matters of life and death
the story started this monday and ended this morning. finally it's something big enough worth writing down and let you guys know. I just want to say that I am okay, for those of you that care.
Classical music station woke me up, and I learned that monday's traffic was going to be a bad one. apparently, there was some fire over on 210 and the freeway was closed. so my carpool and I took 405 and then 101 to get to pasadena. that was the marek fire if you know, about 10 miles from my home. I was a little worried and checked online for updates constantly at work. around 11, my mom, who happens to be at home called and said that there is another fire in porter ranch, the sesnon fire, which is about 5 miles from my home. I got more worried. around 1, she called again, and said perhaps I should come home. so I left work early. on the way home, I saw heavy smoke in the sky, like a mushroom cloud, along with the wind blowing in no particular direction. that afternoon, i stayed indoor and just watched the news, seemed the santa ana wind was sending the sesnon fire towards west of us.
around 6:30 tuesday morning, woken up by a phone call. my mom's friend, who didn't sleep much of the night, because she got evacuated from porter ranch told me that she thought the fire was close to us. I rushed to the window and looked towards the marek fire and saw the sky was dark orange. I thought crap, i am going to die. after clearing my sleepy head, I realized i was looking at the sunrise. that got my heart rushing for a few seconds.
just to be safe, I went outside to check on the sesnon fire. I saw two hellicopters, which wasn't there the night before were dropping water on top of the hill a block or two away. I think this is the fire that my mom's friend is referring. I thought it was going away, but the sesnon fire came back to hunt us. my mom said it was time to pack stuff into the car. one of my neighbors came by and said, my friend, (she forgot my name) I think the fire is close, you should start packing. it looked like she was about to leave. around 8, another next door neighbor came and pointed to fire that was now on this side of the hill. around 10, tony came over, and a couple of fire fighters and a fire truck seemed to be stopping the fire. then some minutes later, out of nowhere, the fire flared up again. after that, the situation just gets worse and worse. I have never seen anything so close and heating up my face.
right before the fire got out of control, a bunch of police cars came, and fire trucks and firemen went up the hill to stop the fire. four or five choppers flew overhead. I thought I heard the police announced mandatory evacuation. my neighbor whose sons and grandson worked in the fire department assured us that we should be okay. right after he said that, the police car came to our street and told us to leave. I guess that was the hint to drive off. so each of us got into one car only to stop after a couple of block down, because my mom does not want to leave our home behind. like bunch of other home owners we stood by the car and watched the fire. after half an hour, the fire seemed to be under control. we decided to walk back to get some food, because the police blocked the road. our neighbor didn't leave at all, guess they knew once you left, you can't get back. as we were going back to the car, three korean reporters approaced us, and they didn't care that we were chinese. thus, for a second time I am on the news.
around 2, everything seemed to be better. the dark smoke was gone, but still too heavy to bear, so tony and I went to the mall for a movie, while mother stayed in the car. shortly after 5, the police opened the road block. that night I was happy to get inside home, and felt somewhat safer knowing that police and fire trucks were on guard through the night.
Today I went through all the bags and put everything back into place. In a time of panic I took some clothes, lap top, jewelries, important documents and photos. now that they are back to where they belong i realize i still have so much much more I didn't get to pack. I guess the things you left behind are things you never needed in the first place.
Classical music station woke me up, and I learned that monday's traffic was going to be a bad one. apparently, there was some fire over on 210 and the freeway was closed. so my carpool and I took 405 and then 101 to get to pasadena. that was the marek fire if you know, about 10 miles from my home. I was a little worried and checked online for updates constantly at work. around 11, my mom, who happens to be at home called and said that there is another fire in porter ranch, the sesnon fire, which is about 5 miles from my home. I got more worried. around 1, she called again, and said perhaps I should come home. so I left work early. on the way home, I saw heavy smoke in the sky, like a mushroom cloud, along with the wind blowing in no particular direction. that afternoon, i stayed indoor and just watched the news, seemed the santa ana wind was sending the sesnon fire towards west of us.
around 6:30 tuesday morning, woken up by a phone call. my mom's friend, who didn't sleep much of the night, because she got evacuated from porter ranch told me that she thought the fire was close to us. I rushed to the window and looked towards the marek fire and saw the sky was dark orange. I thought crap, i am going to die. after clearing my sleepy head, I realized i was looking at the sunrise. that got my heart rushing for a few seconds.
just to be safe, I went outside to check on the sesnon fire. I saw two hellicopters, which wasn't there the night before were dropping water on top of the hill a block or two away. I think this is the fire that my mom's friend is referring. I thought it was going away, but the sesnon fire came back to hunt us. my mom said it was time to pack stuff into the car. one of my neighbors came by and said, my friend, (she forgot my name) I think the fire is close, you should start packing. it looked like she was about to leave. around 8, another next door neighbor came and pointed to fire that was now on this side of the hill. around 10, tony came over, and a couple of fire fighters and a fire truck seemed to be stopping the fire. then some minutes later, out of nowhere, the fire flared up again. after that, the situation just gets worse and worse. I have never seen anything so close and heating up my face.
right before the fire got out of control, a bunch of police cars came, and fire trucks and firemen went up the hill to stop the fire. four or five choppers flew overhead. I thought I heard the police announced mandatory evacuation. my neighbor whose sons and grandson worked in the fire department assured us that we should be okay. right after he said that, the police car came to our street and told us to leave. I guess that was the hint to drive off. so each of us got into one car only to stop after a couple of block down, because my mom does not want to leave our home behind. like bunch of other home owners we stood by the car and watched the fire. after half an hour, the fire seemed to be under control. we decided to walk back to get some food, because the police blocked the road. our neighbor didn't leave at all, guess they knew once you left, you can't get back. as we were going back to the car, three korean reporters approaced us, and they didn't care that we were chinese. thus, for a second time I am on the news.
around 2, everything seemed to be better. the dark smoke was gone, but still too heavy to bear, so tony and I went to the mall for a movie, while mother stayed in the car. shortly after 5, the police opened the road block. that night I was happy to get inside home, and felt somewhat safer knowing that police and fire trucks were on guard through the night.
Today I went through all the bags and put everything back into place. In a time of panic I took some clothes, lap top, jewelries, important documents and photos. now that they are back to where they belong i realize i still have so much much more I didn't get to pack. I guess the things you left behind are things you never needed in the first place.