What I lost in the Thomas fire

[ThudThudThud]

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Just wanted to share these pictures (hopefully I'm not breaking any rules. Mods: Please delete if I am).
It shows my street (the straight one in the middle in first sequence) and all the houses that were affected.
This is just one neighbourhood (approx. 160 houses lost), and happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning when it was on 2,500-5,000 acres. It is now at 132,000 acres and 5% contained.
We will all need to rebuild the entire community.

I can't quite tell where your house is, Pickles, but it looks like you're above Foothill - like we are (Ondulando tract, or Clearpoint maybe?). We were at the forefront of this fire that will rage until well after the holidays.

 

[Gringo Basso]

Pickles, I'm just glad to see you made it out with your family safely. I'm on the other side of the county and have my "bug-out" gear ready, I'll have no room for any instruments if we have to leave, but that is just stuff. One person has already been found deceased and I reckon a few more will be. I can't believe Vista Del Mar is gone, that place helped a lot of people in trouble. We're all a bit crazy living in these areas, and know an earthquake or fire can happen at any time, but it's still worth it. We rebuild our lives and move on. Glad your safe!

 

[bassjack51]

Geez, so sorry that you have to go through this, but in the words of a friend who lost it all in the recent Santa Rosa fire..."it's all stuff and it can be replaced, thank god the family is safe."

Jack

 

[India_Sierra]

Stay strong my friend. You have suffered terrible losses, I am glad you and your family are safe though.

 

[Toolmybass]

Sorry to see that pic of your house and the loss!

But you had a Wal Mk2? What did it look like?

Was my former Wal MKII American Walnut :-(

 

[elkkid2]

Makes me wonder, just how many truly fine Instruments have been lost to Fires in California this year! God Bless you and yours, Brother!

 

[mpdd]

Sorry man, I just got back to tujunga and my little canyon area is fine.

 

[JW56789]

I grew up in Hurricane Country on the Gulf Coast, and have seen home sites that looked like this (or even utterly nothing there save for a blank foundation and the concrete driveway) from wind and flood. I always lucked out and it happened to 'somebody else', though they were often friends or family.

I would not presume to know how you feel, but I can tell you this from those days: You are utterly blessed that you, your wife and children are safe. Homes and possessions can be rebuilt and accumulated once more, and you will.

I wish you the very best and am very happy that you are all well.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Some people apparently find great natural events like this to be somewhat cathartic. I've heard of couples who have broken up after their house floods. They literally view their life in a sort of before/after the flood demarcation, and end up changing many things as a result of the sheer uplift and uncertainty of the disaster itself.

Very sad to hear of OP's loss, both in terms of the quantity and the quality of the musical instruments lost. Beyond that the loss of your home must be utterly devastating and life-changing. Some people view it as an opportunity to change everything, while others simply begin the long hard slog of getting back to how things were before.

For me, there was some catharsis in seeing my home after the fire. Nothing inside the walls survived in any recognizable state with very few exceptions. We start again, but we start again properly. No hand-me-downs, no mismatched furniture, no accumulated cookware etc.
I see this as tabula rasa. We will rebuild, and we will rebuild to our own design. Not a pre-built home with some else's vision, or someone else's home that we acquired. This will be our phoenix rising from the ashes.

'er indoors is being super supportive, and I couldn't do this without her. It's strengthened our bond. We're in this together.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Wow...That is tragic. I can feel your pain. When I was still living at home, my parents home burned early one morning. We were able to get some items out, but it is hard to decide what to take when you know what you dont take will be lost. I hope things work out ok for you.

BnB

 

[pickles]

Redirect Notice

Just wanted to share these pictures (hopefully I'm not breaking any rules. Mods: Please delete if I am).
It shows my street (the straight one in the middle in first sequence) and all the houses that were affected.
This is just one neighbourhood (approx. 160 houses lost), and happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning when it was on 2,500-5,000 acres. It is now at 132,000 acres and 5% contained.
We will all need to rebuild the entire community.

I can't quite tell where your house is, Pickles, but it looks like you're above Foothill - like we are (Ondulando tract, or Clearpoint maybe?). We were at the forefront of this fire that will rage until well after the holidays.

We are scenic way, also pictured in your link. Clearpoint lost 99 of 220 homes so far. It’s all closed again and I heard yesterday they came back to hose down my house some more. Tons of smouldering that can set things back off.

Totaly sucks but kinda cool to find a neighbor on TB!

 

[pickles]

For me, there was some catharsis in seeing my home after the fire. Nothing inside the walls survived in any recognizable state with very few exceptions. We start again, but we start again properly. No hand-me-downs, no mismatched furniture, no accumulated cookware etc.
I see this as tabula rasa. We will rebuild, and we will rebuild to our own design. Not a pre-built home with some else's vision, or someone else's home that we acquired. This will be our phoenix rising from the ashes.

'er indoors is being super supportive, and I couldn't do this without her. It's strengthened our bond. We're in this together.

I think all of us feel exactly this way.

Walking and running our hills is one of my favorite things to do so I can’t wait to see all the amazing rebuilds.

 

[jaysbass2002]

View attachment 2836592 Equal parts catharsis/commiseration and just trying to remember what all was in that glorious closet.

Edit: I’ve had some really nice offers of help after posting this. I’d ask anybody that wants to help, work with one of the many funds helping victims with *real* problems. We’re fine. We’re insured. We have great rental housing (which is going to get REALLY tight around here). Anyway, back to the boutique bass funeral ...

Sadowsky NYC PJ5 alder/braz
2005LE EBMM Sterling
Early SR5
Homemade fretless 5 with moses neck (my main bass for many years)
Blue/rosewood EBMM Caprice
JohnK 66 Jazz
D. lakin JO
Modulus quantum 5
Martin d-28
Wal mk.2
Kala u-bass
Lakland skyline hollowbody

Lidwig jr kit with a good zildjian hat

Tons of great pedals. Darkglass, aguilar, ebs, maxon ...

Aguilar DB751
Aguilar DB359
Aduilar DB659
Aguilar DB210x2
SWR Big Ben
PIP SQUEAK!!
Ampeg svp-pro
Trace v-type pre
Alembic sf-2

I was able to save a few and chose my 60P, 71P, black/maple Caprice, and best-ever Sadowsky metro RV5. And my smoothie. That’s it. It happens fast. Went from thinking “this is silly why am I packing” to “time to go RIGHT NOW get the kids” in about 20 minutes.

Equally painful losses in surfboards, wine, and my wedding ring.

No punchline. Sometimes bad things happen.

Wow. I don't know what to say. It is fortunate you and your family are out unharmed. The equipment can be replaced. Family can not. Best of luck with recovering from this set back.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Sorry to hear about your lost but at least you and your family are still here to talk about it. California has been hit hard this year wow.

 

[OnederTone]

For me, there was some catharsis in seeing my home after the fire. Nothing inside the walls survived in any recognizable state with very few exceptions. We start again, but we start again properly. No hand-me-downs, no mismatched furniture, no accumulated cookware etc.
I see this as tabula rasa. We will rebuild, and we will rebuild to our own design. Not a pre-built home with some else's vision, or someone else's home that we acquired. This will be our phoenix rising from the ashes.

'er indoors is being super supportive, and I couldn't do this without her. It's strengthened our bond. We're in this together.

That is the exact way to think about it. You'll do great

 

[9c1ny]

sobering, it reminds me of how precious life is and how we all too often take it for granted. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, most of the time it is the bad things in life that make us realize this but I have grown old enough to realize that life can flip 180 in a good way in a seconds notice, it's usually just a lot more subtle and often only noticed in retrospect , hoping everyone effected will find the strength and courage to move ahead in this already stressful time of year, better days are ahead

 

[rtslinger]

Sorry to hear you had to suffer this experience. Thankfully your family is safe and you were insured.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Here's mine!

Yes, cool to have TB family in the neighbourhood.

I'm going to get this blown up into a black & white and framed. It will go into my new house as a reminder.

 

[Jim C]

I'm so sorry to hear this news.
Glad you and your family are OK.
Still have the SX J you sold me years ago.
If you need it back just say the word.

 

[cableguy]

Just wanted to say sorry. I'm glad you saved a few, and first and foremost your family is safe.