Monday, August 31, 2009

Fire III


On this the second week of the fires in LA I learned that several of my friends have been evacuated from their homes because of the Station Fire.  Back fires are being set to try to get some control.  The LA Times reports that over 100,000 acres have burned and the transmitter for television in the LA area is in jeopardy.

Two years ago, my college suite mate, who lives in San Diego, was evacuated during the major fire there (the Witch fire).  She said the smell of smoke overwhelmed the city.  Los Angeles is large enough that the smoke can be seen all over but not smelled except closer to the fire. 

Most sadly, two firefighters died yesterday in an accident on a mountain road near Acton, which is at the north edge of the fire.  See LA Times map.  

Firefighters from all over the region are helping.  One of my friends said that she was escorted to her home yesterday by firemen from El Segundo (two towns over from mine) and she saw fire engines from my town, Hermosa Beach, in La Crescenta.  When I get crabby about the heat I need to remember these firefighters who deal with unbearable heat fighting these fires during the day when temperatures are in the high 90s and 100s.  Perspective is a bitch.

No comments: