Brushfires in south Brevard County, where I live.

[presentiment]

I've been getting a lot of panicky emails from various members of my flist, concerned about the (admittedly horrible) brushfires in my area. I didn't realize it was on the national news. I'd just like to let everyone know that I'm alright and not in immediate danger. I live on an island and the fires would need to jump a mile-wide river to get to

Comments

[jenicomprispas]

I hate fire season. We don't have anything going right now, but wait until the weekend when the heat jumps up to 90, and sure enough, Malibu will be on fire again.

Do you guys have a lot of fires out your way? It seems like the humidity would keep them down to manageable levels? Or is it really dry right now?

[presentiment]

We get fires every once in a while - in 1998, the whole damn state was on fire for the entirety of the summer. It was 110F or above for about a month, if I remember correctly. We went to Costa Rica for two months.

Usually the humidity keeps them from spreading, but we're in a severe drought right now, the humidity was at 18% at noon and the winds are 25mph sustained. It's crazies. The governor has declared my county to be in a state of emergency.

[__ette]

I had noo idea it was that serious. Derek and I had to take A1A back to south florida last night and were wondering how bad it was, cause they started closing the highways around 5! Too scary.

[presentiment]

It was pretty bad last night but it's gotten ten thousand times worse today. Channel 9's reporter was standing there reporting and then the land right behind him was suddenly on fire and he literally had to run away. I was seriously worried he might be burned alive on television. It's insane.

The wind has switched a bit, so the smell has let up, but apparently Floridana Beach smells like it's on fire. My brother's girlfriend stayed here last night because her house reeked.

[isisfrog]

o_0 My other fear - FIRE. Pretty when controlled, scary as FUCK when not. There was a news segment on house fires where a firefighter said that sometimes it got really spooky, as the fire acted alive sometimes - taunting and teasing the crews like a cat with its prey. *shudder*

I guess this is one time living semi-isolated is working out for you. Sucks about the homes and smoke, though. I just can't imagine...

If by some chance it looks like the island isn't safe, I hope you've got an evacuation plan in place. *sends good mojo your way*

[presentiment]

I just went and took pictures from the river, but... good lord. Good Lord. This is bad. Pictures shortly.

[presentiment]

Posted pictures.

[presentiment]

Fifty houses burned over on the mainland, in Palm Bay. The building next to my school caught fire earlier this evening, which has me in a panic, but so far the school itself is okay.

18 fires started today in Palm Bay/Malabar, with nearly all of them being arson. Our firefighters are getting hurt, too, one of them seriously. :(

[presentiment]

I had the same thought! Back in '98, we got WORKED here. It was so bad! My parents, Eddie and I ended up going down to Costa Rica for that summer because it was SO HOT (100+ for the better part of a month and a half) and the whole damn state was on fire.

[dustbunnies]

Glad to know your safe from the danger. I live on an island as well, and as Amie said in New Smyrna. It makes me feel a bit safer, though if there was a fire on this side, I'd kinda be trapped. o_O

[presentiment]

Yeah, that's a nerve wracking thought, isn't it? It'd be a madhouse trying to get off the island if the fire jumped the river (it's only 1/4mi wide a few miles south of here)!