Into the Sunset

In more ways than one, the Gap Fire has headed into the sunset. It burned to the west, and firefighters got control of the housing areas that were in danger.

This shot was taken the night after I wanted it. It replaces the I-didn't-post-that cell phone shot. But the image expresses my relief at the exit of the Gap Fire from the edges of Goleta. After taking this shot, I walked out on the pier and got the shot from the post just down from here.

Somehow, I prefer this shot! ;)

A week later, Gap is Gone

Despite the fact that the Gap Fire continued burning to the West of us (up the mountain range), the firefighters (long may they wave!) got the close edges of the fire contained -- HOORAY -- and things are much better now. By last Wednesday almost all the ash dropping on us has stopped.

But we have unfinished business here. I did not post the one, bad cell phone picture, nor the one taken from the Goleta pier. So here they are.

While walking on the pier, July 4th, I was so frustrated that my camera batteries were dead. The fire had spread to a very wide space indeed, and the flares were huge- and scary. Beyond awesome. I spotted another pierwalker, and grovelled a bit to borrow his batteries just for one shot. Here it is. I think it evokes my emotions at that moment. Shook up, desiring to document this scary event, but utterly awed by the size of the fire and its possible ability to destroy my hometown and even my home.

Smoke in all our eyes

Yeh. It really is. I went to the beach about dusk to get some shots of the Gap fire from the pier (great panorama of the mountains), but rats- my camera batteries had croaked AND I had no new ones with me. I tried taking a shot or two with my cell phone, but talk about the wrong tool. I'm not posting those.

I walked out on the pier, despite all the floating ash, and found it busy with fishing folks and lots of others, more so than usual. Most were staring at the hills in awe. The fire seems to have doubled since last night, and active flaring was going on. It was impressive.

Frustrated, I spotted a guy with a camera and asked if he had any extra batteries. Nope, he didn't, but I asked if I could take ONE shot please on his batteries. Fortunately his were the same size as mine, and I got my one shot. Sadly, it was hurried, so it blurred. I'll have to process it and post it tomorrow. Power was off again when I got home. I read by candle lantern until power came back on.

Spent the rest of the evening digging out family photos and placing the boxes next to the back door just in case -- a further evacuation area is only a mile and a half away. Even with a freeway in the way, I'm getting prepared. These things can move very fast.

Tomorrow, I hope I'll have photo. And that I still have power. If you're a praying person, please pray for poor old Goleta, and blessings on you.

The pelicans were fishing tonight. The sky was quite dark with smoke, but there they were, cruising above the water like ghosts of the smoke, white patches on their heads gleaming in the grayness. I always enjoy watching them dive- they simply jacknife into the water and come up with fish. Tonight, the fire was omnipresent over my shoulder and the smoke kept reminding me of it. Somehow, I couldn't enjoy the pelicans as much as usual, so I went home.

Adding a link for Gap Fire photos

These are not mine. The photographer was at the fire lines with crews early yesterday morning. http://www.independent.com/news/2008/jul/02/ray-fords-gap-fire-photos/
Just go look- there are some good shots there, far better than my distant ones with cheapie point-n-shoot.

The Gap Fire, Goleta

The hills are alive, not with the sound of music, but with the scary sight of flames. A wildfire called the "Gap Fire" broke out July 1 in the hills above my home in Goleta. The last news that evening was that it was perhaps on 5o acres; tonight the report is 350, but it's probably more like 500 acres - and growing.

In 1955 the Refugio Fire burned that area. I remember being a very small child and standing on our back porch with my parents at dusk, watching the flames creep downhill. Last night I had the same feeling. Unsettling. This time, I am the responsible adult, with no mommy and daddy to make me feel safe. Good thing my Heavenly Father takes care of me .

This has been an opportunity for me to consider just what I would save, were I to have to evacuate. There's no way I can move my presses and type, though I can perhaps manage to pack a few of the antique faces. But my focus must be on family heirlooms, photos, genealogy; financial, of course; computer; and cats. Oh, yes, and my favorite small sewing machine. All that will fit in the car. Clean underwear, too.... clothes are replaceable, but clean underwear! Wouldn't you? I mean! I have no problem wearing donated clothing or thrift store purchases, but underwear! Nope, that would not be me. I wants me own.

Kitty carriers are at the ready. Likewise cosmetics, prescriptions, and computer. If I gotta go, I gotta go. At least the gas tank is full.

Here are a couple of my attempts at photography of the Gap Fire: The first shot is July 1, from my back porch. It was a baby fire then. The white blob is a street light that got in the way.
Second: about 6:30 PM today, June 2, from the Goleta Library, looking into the hills nearby. Fire had expanded about 10 times its last night size. In that shot it may be about 3 miles away from the Library.
Shot three, taken looking across Fairview from the Library. The sun was an orange blob in a smoky orange/gray sky. The camera doesn't do it justice, except to emphasize how ominous a wildfire sky looks.
Shot four was taken at deep dusk from the street a block from my house. Flames are much lower down the mountain than they were last night. The tree you are looking through is a palm tree, silhouetted against the firelight. Distance seems to flatten the image, but the fire is still about 4 miles from that palm tree.

Finally, this shot was taken about 9 PM from the Fairview Avenue Overpass (101 Fwy). The fire is expanded, lower, and flaring 20 - 30 feet high. You can see the freeway below, the horizontal lights of the shopping center, and the ridge alive with fire above. This is not even the entire width of the fire, just what the camera could capture with incredibly low light.