Fires
Yes, the fires are really bad here in SoCal right now. Thankfully, the worst I’m having to deal with is air quality issues. There aren’t any actual fires in my immediate area. To give you an idea of the air quality, here is a picture I took from my balcony midday today. In case you’re wondering, yes, that’s smoke, not clouds.
Please keep Jill (Jill in CA) and Nancy (nkuelbs) in your thoughts. They have both been evacuated from their homes.
Seven counties here have been declared a state of emergency. Over 300,000 people (yes, more than a quarter of a million) have been evacuated from their homes. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly the size of the city of Pittsburgh. 
Over 650 homes and over 160 structures (churches, businesses, etc.) have been destroyed. Over 520 square miles (1347 sq km) of land has burned. 
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:19 am
Oh no, Jill and Nancy will definitely be in my thoughts! I hope the fires will be out soon.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Every time I watch the news it just brings tears to my eyes. I can’t imagine how scary this must be. Glad things are okay so far for you. Lots of good thoughts and prayers that they get the fires out.
October 24th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
I’m glad to hear you’re in a safe area, although the air quality sure looks icky.
October 25th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Oh man, I bet it’s awful! I couldn’t imagine how bad the air must be. Be careful!
October 31st, 2007 at 9:59 am
Thanks for thinking of me and Nancy, Melissa (and everyone else!). The biggest estimate for evacuees that I’d heard was 960,000 at one point. It was wretched; we left early Monday morning and weren’t allowed back in until Thursday afternoon. I know several people who lost their homes; Nancy knows even more. I spent last weekend helping sift through rubble. DBF lost his back fence and his house is super smoky so he’s staying with me. There were 40-50 kids at DS’s school who lost their homes, including a friend of his, and several more whose homes are standing but unlivable.
To look back and get caught up now and see that you were thinking about us is a comfort to me! I’m lucky to have such awesome friends; thank you Melissa (and Melissa’ commenters).