clothing and laptop plus Boyo's overnight bag and laptops. We're about to pack up Sweetie.
10:30 AM - All the cars are packed and we're evacuating. This is the corner of Agoura Rd and Lindero Canyon Rd. My home is off to the right (out of view) and the fire is on the hill directly across from us.
10:30 AM - All the cars are packed and we're evacuating. This is the corner of Agoura Rd and Lindero Canyon Rd. My home is off to the right (out of view) and the fire is on the hill directly across from us.
10:30 AM - We're leaving. That's the view looking south on Agoura Rd toward the mountains and the ocean. There's wilderness for the next dozen miles in that direction, all on fire.
10:30 AM - The hill across from our homes is one fire, flames visible. This is above the small library branch on Agoura Rd near Lindero Canyon.
11 AM - I've made it to Simi Valley. That plume is due south of me and directly behind my home neighborhood.
11 AM - I've made it to Simi Valley. That plume is due south of me and directly behind my home neighborhood.
1 PM - I've made it to my sister's house. Google maps is showing me all the road closures surrounding my home (which is approximately under the double-L in Westlake Village on the map). Oak Park has been hit hard, then the fire jumped the freeway and is racing toward the ocean through the hills and wilderness. There are very expensive neighborhoods and ranches up in those hills.
2:15 PM - I am fine. My Sweetie and the Boyo are fine. We evacuated. I am curled up at my sister's. Then I took a peek at Google maps and saw the road closures. I think I will just keep hand-sewing for sanity and calm thoughts. Because there's nothing else I can do but wait. #WoolseyFire
8:15 PM - Evacuated and seven plus hours hanging out with "nothing to do but wait" so I finished making a drawstring bag by hand from scraps, including hand finishing all the edges. Finally, a larger spinning bag. #WoolseyFire #crafty #textiles
8:50 PM - New spinning bag is big enough for a gallon ziploc spinning project. ❤️❤️❤️ #crafty #textiles #spinning #dropspindle #handsewing
November 11 - NOAA satellite photo of all California fires in the North and South. That smoke covers areas larger than some states.
Saturday 10:30 AM - Today's hand sewing while staying evacuated from the fires involves making quilted cloth from scraps before making projects. #crafty #textiles #handsewing #WoolseyFire
12:30 PM - Over at my sister's house, I saw an icon with four wavy lines on my weather app. Having never seen it before, I tapped it and found this is the symbol for a forecast of "Smoke" today. I've never seen anything like this. The weather at my sister's house was blue sky at the time, but all day long the smoke rolled in and filled their valleys.
12:50 PM - Sweetie and Boyo have returned to check on the house. This is the view from our porch. (a) YAY WE HAVE A HOME, (b) look at how heavy the smoke glare is at noon.
Saturday 10:30 AM - I am safely evacuated but there's no cell coverage at my sister's for my phone service. I am not getting texts or calls. Please use internet communication (messenger, email, etc.) #WoolseyFire
Saturday 11:50 AM - Front (top) and back (bottom) progress so far today. Hand sewing is keeping me from stressing out. #crafty #textiles #handsewing #WoolseyFire #evacuated #somethingtodo
2:30 PM - I bought these fabric scraps from a friend who sells bellydance skirts and things. I sent her a closeup of my stitches.
Saturday 7:50 PM - Stripes have been turned into strips and then shifted to make patchwork checkers... Time to sew these together next. 💛❤️💛❤️💛 #crafty #textiles #handsewing
Sunday 7:30 PM - My happy announcement on social media when I was finally able to get home after just under 2.5 days away. So grateful (a) that we have a home and (b) that we were able to come back so quickly. Others are not as fortunate. #WoolseyFire
Monday 7:45 AM - Current state of the fires and evacuation zones. See the tiny strip in the center along the freeway? I live just under the red evacuation edge where it says "Westlake Village." The yellow is what burned or is currently burning. The red are evacuation zones. The green evacuation zones have been lifted.
Third skein finished (the one in the front). Skeins are smaller when the spindle shaft is shorter. I may need to make a longer shaft for my Outell spindle whirl. #crafty #textiles #spinning
Finished a 2nd skein (mostly spun while relaxing Friday) and started the 3rd today (while enjoying the Harry Potter marathon on TV) #crafty #textiles #spinning