She also reported that hospital clients have not presented special needs as of yet.

"What I have noticed is how wonderful the other dealers have been. Every time I receive a phone call everyone is concerned for our families. It's been nice to see the support of fellow dealers to make sure we are okay and asking if they can help....We are a support system for each other here."


Carol Haynes, All Imaging Systems in Irvine, is closer to one of the fires. "So far everybody's house is still standing and nobody has been evacuated. Yesterday the fire was about 10 miles from us but it's since been contained," she reported. "Everybody smells like smoke and my eyes are burning. The skies are gray but not as bad as [Monday], but it's stinky....Yesterday the back of my truck was full of ash."

It's lucky that the staff is safe, but what about their medical equipment?

"All of our machines for parts are in the warehouse. Everything is closed up inside. We use the air conditioner to filter the air so everything inside is okay."

Haynes said that the fires are concentrated in rural stretches encircling the cities where most hospitals are situated, so the medical centers appear unscathed for now. She added that recent tree disease near Lake Arrowhead, once a beautiful fishing area, had left fuel for the fire.

Meanwhile, in Riverside, Scott Hassler, KPI Ultrasound, maintains his sense of humor. "Everything is on fire, otherwise it's business as usual," he quipped. "We are fully operational. If the building were on fire it would affect us, otherwise no."

Hassler's house is just five miles from a current inferno in Orange County but the office is relatively safe at about 15 miles from the nearest blaze.

He confirmed that the fires are affecting residential properties and some commuters more than businesses. "The toll roads were so smoky you have to take the freeways," he said. (The 5 freeway subsequently closed on Wednesday.)

Like many dealers his client base is nationwide and worldwide in 80 countries so customers are not in peril.

A resident familiar with the frequent natural disasters of California, Hassler said, "It always happens. That's Southern California for you."

[Send us your comments to let us know how you're doing if you are located in or serve Southern California. -Ed.]



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