fires in Southern Cal

[MountainGirl]

I can see the Border 2 fire from my living room. IT's maybe 25 miles away and blowing toward the ocean, not me, but I am really kind of flipped out about this. A friend had to evacuate down there in the valley and I spent two hours last night gathering photos, docs, guitars etc - wondering how I would gather the animals, they are semi feral and don't want to be picked up... probably we will be OK but even knowing we're  "probably" OK I am not thinking very clearly. not especially religious but anyone who wants to offer a prayer, thanks. I guess even people without C-PTSD are flipping out so... maybe I'm not overreacting???

[Papa Coco]

Mountaingirl,

It's my opinion that you are NOT overreacting. In fact, I would say that anyone living near those fires who isn't overreacting isn't paying attention at all.

I've never experienced what you are experiencing now, so I can only imagine the stress you must be feeling.

I feed and protect a feral cat living under my porch who I know would not let me save her if she needed it. I've worried about how I'll deal with not being able to save her if I ever need to evacuate, so I do at least share your worry for the animals. In the end if the animal won't let us rescue them, we have to choose the moment when we have no other choice but to leave them behind.

I am a prayerful person, so per your request, I will indeed send all the prayers I can your way. I'm glad you came onto the forum and asked for help in any possible way we can help. Prayer might be all we have to offer you right now, but at least knowing that people are worried about you, and praying with you for your safety, might help you to feel less alone with the crisis.

Please keep in touch and let us know when the danger is passed.

[Kizzie]

I lived in an area in Canada that became significantly impacted by wild fires every year so I understand how you feel can validate that you're not overreacting. It terribly frightening for anyone but having CPTSD adds an extra layer of fear and anxiety.  We just made sure we were ready to go if the need arose and that helped allay some of the difficult feelings. Still though, it's more trauma on top of trauma so it's extra hard for us. We ended up moving a province over because the wild fires became an annual event and I feel so much safer here. 

Please stay safe!   

[MountainGirl]

Thank you for the reassurance Papa and Kizzie. It's still burning, and it has turned in our direction but we are due rain tonight or tomorrow which may mean an end to this. And the winds have decreased significantly which makes all the difference. I think we'll be OK. I hope the folks down in the valley will be OK. I remember the fires in Canada a couple of years ago and how ferocious they were. Jaw dropping fires all over the place now. Papa, maybe this is a really bad idea but I was actually mulling over using a butterfly net to corral the cats if I had to. Seems weird, but in an emergency...
This is not my first encounter with wildfires. You certainly don't want to delay when the sheriff comes around with a bullhorn shouting "Leave now." Clearly I need to try to train them to be easily held, but in the meantime, when seconds count - a butterfly net?

[Kizzie]

Maybe you could ask your local rescue how they would go about it. I suspect if they are part feral and are frightened by smoke, etc., they would tear a net to shreds unless it was fairly heavy duty. If you do end up using a net you have to get them out of it at some point so I would recommend a heavy pair of gloves that go up to the elbow plus study carriers to put them in.

I know you may not have much time but maybe if you start now enticing them indoors with tasty treats you will be halfway there to corralling them if/when you have to evacuate.

I hope the fire doesn't reach you and that you are safe.

[Armee]

Hi. I'm just now seeing this. I hope that the 40% containment is on your side of the fire. I have friends down there and work in an area related to fires but don't have specific advice for you from my work experience but would suggest calling an animal rescue organization for advice for now and the future. In the end you can only save people and animals that are ready to be saved. So if the time came I hope you would take care of yourself if the animals are not able to come to you for rescue. 

I also haven't ever tried it but there's a national disaster crisis hotline if you are feeling distressed by the fires. I'd actually be curious to know anyone's experience with that line as I've never called it myself.

https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/disaster-preparedness/disaster-types/wildfires

We'll all be thinking of you. Wildfires are extremely distressing.

[MountainGirl]

Yes, the rain has really really  helped a lot. Things seem under control. Thanks for your support folks. Even though it looks like things will be OK I do feel kind of uneasy. I keep thinking  "IT's OK this time but what about next time? And when will the next time be?" And I really need to train the cats to become used to being handled. And  I will ask a friend who works for a rescue what she advises I do to train them and how to deal with them in the meantime. And I do need heavy gloves just in case, that's a good idea. Thanks all.

[Papa Coco]

Thank you for keeping us informed. You've been on my mind. I hope today is better than yesterday and that it will all end soon.

Mountaingirl,

I'm in Seattle. I don't watch any news of any kind, so I'm relying on the reports of citizens on the ground. I hope the fires are continuing to calm and that the danger is waning.

And any tool in a crisis: if a butterfly net works, do it!  For future use, I wonder if a vet would give you a little sedative to put in their food if you feed them. (We feed our ferule cat. But she's pretty smart so I don't know if even that would work. Her suspicious nature could keep her from eating the medication).

Hopefully no evacuation will be needed.

[MountainGirl]

Thankfully no evacuation needed Papa. We're all nice and wet now with a bit of snow on the ground!