A 200 Acre Wildfire is Burning Near my House!

@TheHorse (238347)
Walnut Creek, California
June 29, 2018 8:45pm CST
My commute home from work in Berkeley was slow today, in part because of the fire engines and police cars racing by us on Highway 24 East. There is a wildfire burning where my horse and I used to ride sometimes, about two miles East of my house in a dry Open Space. Several neighborhoods have been evacuated, and the blaze is "50% contained," whatever that means. I'll attach a picture I took from my truck on the way home. One of my former kid clients lives in one of the threatened neighborhoods. I hope they're OK. I have an 8:10 PM softball game tonight, and wonder if it will be cancelled, due to the poor air quality. I can smell the smoke from my house.
17 people like this
19 responses
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117259)
• El Paso, Texas
30 Jun 18
Oh no, not again, you'd think Mother Nature would give CA a break. At least I hope these fires are caused by Nature and not some jerk with a match.
2 people like this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117259)
• El Paso, Texas
30 Jun 18
It's been a problem there for the last few years right @TheHorse ? I hope you get rain.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
@rebelann Yes, it has. We had one really good year of rain, but the ground is still dry. The grass is all yellow now and ready to burn.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
They don't know yet. It's really dry here right now. I wish we would get some rain.
2 people like this
Toni
@toniganzon (77247)
• Philippines
30 Jun 18
Wildfires could happen during the summer season.
2 people like this
Toni
@toniganzon (77247)
• Philippines
30 Jun 18
@TheHorse Our risk is already over now. It was from March to May. It could get really dry in the summer season here that grass turns to brown and could easily catch fire.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
From June to October, we are at-risk.
2 people like this
Sandy
@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
4 Jul 18
The fires are terrible in many states already this year. Be safe and please leave if it gets to close to you.
1 person likes this
Sandy
@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
5 Jul 18
@TheHorse I am praying that you are. We have quite a fire going on here in Colorado. Actually there is 6 of them but the one down south is the worse. I know that area very well and know what is out there. If the wind comes up it could be real nasty.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Jul 18
@velvet53 I hope they get it under control soon.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jul 18
I think I'm protected by nearby neighborhoods. But you never know.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
30 Jun 18
I hope that by now the blaze has been contained. Wild fires are common in Summer.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
30 Jun 18
@TheHorse I am glad it was contained. It's very hot here today, but it's not humid, it's bearable.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
Apparently they got it contained yesterday evening. I do see a bit of haze to the East as I sip my first cup of coffee.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
@LadyDuck Same here. I have no gigs or other obligations, so I'm going to hit the pool.
1 person likes this
rakski
@rakski (156578)
• Philippines
30 Jun 18
oh gosh, I hope everything is good and no people hurt
1 person likes this
rakski
@rakski (156578)
• Philippines
30 Jun 18
@TheHorse oh I see. So will the softball game push through?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
@rakski We did get the game in. Have a two week break now.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
There are no reports of injuries so far. They don't know yet what caused the blaze.
1 person likes this
Felicia Kane
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
30 Jun 18
That's so scary. Fires around this time, although are common, just make me so sad.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
I don't think any homes were lost in this one. We DID play our softball game. I could not smell smoke while we were playing.
Felicia Kane
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
1 Jul 18
@TheHorse Well that is good!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Jul 18
@DesirousDreamer But then I saw two new plumes of smoke this morning. I'm not sure what's up.
Hope
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
30 Jun 18
Sorry to hear that! I hope they are able to put it out soon.
1 person likes this
Hope
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
30 Jun 18
@TheHorse Forest fires are tricky.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
I thought it was out last night. But then I saw two new plumes of smoke this morning.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174590)
• United States
30 Jun 18
50% contained means everyone and everything is still in danger of being burned alive, pony! I think I'm joking, but am not sure. So I went looking... Here is a link that may help: I hope everything turns out all right.
https://tinyurl.com/yc7jfy7m
tinyurl.com
https://tinyurl.com/yc7jfy7m
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174590)
• United States
3 Jul 18
@TheHorse You're welcome. That's good! I hope it stays that way!
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
Thanks for the link. I haven't checked the news this morning, but I think nobody was hurt and no structures burned.
1 person likes this
Cindy Tolbert
@cintol (11261)
• United States
30 Jun 18
Oh wow, fires are so scary and I hope they can get that fire contained soon before it does much damage. There are many fires burning in Colorado right now too and one of my friends house is in the line, they just finished building it and were planning their wedding in an area that is already burned away. I hate when it gets so dry that these fires just take off. Hope for safety for all.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
Thanks. I still see some haze on the Eastern horizon, but I think they got it put out.
1 person likes this
Cindy Tolbert
@cintol (11261)
• United States
30 Jun 18
@TheHorse Well thats good to hear.
NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (127165)
• United States
30 Jun 18
It is always interesting when you think about where about where you should live in terms of the risks of natural disasters--tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, etc. For me, I'll take living on a a gorgeous Shore that hurricanes almost NEVER hit and that we will have warning like a week out on. The rest of it? Nope.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
I enjoyed Iowa, in spite of the occasional tornadoes. I also enjoyed Santa Barbara, but didn't think much about wildfires and mudslides. Where exactly are you?
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
@NJChicaa That sounds sweet. Grown-ups would have an idea of who was around and how to protect them, in those days.
1 person likes this
NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (127165)
• United States
30 Jun 18
@TheHorse I'm from where those Jersey Shore morons spent a couple of summers. I live 10 minutes away from Seaside Heights. That was my playground growing up. Our parents would just send us off to the beach for the day. All of the boardwalk stand owners would look out for my sister and I.
1 person likes this
Kharla Jolly
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
1 Jul 18
This is terrible, those fires rage every year at this time! Hopefully, your former kid client is safe, do you have any way to check on them? I'd be couching like crazy, being allergic to smoke:(
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Jul 18
I'm assuming they're OK. I have their phone number, but I won't call. Gotta be professional.
1 person likes this
Kharla Jolly
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
1 Jul 18
@TheHorse I don't know how to be professional, someday I might possibly learn:)
Macy
@almostoveryou (4954)
• Philippines
30 Jun 18
I hope everyone's been evacuated. Take care you all.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
It's almost 11 PM and I haven't heard of any injuries.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Jul 18
@almostoveryou I saw more smoke yesterday morning. There must have been a flare up. But I think they got to it quickly.
Macy
@almostoveryou (4954)
• Philippines
30 Jun 18
@TheHorse good to know that.
1 person likes this
Jim Bauer
@porwest (112864)
• United States
30 Jun 18
Wildfires in Cali are a huge problem. Besides the high cost of living, over regulation, and any number of things, it just marks one more reason not to live there. lol
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
I like being able to be outside most of the year. But I miss the seasons of the Midwest.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jul 18
@porwest When I lived in the Midwest, I enjoyed the Winters...until maybe mid-February. Then I was more than ready for Spring.
Jim Bauer
@porwest (112864)
• United States
4 Jul 18
@TheHorse The Midwest is great, but anyone who wants the winters is welcome to them. lol
1 person likes this
Louise Crisologo
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
30 Jun 18
Hi Colin. I hope no one is hurt too. What was the cause of the fire?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
They don't know yet. I'm just cooking dinner, as if nothing is happening.
1 person likes this
Louise Crisologo
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
30 Jun 18
@TheHorse I see. And what is your dinner? I bet it is a sumptuous one. Had the fire die down?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
@mlgen1037 Heh. I had Chicken Chow Mein!
1 person likes this
popciclecold
@popciclecold (40214)
• United States
30 Jun 18
Sorry to hear about this. I hope all will be ok.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
I think they have the fire under control. We DID play our softball game tonight.
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Jun 18
Our state is a dry tinderbox.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
It really is. With the number of wahoos here, I'm surprised there aren't more fires.
1 person likes this
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
10 Jul 18
@TheHorse Did you hear whether or not they were ok or not? Where I used to live in the summer we would have fries and it was awfully close to our building. I could look out and see it.
RedBurnet
@redurnet (1796)
• United Kingdom
30 Jun 18
That's awful. In the UK there are a few wildfires going on and it's scary how quickly they can consume the earth.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
Fortunately, the wind was only moderate yesterday.
Icydoll
@Icydoll (36713)
• India
30 Jun 18
Those wildfires are scary .
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238347)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Jun 18
I'm glad this one occurred in an "Open Space" (for hiking and horseback riding) and didn't make it to the nearby residential neighborhoods.
1 person likes this