Thank you, Ojai!
We are resuming our regular rhythm, where you will read about the Ojai experience and beyond from our stellar authors, each of which you can read more about on the right column.
If you are here for Day Fire information, we will continue to monitor the fire all week - just click the "9/25 Monday Thread " link at the top of this page for today. The Resource Page has lots of additional info.
I welcome you to participate in discussions (there's a 'comments' link at the bottom of every post), share with friends and be a part of the virtual community that we have created here at The Ojai Post. Thanks for your support during this challenging time - we are all better for the experience.
PS - I'll say it again - the 3,200 3,508 officials, firefighters and other personnel that continue to fight this fire on our behalf have earned our deep appreciation and respect. I am sure I speak on behalf of the Ojai Post authors in thanking each and every one of them for the time and effort they have given.
[Update 6:10pm] PPS - We have received some amazing comments, emails and phone calls the last week, thanking us for our coverage. I'll probably write about the experience in more detail, but wanted to point to a couple bloggers that wrote insightful posts that observed how we filled the gap left by traditional media and official websites...
What "Information Age?"... Living with the Day Fire in Ojai
by Leigh Melander
Local Blog Keeps Ojai Informed
by Robert Peake
[Update 9:08pm]From the comments: I wanted to say thank you as well for a job well done in providing information. My husband is the Assistant Chief for Santa Paula..and unreachable by phone most of the time...your Post kept me up to date.
| Permalink | author bio | 
Comments (8)
aho Tyler, all ...
still looks like no discussion of what the fire means for Ojai residents!
has the fire come over any of the hills ... visible?
how many days breathing smoke? ashes in your face? what percent of the days with relatively clear air?
the Sespe is SUPPOSED to burn ... that is the right and healthy way of nature ...
some homes are MEANT to be lost ... if they are built in or against the forest.
if this is an OJAI website ... then the subject matter should not be confined to government and media propaganda ... but rather focused on community information.
again ... what is happening for the people of the Ojai Valley? 'Awha'y, Goddess Moon?
how many people have left the valley ... who SHOULD be leaving for health reasons ... and when might they expect to return based on estimates of the fire playing itself out, or a chance wet period in the weather?
is this a blog ... or more cultural whitewash?
Millennium
Comment #1 Posted by: Millennium Twain | September 25, 2006 03:10 PM
Good news?
Weather front to arrive Thursday?
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/93023?locid=93023
Comment #2 Posted by: Millennium Twain | September 25, 2006 03:18 PM
Hey Millennium - I responded to your previous comment about the air quality - did you not read that? I'm rather suprised you are calling me out on my coverage. It is certainly not "government and media propaganda". We are in the midst of what they call a fluid situation, where we simply have to monitor the latest data and provide unbiased information to the community.
As I replied to you earlier, air quality is rather good. There is some smoke visible over the Topa Ridge, but it is not blowing into the valley. There is a bit of ash, but really not much at all. Nothing like Sun/Mon the 17th and 18th. If you look at the latest Weather report, you see we have modest winds blowing from the east, which means the smoke is being pushed parallel to the Ojai Valley, not down into it, if we were to have NE or N vector winds.
The fire is expected to burn for at least a couple more weeks. Santa Ana winds are expected to return mid-week. Come back or don't, but there is no way for me to predict what's going to happen - all I can do is provide the best and most up-to-date information possible.
Thanks for your contribution.
Comment #3 Posted by: Tyler | September 25, 2006 03:20 PM
None of us are weather forecasters, keeping statistics about percentage blue sky. I think that most people simply went about their business, checking conditions a few times a day and staying indoors as much as possible. And some left, but not enough to cause traffic jams or even change the general ebb and flow of life in our little town. There were no statistics kept, no check-points in or out of town. People chatted at check-stands in stores and probably in church and at the farmers market and with their neighbors. People called friends who were out of town to ask if they needed anything out of their homes in the event of emergency. But mostly, we kept living our lives and were grateful to not be crowded in cafeterias and gymnaseums, away from our homes.
The information was here. The use of it was personal. Perhaps as life returns to normal, with less discussion of facts and "do you know where the fire is," we will hear from more residents about their experiences. Ask your neighbors to share with you how it was for them.
Comment #4 Posted by: Heather | September 25, 2006 10:52 PM
Rain! I stepped outside this morning to see thick fog and water everywhere on the ground, dripping from the trees high above. Looks like it rained last night, at least in Meiner's Oaks. Anyone know how far North the rain spread? Did it rain on the fire? Did it rain near Lockwood Valley?
Comment #5 Posted by: Robert | September 26, 2006 08:16 AM
Hi Robert - don't know, will explore. i do know that there was high humidity last night when I checked the weather late. thanks!
Comment #6 Posted by: Tyler | September 26, 2006 09:57 AM
nice to hear of a little drip in the weather ...
yet forecast clouds and drizzle for this weekend and next week seem to be 'evaporating':
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/93023?locid=93023
I can live with smoke and ashes falling 25 percent of the time during the next couple of weeks ... am told that seems to be what Ojai has experienced this last week ...
anything is a possibility ...
and 'everything' a certainty!
Millennium
Comment #7 Posted by: Millennium Twain | September 27, 2006 05:47 PM
In the daily report I am now included air quality. thanks!
tyler
Comment #8 Posted by: Millennium | September 28, 2006 10:48 AM