My max is right in the path of the Witch Creek fire/San Diego.

[techfx]

I just called the person I rent my storage spot from and he can see the glow of the flames on the horizon - possibly an hour away. I live 35-40 miles from there and half of the drive up is back roads so, not a good Idea to attempt that resucue. Fortunately my storage landlord is loading up his motorhome and evacuating safely but, may lose his house (which I would feel very bad about, especially since he's been a very nice guy and is always helpful to me). We're praying that the fire changes direction somehow.... will keep you all posted on the outcome.

[Mike]

I hate to hear that. Please do keep us updated. Hopefully it will be stopped before it does any more damage.

[mudbug3]

Techfx,

I hope your Max II makes out ok

[techfx]

It's 5:30 am Pacific time.... I just heard on the news that the Highway I take to work has been closed and there are now 6 fires burning in San Diego county being fueled by very high winds. this is just all around bad.

[Mike]

Any news tonight? I have been seeing bits and pieces on the news. Stay safe!

[techfx]

It's 6:30 pm pacific time, I have seen a few maps but none of the roads up to the area of my machine are open and the fires west of there are ravaging the area near my work (Sony in Rancho Bernardo, CA). The maps I have seen put the property of my storage (and owner's house) right on the boarder of reported fire line. Unfortunately, it looks like Max dealer Regina Hampton (1.5 miles away from my machine) was more in the middle of the reported fire area.

2 THE MAX ATVS
(619) 258-7604
REGINA HAMPTON
818 WEST HAVERFORD RD.
RAMONA, CA 92065
USA

2themaxwebsite

[jpswift1]

Is your storage area surrounded by heavy forest or is it in a clearing? Would it be possible that the house where your Max is at, be safe from the fire if there are no trees to burn around it? I really hope everything turns out alright for you.

[Mike]

I hate to hear that. Gina actually signed up here a month or so ago. She was also kind enough to link back to our site. I just sent her an email to let her know that we were thinking about her and her family. I hope they are all ok.

[techfx]

The storage area is a corral with gravel on top of a hill surrounded by a 10 ft high wooden fence. My trailer/max are parked within 10 feet of the fence which on that side is surrounded by some low brush/ dirt (about 15 feet between the fence and road on the side of the fence the machine is near). It is also covered by a wal mart tarp(potentially easily ignitable) but, i did leave a fire extinguisher in the machine. I guess I just have to wait on that and live through the fires that are continuing tonight.

[Beeman]

That really sucks... too bad you didn't have this:

BuySell Classifieds : Calgary

[techfx]

If I had that machine, I would trade it for a fleet of max,attex and hustler machines (including a few springers).


I tried twice in the past 2 days to find a safe open route to the machine/my friends homes since I haven't had work but, there are too many hot spots around and closed roads. The recent burn area maps put the storage location right in the middle so, I just have to wait and see - just like alot of other people who may have lost homes and can't find out for sure.

[Roger S]

Good to hear from you.. been a couple days. Thought you might of had to evacuate. The whole situation is hard to grasp.

[techfx]

I live more toward the city that's more urban (less trees and brush) w/ my girlfriend and a few other family members. If the fire were to make it this far - it would need the right strong winds in the right direction and would be a much bigger deal. Our air quality (even though we have had blue sky above us) has been pretty terrible.

Ramona (where I store the machine and 2themax dealership are) was right in the early path of the fire Sunday evening when it was driven by strong winds and hopefully went through there very quickly with little time to burn much. That is one of the burn areas that has no open roads and not much reported from there. I'm still off work (which is still in an evacutation area 20 mi. north of here) searching newscasts, internet and even youtube for info on Ramona.

If I remember correctly, Gina and her Husband's Maxs and equipment that they use for their other business was a huge metal garage. There may be hope for them to at least have that to return to.

[techfx]

This is from the north side of the "corral" of wooden fence of the storage area looking east - the trailer/max were on this side (other side of the fence). There is a small canyon that surrounds 1/2 of the corral - and a metal shipping box in the rear (west side) used as a work shop. if the wood on the trailer/tarp caught, it would be certain death. You can see the trees on the other side of the street to the east - would have made a lot of flying embers if they caught.

I'll probably have an "after" photo from this angle in a few days.

[techfx]

Looks like everyone pulled through this (on the SD 6x6 end). I can't believe that the fire came through a half mile to the south and probably a little over a mile to the north. Even Gina's place looked okay when I drove by. The only thing that happened to the machine was the tarp blowing off and alot of dirt inside. now for the big challenge on monday - chp inspection for registration....


The mountain in the background is completely burnt.