Thread by @CitizenJoe76

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna Yes, u have very good point, & I thank u for concern/advice. 👍🏻
Im lifelong Californian, but lived in San Jose (city of 1+ million in south Bay Area/Silicon Valley) so hadnt lived w/ this kinda threat being so profound be4. June 2015 we bought home in Lake County, 100mi north. 1/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna Lake County is a smaller more remote rural lakeside community. Its experienced wildfires before, but they were normal & manageable. Then 3 months after we moved here the 1st of these new mega-fires hit the area. (#ValleyFire which devastated city of Middletown in southern LC.) 2/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna That was our 1st experience w/ wildfire being close 2 where we lived. But it was still far enough away that didnt pose any danger to us where we live -- in Lakeport, on western shore of Clear Lake -- in middle of developed city, not out in/near wildland like some here. (Image) 3/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna Then next summer/fall (2016) 2 more big fires hit (Rocky Fire & Jerusalem Fire), and 2017 even more (Clayton Fire & Sulpher Fire) but they were smaller & all had occured in more undeveloped areas south of us - so we worried for the community, but felt WE were safe in Lakeport. 4/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna **Wait, actually got that bit mixed up. Valley Fire, Rocky Fire, & Jerusalem Fire were all in 2015 jst weeks/months after we moved here. Clayton Fire was 2016, & much smaller Sulpher Fire was 2017.
Then 2018 fire season started w/ Pawnee Fire in wildlands on east side of LC... 5/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna 6 wks later, July 28th 2018, we were playing in backyard & suddenly (jst 20mins) sky went frm clear blue to dark grey. At 1st I thought it was smoke blowing south frm bad fire 100mi north in Redding. Then began smelling campfire & was too strong to be frm fire that far away... 6/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna Few mins later I saw FB post saying fire (River Fire) had broken out in Hopland (town on other side of mountains to west of us), & my spouse sent text saying go inside & close windows b/c smoke was getting heavy, so we did. But our only real concern then was bad air quality... 7/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna Little later we heard a 2nd fire had also started in north/west part of county by Mendicino County border (Ranch Fire), & that it was looking bad up there. But evn then we didnt think either posed threat 2 us b/c both were far enough away burning wildlands not developed areas. 8/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna We went 2 sleep that night feeling sad 4 neighboring towns, but safe personally. Next morning woke up & saw ash snowing down outside. Checked 2 see if alert was issued but none 4 Lakeport, yet. Then firefighter friend txt us advising us 2 start packing & be ready 2 evacuate... 9/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna Will never forget his txt. "Strong winds are blowing River Fire right towards Lakeport. They're trying 2 contain it but there's a real chance that the city could go. Pack what u need now while there's time & be ready 2 evacuate. If u can leave be4 evac order 2 avoid traffic." 10/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna We were honestly stunned. Having someone involved in efforts to combat the fire say that was horrifying b/c we knew it wasnt exaggerated, he was deadly serious. 1st hit by shock, then panic washed over me -- took deep breaths, composed myself, & started quickly packing stuff. 11/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna As we were packing up car we got alert that advisory evacuation order was issued. We didnt wait 4 it 2 be mandatory, jst put our daughter & dog in car & left. Got these photos of smoke getting worse taken frm bathroom upstairs, & then while we were on road leaving. Was awful. 12/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna LC is surrounded by mountains & there's only 3 highways out. One we had 2 take went between both fires, right beside one of them. There was fire 20yrds frm road 4 few miles. Wasnt life-threatening 2 drive by, but still scary 2 see so close.
Got 2 next County over safely... 🙌🏻 13/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna Spent next 5 days living in hotels, waiting 2 see if winds would push fire into our city & burn it all. I immersed myself in researching all the causes/factors involved in these wildfires as way 2 cope & distract my mind frm freaking out over possibility of losing everything. 14/

@LindaLindae9 @whothewu @AlexCKaufman @arendtiana @RoKhanna @threadreaderapp please unroll