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Dan Chusid | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> California / San Diego Fires 2003 & 2007 - Nightmare In Paradise! tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

California / San Diego Fires 2003 & 2007 - Nightmare In Paradise!

Wildfire devastation in Southern California

Read and leave comments and messages below.
More images here: https://pbase.com/camera0bug/california_fires__continuing_story_in_photos
Liquified Aluminum
Liquified Aluminum		 Fire Lane
Fire Lane		 Bicycle Skeletons
Bicycle Skeletons		 Trailer Park Destruction
Trailer Park Destruction		 Melted Windshield Glass
Melted Windshield Glass
Harris Fire
Harris Fire		 Harris Fire
Harris Fire		 Harris Fire
Harris Fire		 Undamaged Pumpkins...
Undamaged Pumpkins...		 Crown Point - Scripps Ranch, CA
Crown Point - Scripps Ranch, CA
Fairbrook Rd. - Scripps Ranch
Fairbrook Rd. - Scripps Ranch		 Boat & Trailer - Scripps Ranch
Boat & Trailer - Scripps Ranch		 Fairbrook Rd. - Scripps Ranch
Fairbrook Rd. - Scripps Ranch


 Handrich Street
Handrich Street 		Scorched Bicycle Birch Bluff Avenue
Scorched Bicycle
Birch Bluff Avenue
Birch Bluff Ave
Birch Bluff Ave		 Corner Of Handrich Drive & La Colina Court
Corner Of Handrich Drive
& La Colina Court		 Motorcycle Skeleton Maywind Court, Scripps Ranch
Motorcycle Skeleton
Maywind Court, Scripps Ranch		 Tree Of Masks
Tree Of Masks		 Sold
"Sold"
Trees Burnt Bare Along Hillside Trail
Trees Burnt Bare Along Hillside Trail		 Birch Bluff Avenue
Birch Bluff Avenue		 Birch Bluff Avenue
Birch Bluff Avenue		 Birch Bluff Avenue
Birch Bluff Avenue 		11747 Maywind Court
11747 Maywind Court
11747 Maywind Court
11747 Maywind Court

comment | share
Chris 21-Jan-2013 08:09
My house is on here :o
Paradoxal Studio Classic25-Nov-2007 20:53
We look these galleries with all the respect and the wishes we can express to the people damaged.
:o(
Lilith22-Nov-2007 19:00
These pics give a lonely feeling. At the other hand I imagine people to be found amongst the 'skeletons' looking for lost possessions and safe havens.
Kiss,
Lilith
Guest 18-Nov-2007 13:21
Hi Dan

A great piece of photojournalism, documenting the devastation and tradegy that happened here, truly powerful and very moving images. GMV!
Richard Calmes17-Nov-2007 15:26
Heart wrenching! Sad and touching! Scary! Terrifying!
Mike Stobbs17-Nov-2007 02:13
Very powerfull & moving images Dan....it's bad that it has to end this way....GMV...Mike
Eric Herbelin15-Nov-2007 06:57
thanks for sharing.
Nicki Thurgar13-Nov-2007 20:46
Terribly sad for those who have lost their homes & belongings, well documented Dan.
Guest 13-Nov-2007 12:27
Very impressive, Dan!
Maaike Huizer13-Nov-2007 07:31
Great job, Dan. This is an impressive gallery.
samatha hete 13-Nov-2007 02:52
thats so scary ,I would be scared!!!!!!!!
Cindi Smith13-Nov-2007 00:03
Dan, this is one moving gallery. You caught the tragedy's aftermath that few of us ever get to see. Wonderful photojournalism. I'm just sad that it all had to happen. My thanks to God, for all of you that I know that live there, that you are all okay. I wept as I looked through each picture. My heart goes out to all.
Jim Larkin12-Nov-2007 18:14
Wow. It's been said before but you have done an incredible job documenting what the media hasn't. Unless there is a raging fire about to devour someone's life the media isn't interested. Great work.
Jen Bixler12-Nov-2007 17:34
Heart wrenching, Dan.
You've done a great job documenting these tragedies to share with all of us.
Lee G12-Nov-2007 17:12
Powerful images. It's hard to appreciate the devastation caused by the fires without a first hand visit to the scene. These images help bring the loss and sadness the owners must feel to the rest of us. A friend of mine lost his place in the Santiago area and a co-worker lost his home in the Ramona area. Their neighborhoods were as you show here, gutted and left for dead by the firestorms. Best wishes to the victims of this tragedy.
JW12-Nov-2007 08:02
Wow! What a stunning journal of this terrifying event. It's so important to document events even if it feels uncomfortable at the time.
laine8204-Nov-2007 00:49
It never gets any easier to bear no matter where or when.
Guest 26-Oct-2007 23:05
great shots, i remeber it well, no one tought it could happen...
now we know better.. again
Guest 14-Dec-2006 21:55
Anyone who hired "San Diego County Rainbow Intl" to help with restoration,cleaning and repair of their damaged or destroyed homes from the wildfires, and were ripped off by them for their insurance money. Please contact me at thmitchell@roadrunner.com.
Melinda Mitchell
Naomi 31-Jan-2006 14:09
Your images bring the viewer to the site. Good photojournalism work.
JeremyGood01-Jul-2005 09:07
I remember it well.
Makes my eyes hurt just looking at your gallery and remembering the smoke.
Guest 25-Nov-2003 01:18
Hi Dan--I live in Scripps Ranch and I still can't look at these pictures without crying. We were evacuated for two days. I was lucky--I live off Loire, but our street was untouched. I've got to start going in and out by Spring Canyon--Pomerado Rd. is just too depressing for me. Good shots, though, very effective. L.
Alyse 11-Nov-2003 00:30
Somehow, the photos at the smallest, most detailed level -- the bicycle, the motorcycle, the individual homes -- seem to be the most heart-wrenching to me, "hit home" the most, at least for me, make this catastrophe the real horror that it is.
shhtrbg 08-Nov-2003 01:01
great Photos, the best compilation I've seen.
boots 06-Nov-2003 05:22
You are a documentarian. A much needed and heartfelt level of photography there never was a better example. Thanks for the great work.
Seize04-Nov-2003 05:04
truly amazing photos..as for myself being from San Diego, these pictures really hit home.
Guest 03-Nov-2003 21:21
Dan, Saw your note on one of my friends pbase sites about her pics, clicked your name and viewed yours. They are pretty amazing shots that tell the story without words of the devastations of these fires. Nicely done.
Lemmers 02-Nov-2003 18:30
You and Tommy are O.K. and that gives me great relief. You've undertaken quite a project here and given the rest of the world something tangible to reflect on. It is a powerful piece of work. Between Ray and yourself, I can feel the ash in my throat.
Beautifully handled, my friend.
Linda Alstead02-Nov-2003 18:05
A waking nightmare for all. Dan, I so hope that this burns out soon so you and your neighbours can start to rebuild your lives. From the other side of the Atlantic, in the safety of England, our thoughts are with you. Your spirit and braveness will be rewarded soon, of that I feel certain.

Aside from the obviously tragic nature of the subject matter, these pictures are a fantastic record of a terrible event.
Jay Hughston 01-Nov-2003 22:10
These are great pictures...but small. I am trying to find 800 by 600
sized pictures of this somewhere on the internet. Didn't anyone photograph
this with their digital camera's??
Bailey Zimmerman01-Nov-2003 21:06
Dan,
Thanks for taking the time to post this gallery!!! Truly amazing shots!!
What a horrendous ordeal!!
ofer gelles01-Nov-2003 19:02
realistic and algid picture
great work
Julian & Millie Chazin 01-Nov-2003 05:50
Dan, from your customers in Timberlane 2: Thank goodness you were spared as were we (within 1/2 mile). Don't feel guilty about it - it was out of our hands. Nice job of capturing the images - we happened to be away and they present a stark reality! We are shocked and awed by the devastation and when we see the ashes and changes in the landscape we are sick to our stomachs.
Julian & Millie
Guest 01-Nov-2003 04:10
You've really got some awesome captures here.

Brian.
http://www.pbase.com/galleries/DigiDawg
lisa bogan31-Oct-2003 16:21
Dan,
Super job of compiling and sharing!! We lived in S.D./Temecula area for 18 yrs (till moving to Texas 3 years ago). We also lived in the Bay area during the Oakland fire. We still have many friends & memories from around the areas of these current fires. I've watched NBCSanDiego.com the past 2 days but their footages didn't begin to really give me a feeling of what it must be like until I went thru your photos. Thanks again for helping me be able to empathize better with all my friends still in that area. :(
Guest 30-Oct-2003 18:27
HI Dan, All I can say is, You did such a fine job compiling all these photos and shared them to all people in the world. As myself I live in Chula Vista and we had a fire up three miles from my backyard. It's really a scary feeling seeing the fire coming. I thank the almighty for having the wind died down that Sunday night and had the Fire Fighter set up the Back Fire to control the fire. God Bless to all Fire Fighter who still doing thier dangerous job. and I pray for the family of the first Fire fighter who lost his life doing his job.
Maureen B 30-Oct-2003 18:02
My sister lives in Scripps Ranch. Now I see why she kept calling it a war zone. You are doing a better job than CNN at portraying the devastation! Thanks for sharing.
Dorsay Family 30-Oct-2003 17:33
We've seen many fires here in Central Oregon, nothing like this. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at such a terrible time in your lives.
Jennifer 30-Oct-2003 05:46
My thoughts and prayers are with you all! The picture of the United States Flag barely standing and still waving touched my heart. I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery from all of your losses.
Steve30-Oct-2003 05:20
Your pictures are absolutely awesome. Thanks for sharing them. Our hearts are to those who lost their homes.
Guest 30-Oct-2003 04:42
This is Los Alamos only 100 fold. I fought for them then but can only pray
for you now:

"My God, unite us in the joy of our fellowship before you, in the sorrow and pain of our incredible loss, and in your promise that you are and have ever been the Creator of Life after Death whether it be by grave or by fire."

Amen.
Naturephoto Monique29-Oct-2003 23:58
This sure is heartbreaking...for those that lost there home, family and pets.....my toughts are with you all! Monique
Teri Williams 29-Oct-2003 06:01
Thanks for the pics, I am in Tierrasanta, which was not hit as bad as Crest or Scripps Ranch, but was still pretty devastaed. Coming back to the neighborhood was hard, you wonder why the fire took some houses around yours but not your own. It is a horrible feeling, but you can only be happy to have your home to come back to. My heart is with those who lost everything, hopefully time will help you to rebuild!
Jeanette Sansom29-Oct-2003 01:27
Thank you for posting such incredible pictures. They really convey what the media has not been able to convey plua you really do have an eye for the shots. Just fantastic.
Jeanette Sansom (pbase.com/jeanette)
Jane 29-Oct-2003 00:19
My son and his family live in Scripps Ranch. The local news has been focused on Simi Valley and San Bernadino. Although it does not ally my fear for his family I am grateful for your photos to see what is really going on. My son, of course said there is nothing to worry about. Thanks for letting me see what there is to fear.
Horrific photos!
FLORIDA 28-Oct-2003 21:02
Dam thats some hot shit !
Nancy Kay28-Oct-2003 20:55
Thanks for posting the photos. We lived in Southern CA for 18 years, with several fires near enough to be scared (evacuated once), and it's hard to get specific news about where the fires are now that we live in Virginia. Thanks again, and be careful.
Susan 28-Oct-2003 20:09
Dan-

thanks for the incredible shots. Devastating, heart wrenching, I am still in shock. Can't believe you stayed there and roughed it out- you would do anything for a good picture, wouldn't you? -suse
Marianne 28-Oct-2003 19:30
Dan, Thanks for the continuing coverage. This is heartbreaking, but I am glad you are safe. Marianne
Guest 28-Oct-2003 17:35
Good reportage Dan, nice work!
Denise Dee28-Oct-2003 16:46
makes me want to cry glad you're okay, hope you can breath. I was in S.F. during the oakland/berkeley hills fire, and that smell was there for a long time, that and very heavy dry air. take care, denise
Guest 28-Oct-2003 07:24
Hi Dan,
How is your home? In all my years in San Diego this is the most devastating
experience I have witnessed. I hope you and your family are safe.
Hopefully, you'll be able to return home tomorrow.
Best wishes,
Can
Mike 28-Oct-2003 00:09
Great shots! (I lived in San Diego back in the 70's and 80's in the Mission Gorge area!)
Eddy Meuwese September 7th 2016 4.000.000 pageviews27-Oct-2003 21:47
Dan, hope you will be free of all that fire. Greetz Eddy
Nicole Meuwese-van Rhee27-Oct-2003 20:22
Good to here, that your place is okay!!! Greetings from Nicole...
Ruby 27-Oct-2003 18:23
Good to know you're out of thedanger zone. Thanks for the visuals.
Abba Richman27-Oct-2003 06:12
Dan, nice too see your alive and kicking - Best regards, Abba
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