I think it's idiotic.

I guess it might have an effect on the firefighters if they have to respond to humans in the area, but that's playing dirty pool. I agree that it's a dumb move if you can actually get out, and you don't have a magic cloak of protection to extend over your property yourself.

The places we lived in London that had basements had finished basements. I think that that is probably typical of the city. I don't think I've actually been in an unfinished basement, now that I think about it--the house in Canada had a finished one, but it was always dark and musty in a way I didn't like (oh, as opposed to how dark I keep my apartments now) so I never spent much time down there, on the rare occasions I was home.

We had cabinetry and in one spot carpeting and wood panelling but it's not like they were rooms that an adult would want to hang out in. A high school friend's basement was FINISHED finished with a couch, TV, pool table, wood burning stove, wet bar, bathroom, separate entrance etc.

I really should get my ass off the computer and go be productive.

If it weren't so infernally hot, I'd roast some sweet potatoes and then roast some chickpeas (so good) and then make granola. As it is, maybe I'll go sew.

Oooh, I love roasted chickpeas.

Hil, do you roast them with a spice? I wonder how I can make wasabi chickpeas?

I don't like wasabi. I sometimes use garlic powder, sometimes nutritional yeast. I used to have a spray can of garlic-infused olive oil that I'd spray them with.

and you don't have a magic cloak of protection to extend over your property yourself.

Well, you can do more than that. Not to argue into staying but you can stay and water your roof which is what people do. If the fire doesn't engulf your area but is close enough to spraying embers and sparks then you can put those out.

Again, not saying that's the right idea, but it's not just magical thinking.

We had a large basement in NY. It housed the furnace and was generally cold and damp and dark compared to the rest of the house. Mom used it as a large pantry for huge amounts of canned food, potatoes and such. It wasn't a fun place, but not too creepy. Mom's home canned food may have softened the atmosphere.

No basements in this part of Florida. We just put a new floor down and painted our laundry room. I hope to make a pretty tropical curtain for the window this weekend. When DH said he wanted to paint the room I was more than ready to dump the beige and now find the turquoise quite cheery. [link]

cheese omelette:

Fire may be pretty, but breathing smoke not so much. Please be safe if you are in fire areas. Sending all kinds of vibes for conditions improving.

The basement in my last apartment house was dark and damp and creepy to the max -- I didn't even like going down into it at night. The basement here is a lot better, mostly because not only are there enough lights to see every bit of it, but the previous owners painted the walls and the ceilings white, which makes it a hell of a lot brighter.