001 gets a little too close for comfort with the San Diego wildfires

No matter how many times you see a disaster on TV, it's virtually impossible to truly imagine it could ever happen to you.

Well today, it happened to me.

And hundreds of thousands of other San Diegan’s, courtesy of the baddest Santa Ana winds that I can ever remember since moving here from Buffalo, New York in 1996 got the wakeup call of a lifetime.

Before today, the only way I could describe where the Spies do their thing would be beyond idyllic, a living fantasy land.

Nothing is like Southern California.

Nothing.

But when you get the good, sometimes you gotta take the bad.

I woke up this morning and had all of about 20 minutes to pack everything important and get the hell out of Dodge, before the smoke or fire engulfed us.

I thought as quick as I could and got the little 00’s up to Newport Beach, safe and sound into a nice hotel.

I still don’t know if I have a house but I can tell you this…All I care about and am thankful for is that my family and friends are safe and healthy.

Of course, even in the face of danger, as usual, I just couldn’t put the camera down.

So I have some photos to share with all of our readers around the world.

It was much worse and ominous looking in person, for sure!

Check out the view from my side view mirror looking back on San Diego on the I-5.

Tomorrow I jump on a plane for Sweden to test the new BMW 1-Series with 004, 00B is in the bay area to test some Audi’s and new IS-F Lexus and when we’re through with that, we head straight for the 2007 SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas.

The show must go on!

Please keep all the people affected by the fires and those helping to stop them in your thoughts and prayers.

And I’ll let you know in the next few days if I still have a house or I’ll be needing to bunk at one of your places for a while ;).

001

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Don't forget, the SEMA auto show is right around the corner!

2007 SEMA Auto Show, SEMA Girls and Models Photo Gallery

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 11:38:46 PM

0 Boost

Wow. 001, I'm terribly sorry. This is horrible. I can only hope it doesn't turn into another Katrina; I was watching it on the news less than an hour ago.

EnnNorak - 10/23/2007 9:07:45 AM

+2 Boost

I cannot understand why this is allowed to happen year after year. Where are the fire breaks and, in this day and age, the security cameras? Clearly, building code changes are also required to minimize the number of homes that are lost each year. Steel roofs and fire resistant walls should be a priority.

As for Katrina, most of New Orleans should have been bulldozed and relocated instead of wasting money rebuilding below sea level when everyone knows that global warming will result in even more severe future storms that will easily breach the new water barriers that are supposed to hold back storm surges.

Jagexpert2 - 10/23/2007 7:36:41 PM

+2 Boost

be careful and stay safe.

Agent001 - 10/22/2007 11:49:46 PM

+5 Boost

Thank you but don't feel sorry for me.

My family and I will be fine.

Feel sorry for the people who don't have insurance, lost loved ones or pets or who were not in a financial position to handle the tragedy.

001

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 11:54:49 PM

0 Boost

Yes, for those people, for everyone.

Good night, I'm going to bed.

DiamondJim - 10/23/2007 11:04:15 AM

0 Boost

sorry to hear about that 001 i hope you and your family will get through this.

if you do lose your home i hate to be the bearer of bad news and quote the Bloomberg on this: "Insurers often pay 30-60 percent of the cost of rebuilding a damaged home--even when carriers assure homeowners they're fully covered"

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/marketsmag/mm_0907_story1.html

hope all will be well with you and others. ;-)

cdoke - 10/23/2007 12:04:37 AM

+1 Boost

001, I share S4's sentiments, and wish you and yours the best. Do take care of yourselves.

bigTYME - 10/23/2007 12:16:55 AM

+1 Boost

I never thought it was this bad. I mean all it shows on CNN are aerial views of forests burning. Thats really bad how it looks in neighborhoods. Hope all goes well for you.

lexusis350 - 10/23/2007 12:26:00 AM

+1 Boost

Wow, that's scary.

02chuck - 10/23/2007 12:57:13 AM

+1 Boost

We went through this during the summer up here in Lake Tahoe. Has some friends also get evacuated. The important thing is that you have your loved ones safe. The material stuff can be replaced.

EvoAudi - 10/23/2007 1:23:06 AM

+2 Boost

I feel your pain, i am about a day away from evac myself. all three OC fires are set to join into one 80,000+ acre fire in about 48 hours and actually i just finished setting up a evacuation pack for an emergency. Take care of yourself and your family though.

omarrana - 10/23/2007 1:24:44 AM

+1 Boost

001 I will keep you and your family in my prayers along with everyone else in Southern California. Take care of yourself and your family

EL34 - 10/23/2007 1:45:31 AM

+1 Boost

Here where I live in Irvine the smoke got real bad yesterday and last night at 8pm I went for a drive to find out what was going on and Portola Pkwy was closed which is about a mile and a half from where I live as well as 2 toll roads.

I have a real estate listing in Foothill Ranch and I talked to the seller today and he said he could see the flames from his home and he's one street over from the hills, but the fire has moved on to Portola Hills.

chuck717 - 10/23/2007 11:19:57 AM

0 Boost

The real estate market is bad enough now you have to cope with fires, it will be a long day in May before that listing sells?

EL34 - 10/23/2007 11:24:10 AM

+1 Boost

Especially if you live in the mountains at the Lake Arrowhead area where they've lost about 150 cabin homes and over 900 homes in San Diego county.

When the Santa Ana winds stop blowing the firefighters will get the upperhand.

chuck717 - 10/23/2007 11:53:02 AM

+1 Boost

You know the old saying when it rains it pours, right now everybody involved just thinks about escaping the problem when it seetles down then the reality sets in, i have to sell this house now the fires are another issue it is a bad time for sellers. take care and good luck

EL34 - 10/23/2007 12:05:10 PM

+1 Boost

The amount of property that's in a fire zone is very low in California.

All of that info is disclosed in the disclosure report in escrow.

The house I have listed didn't burn and no homes in Foothill Ranch burned because the fire has passed onto the next community Portola Hills.

Next in line will be Rancho Santa Margarita or RSM, but the winds should stop by this afternoon.

We will rebuild!...lol

jgf330xi - 10/23/2007 7:04:04 AM

0 Boost

001, God Speed and you are right, about praying for those that do not have.

I want to thank you for providing this site. Sometime I would like to know more about your "001" and the other spies.. What got me thinking was saying a prayer for you, "... help 001 to make it through.." and not knowing your name.

Honestly, when you poked your face into the BMW X6 video, interview with Pierre LeClercq, it change my perception of this site, added a lot more respect.
Added the personal aspect.

Again, best to luck and give us the best and most complete 1'er report possible. I am first in line for the 135i cab... and want to know ALL!

WILL "LEMANS BLUE" be available?

john

Agent009 - 10/23/2007 2:27:07 PM

+1 Boost

He is in Denmark today, and then back for SEMA in Vegas.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/23/2007 5:25:46 PM

+3 Boost

Yes, GS300, EVERYTHING's a conspiracy. EVERYONE is against Japanese cars.

NO. They are obviously getting Tokyo coverage from another admin.

lexusis350 - 10/23/2007 5:28:44 PM

+2 Boost

LOL!

chuck717 - 10/23/2007 10:27:43 AM

+2 Boost

Lived in SO Cal for 33 yrs saw: fire ,mud slides,earthquakes,wind,crime,traffic, we moved 15 yrs ago to a most beautiful place where we see nothing but sunsets, red mountains and little of anything else except for the dreaded tourist.

GT3RennSport - 10/23/2007 11:19:36 AM

+1 Boost

Thank God you and your familiy are ok. I wish my best for everyone involved in this incident. Hopefully all will end with just material issues.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 10/23/2007 11:51:40 AM

+1 Boost

is anybody going the other way on the freeway?

chuck717 - 10/23/2007 11:54:55 AM

+1 Boost

It is Ca. somebody is always going the other way?

EL34 - 10/23/2007 12:06:56 PM

+1 Boost

Right, there's always a high speed chase even during state wide fires.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 10/23/2007 6:32:49 PM

0 Boost

...you guys misunderstood me. like other way on the other side towards the smoke...

gsh23 - 10/23/2007 1:07:03 PM

+1 Boost

Hey uh 00's, you guys arent going to the Tokyo Motor show? Its going to be the biggest, most badass show this year. And to follow up on that, you arent going to the LA auto show in Nov? Come on!

EL34 - 10/23/2007 1:50:08 PM

+1 Boost

The Irvine fire is close to 16,000 acres and it was started in 3 places by an arsonist of off Santiago Canyon Rd.

Here's a photo of the road.
http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/images010/ca-014_nb_exit_026_01.jpg

EvoAudi - 10/23/2007 6:54:23 PM

+1 Boost

i can see all 4-6 plumes of smoke from my bedroom window......It's Armageddon I will only feel bad for the 3 Buggati's, 240+Ferraris, and 1000+ Porches if Coto burns down, screw my house.

Jagexpert2 - 10/23/2007 7:40:36 PM

+2 Boost

This isn't climate change its natural climate variation. Also you should allow controled burns each year to limit the chance of this happenning. But the enviormentalists refuse to allow it and the regulations that have resulting against controled burns are the reason Californians are now suffering.

cdoke - 10/23/2007 9:53:02 PM

+1 Boost

In fact, certain speices of trees require forest fires in order to reproduce.

Jagexpert2 - 10/23/2007 7:37:40 PM

+2 Boost

I hope this doesn't happen in Atlanta. We don't have any water.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2007 12:54:52 AM

+1 Boost

I live in Chicago; we can give you some. We have more than enough.

shiftless - 10/24/2007 6:22:16 PM

+1 Boost

Just want ot pray for all that is affected and to keep your head up. Cant imagine the horror of not having a place to call home, in a matter of days. And that your life is changed forever.