CA fires

[Washroad]

Even though my home is in no way threatened (for now), the smoke and ash from the fires is all over the place. For a couple of days, it was almost "fog-like" and when the sun came up it was red. Really scary.

My brother/sister-in-law live in Poway, they had to evacuate for one night (Rancho Bernardo fire is close to them). They got back home, turned power/gas back on. Called me, I almost didn't recognize his voice, so much stuff in the air. His house was fine but absolutely filthy. Better dirty than gone, ya know?

I have a friend in Fallbrook, been out of his house since Tuesday. Still not back in and he doesn't know what he'll find. Friend in Ramona was out for 2 days, his is OK.

This is really tragic. Over 500,000 people displaced, over 1,000 houses burned.

Some of this was arson. What in the hell would make someone set a fire like that?

Well, today was cooler, no more wind (we had about 3 days of winds 35mph). Winds are supposed to come back but go in another direction. That would blow the Santiago fire towards me.

So far, only about 7 deaths, which, while sad that people died, not that many have considering.

[leatheroo]

Everyone in Australia watches the fire news from the US. It is so close to what we experience here just about every year. We have had about 5 years of drought here and every summer the fires get worse. The drought is causing a lot of hardship for the farmers, with many just walking away from their farms. Not only do they have to buy water but feed for their cattle and sheep. Therefore food is getting more expensive. Just today in the news a 69 year old man died of a heart attack after getting in an arguement about watering his garden. Watering gardens is not allowed. Nor is washing cars or house windows, filling pools or watering sports grounds. Many people use water from their washing machines and showers to water their garden.

Hope the fires are out soon and no more lives are lost. Our thoughts are with you.