Traveling to area with fire

[Anonymous]

My dh, kids and I live in the east coast but we spend most Christmases at my parents outside of Santa Barbara, CA. Where they are there is no real (imminent) fire danger but the air quality has been bad since the fires started over a week ago. Now the winds have fanned the fire more and most of my friends’ families who live in the city have been evacuated. My parents are 93 and 74 and I’m definitely concerned about their health and safety with the bad air quality but they are basically just staying inside and not going out. My kids are 3, 5 and 8 and we’re all healthy but being inside for a long time is tough.

We are scheduled to fly there on Friday. At this point we know the fire won’t be contained or out by then but it could be a much better situation than it is now. It could also be worse. We are supposed to spend Christmas there and also my dearest friend is supposed to be getting married on NYE atheroarents’ hole and they just evacuated today.

I don’t know what to do. I hate the idea of not seeing my parents (we only see my dad twice a year as he won’t travel anymore) and we see my mom maybe one additional time. But I’m also worried about the safety of bringing my kids there and subjecting everyone to staying indoors for nearly 2 weeks because it isn’t safe to be outside.

I don’t know when we’d need to make the call to change our tickets, probably sooner than later, but am I stupid for waiting as long as possible and holding out hope we can go? Wwyd in this situation? (I posted in travel but realized that board is much quieter)

[Anonymous]

I would cancel. We are in Los Angeles but had New Year's weekend plans to Santa Barbara and we just cancelled. Even the small fires in Los Angeles made it impossible to take our toddler outside and the ash was unbelievable. The fire in Santa Barbara is now ranked the 3rd worst fire in the history of California. It's a big deal.

Sorry, OP. Have your parents meet you someplace else (like LA or Palm Springs).

[Anonymous]

I would not go. I would ask pediatrician to write a note child should not travel there in hopes of a full refund

[Anonymous]

I doubt that would work given thousands of children live there and obviously are in more danger than mine.

My dad won’t travel, probably not even to LA. And I’m not sure we would be able to fly to La and make completely different arrangements for our family of 6 at this last moment. The choice is either go or stay on the east coast.

[Anonymous]

Cancel please. Particulates inhaled stay in the lungs forever and can provoke long-term complications. This is not a joke, OP. Children's health above all, as they have the most to lose. Especially if one of them was born early or has asthma.

[Anonymous]

So sorry, OP. But you are going to end up canceling. Wait as long as you like but you will end up canceling. This is a mother of a fire.

[Anonymous]

3 different threads and the DCUM consensus is NO!

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/689540.page

[Anonymous]

Fellow "aging parents in CA" person here, and I would cancel. Sorry.

Actually, what I might do depending on the change fee vs refund situation is fly somewhere nice (PP mentioned Palm Springs) and have a vacation. One adult could choose to hop a short flight from there to see the grandparents in Santa Barbara for a couple days, without the kids -- or not try at all, which is ok too.

I assume celebrating Christmas out there in, say, February is not an option because of school and work schedules. But if it is an option, that might be nice instead.

[Anonymous]

We cancelled a trip to LA last weekend. Our tickets were fully refunded by United. You can try to get your tickets refunded or credited to reschedule for another time or ask your parents to meet you in Orange County, San Diego or Palm Springs.

[Anonymous]

Cancel!! A portion of Santa Barbara City is under evacuation! http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/12/16/new-evacuations-thomas-fire/

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't go. Not worth the risk and hassle. It also makes it tougher to such emergencies when there are more people around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We cancelled a trip to LA last weekend. Our tickets were fully refunded by United. You can try to get your tickets refunded or credited to reschedule for another time or ask your parents to meet you in Orange County, San Diego or Palm Springs.

You cancelled your trip last weekend that was for a future date? Or your trip was to be last weekend?

[Anonymous]

You seriously started another thread for this? Because you didn't like the answer from those of us who ACTUALLY LIVE ON THE WEST COAST telling you that you're nuts for even considering it? SMH.

The right thing to do is invite your parents over to the East Coast. Then you still see them. IF they can even get out, at this stage. And IF they want to leave their house, knowing there's a chance they might not have anything to come back to. People nowhere near the front line are evacuating just due to the toxic smoke. Yes, it's that bad.

[Anonymous]

Cancel. Go on your own to see your parents later when things settle down.

[Anonymous]

My sister lives in Santa Barbara and is flying back east. She says the air quality is horrendous. Would your father leave if you retrieved him and traveled with him elsewhere?