so i was lucky and survived that huge fire that is going on in so cal right now. it was a real hectic day, as i was runnin all over the place deciding whats valuable or not. its hard to weigh down the importance of things when it comes down to it!

so what would you be putting into your car if such a disaster called for you to take drastic measures? one car load of stuff. i saw a neighbor put his tv, electric equiptment in, and another one just a hamper of clothes. what would be your choice?

Scorp,

Wife and children. Everything else I can replace.

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Eudaimonia

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My ex and I came home one day to a house fire in 1998. The first thing I thought of was my dog and luckily the neighbours got him out. After the fire was put out, I was happy to see my ex was able to retrieve his father's war medals and pictures from the war.

I wish we had been able to rescue clothes because it really sucked being a student and having to start completely from scratch (imagine replacing your underwear and socks from scratch! It's expensive!) but you realize none of that is really important. The most important thing was nobody was hurt. The firefighters even got my neighbour's stupid cat out of her house (the cat ran in the house twice after being brought out).

Of course, my husband and our baby (cat)! But if I had time.....

I've got pictures that are one of a kind of family from days gone by. I keep them in a "treasure box" really close to the door, just for this reason......in case I need to get things out! I hold the one and only picture of my aunt (my mother's half sister) from England. And, as the years went by mom took less and less pics of the younger girls.....so I hold the one and only baby pic with baby sis's face visible.

I'd also grab a few items of clothing.......and probably my fire box with all important papers in it (birth certs., insurance papers...etc.) and my purse! That's all!

So glad you're ok Scorp! Be careful and keep us posted hun!

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

We had a fire in our kitchen several years ago. We were about a block away and when we heard, my first thoughts were the kids and then the pictures. While the damage was over $10,000, the house itself did not suffer structural damage. Mainly had to replace the stove and kitchen cabinets. Lotta smoke damage.

Hope that never happens again! Wasn't fun.

in order of time availability:

- family members

- pets (if I were at the parent's house)

- ID information (car registration, passport, sos. sec. card, etc) (all kept in one location so that they can be found easily)

- any pictures and the backups of all my data (house in one convenient location).

and now in the if time permits a little
- some clothes

- maybe my shotgun (I would need to think about that, but my gut says I would have it with me)

- anything else I could fit in the car....

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-Toast-
"It takes a lot of brains to enjoy satire, humor and wit - but none to be offended by them." -- Johnny Hart ("BC", cartoonist, 2000)
"Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog: Nobody really enjoys it and the frog generally dies as a result." -- E. B. White

This is not a first consideration exercise for me except in the fact the fire is coming from the outside and I have 10’s of minutes instead of 10’s of seconds. As a family, we discussed and even “walked” through the scenario every couple years. The guild was AFTER you have your exit open, …if you have a CLEAR line if site to…… start throwing them out the exit. A carload is a LOT and truly expands selection.

After the back seat is laying in the drive and the car is pointed in the right direction, like most, pets, pictures and “strong-box” (official records and documents) are first. Computer (hard drive and no peripherals), jewelry box, and the handguns next. Top two shelves of a specific bookcase, cameras and silver service after that. Tools are just toll heavy and bulky. Fill in the cracks and time with books and collectables.

Guess this is more telling than I first thought. I’d be driving away naked if it meant one more book.



I’m sorry to hear about your close call Scorp, and more sorry to think of your neighbors actual loss.

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Scorp~ be safe ((hugs))

my family and pets (even Vann Tarro the Rabid Hamster)

my grandmother's paintings

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The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
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The hubby & daughters....

Items that can't be replaced like photos, paintings, things passed down from past generations, strong box with birth certificates & other important papers....

Hubby would probably want his comp.
Daughters, I'm guessing, would grab cd's, photos of friends, favorite junk in room.

And after that if there was time.... probably an armload of clothes each, and then I don't know, whatever would fit.

Looking around the house now and really, except for family, everything could be replaced. So just grab them & get out!!

My daughters and my pets...

Most of my pictures are now scanned and on cd rom in a safety deposit box..

Besides that...nothing really matters..everything can be replaced.


Scorp..you take good care while those fires are so close......

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*Diva*



"Never shall I forget the time I spent with you. Please
continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

My son... he always comes first...

after that.. the ashes for my other son.....

nothing else would remotely matter...

That is always a tought call, all matters on the amount of time you have been given of course. Not much in 10 mins, but if you got all day go for it!

Lots of good comments above, all items have meaning to some ones past and present after you get the family, pets and important paper work, which includes the hard drive.

I went through this last year here in Colorado, fire was in my back yard, missed the house by 250 feet. We got the hard drive with the 7 pets, but the cats took care of themselves, got the paperwork and some photos, then my ass was back to the fireline in the back yard.

I have been fighting these things for 15 years.
Was weird protecting my own place.

The best is to always have a plan and know it well.

Above all STAY SAFE!!!

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GirlWatcher......;-)
Love Them Little Tits

Pixie's Wildland Fire Fighter
Find'em HOT and Leave'em WET!

This topic stuck in my head all day. With a family of fire fighters, I’ve had opportunity to give this serious thought before. But it was always from fire within, giving VERY little time but a reasonably safe world surrounding it. Fire for the outside does change the scenario quite a bit. You’re going TO a world where assistance will be occupied if available at all. The extent of the devastation will determine how far and where I go. Certainly WHAT goes with us will change considerably.

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thanks for all your concern. again there is really no other place like going to pixies whenever something has taken a turn for the worst. thank you, again everyone. luckily for me, the winds stopped blowing my direction and we were finally able to get outside help. i think i'm going to be doing a lot of volunteer work in the next couple days. its the only way i can feel at ease of my neighborhood being spared.