The last few days have been all about news channels, radios, little sleep and smoke and burning eyes.
SAXBOY lives in Orange County, California. You would have to be living in a cave to not be aware of Southern California burning to the ground. Dozens of fires from LA, to Magic Mountain, to the Mexican border.
Living in SO Cal, I have been around smoke and heard the fire was getting near a few times. This time things have been very different. The Santa Ana winds are always dry and hot. This year they hit California bringing 100 degree temperatures and winds clocked at 108 miles an hour - basically hurrican force winds.
We here in California are pretty used to bad winds and fire seems to be an issue every few years. The combination has been really bad this year with fires breaking out all over the place. Since the first fire was reported, the news seems to have a new fire reported a couple of times a day. It has been a big drag.
In my area, we have had horrible winds and smoke for days now. The wind seems to have died down a bit but the fires rage on and the smoke is bad. I have had sore eyes for a few days now and we have been told to stay indoors if at all possible. With the heat, staying inside and closing the windows and doors makes for a really hot 'inside'.
I go to the biggest church in the area and the emails have been flying with reports of friends displaced and scary moments for many. Because I have lived here my whole life, I know a lot of people. The Church folks are many and this fire has been close to the Church at a few times and displaced many thousands in my immediate area. I even saw my Pastors wife in a clip on the news running across the street at there house to hug a neighbor.
This has been very personal for many of my dear family and friends. Lake Arrowhead was hit hard. My Attorney moved up there a year ago. No word from him yet. We have had Church functions and band rehearsals canceled due to the smoke, and many people that are dealing with huge issues right now.
I have been able to see actual flames from my doorstep a few times now. I have seen the orange glow of fire at night in the area, but this was the first time I saw the stuff, clear as day from my door. Last night my daughter pointed out the car door coming back from the Spectrum, and I was surprised to see the fire burning up the foothills again, and in a few different places.
Bottom line is - We have been under attack. The past few days Mother Nature has cleaned up and many people have been hurt in the middle of it all. Getting anything done has been hard since going outside is not always safe, street closures and evacuations in nearby areas cause serious traffic problems, and the whole thing is pretty scary. Monitoring the news agencies is important when evacuation orders and school closures can happen while you slept for that few hours.
My prayers are passionately going out for those fighting the fires and the many that have been effected by them. I know we will get past the loses and rebuild much of what was lost, but the loss of lives is tragic. The only amazing news here is that recent reports say only 1 person is counted as dead as a direct cause of these fires. With the overwhelming volume and conditions these fires flourished in, it's amazing that human lose is so limited.
Prayers to all effected. Prayers for those that are still on the front lines and the families that worry for their wellbeing. Deepest sympathy for those that lost homes and all there worldly goods. Very sad....
saxboy
