These images I took from the web in order to share some of my thoughts and feelings about our fires -- I've given credit where due. Everyone in LA is affected by what's going on... it would be impossible to not be. The smoke is everywhere and is trapped against the mountains. At night, I think I've seen fires burning... So, even from afar, you get this creepy feeling when you see the flames at night, or the smoke during the day.
The beautiful home along PCH have always been landmarks of sorts... people from all over the world visit California to drive PCH and see the amazing ocean & mountain views... so, to see images of these homes (and the castle) going up in smoke is really just horrifying.
Last night I was listening to reports on npr, and they made a comment about making sure you bring your animals inside because so much wildlife has been displaced by the fires that all types of creatures are taking refuge in neighborhoods and away from the fires. That just makes you sick to think about, right? So, basically, every time I view these stories online or listen to the reports on the radio, it brings fresh tears... It's just horrible. Many buddies and co-workers have been asked to evacuate... as a precaution in some cases, but in others because the fire is about to lick their front doors-steps. It's insane.
This image, and write up are from NASA: "Several massive wildfires were raging across southern California over the weekend of October 25, 2003. Whipped by the hot, dry Santa Ana winds that blow toward the coast from interior deserts, at least one fire grew 10,000 acres in just 6 hours. (Compare this scene with one captured by Aqua MODIS just one day before.) The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite captured this image of the fires and clouds of smoke spread over the region on October 26, 2003.
Moving northwest to southeast along the coast, the first cluster of red dots is a combination of the Piru, Verdale, and Simi Incident Fires; the next cluster—to the east of Los Angeles—is the Grand Prix (west) and Old (east) Fires; to their south is the Roblar 2 Fire; next is the Paradise Fire; then the massive Cedar Fire, whose thick smoke is completely overshadowing the coastal city of San Diego; finally, at the California-Mexico border is the Otay Fire. At least 13 people have lost their lives because of these fires, which officials are reporting were caused by carelessness and arson. Thousands have been evacuated across the region and hundreds of homes have been lost."
Below is a shot of Pepperdine, a beautiful place me & everyone locally has driven by more times than we could count... "Students at Malibu, California's Pepperdine University are awakened by an evacuation alter on 10.21, after a wall of fire approached the campus. (Photo and caption submitted by Jared Crisafi) "
This is an amazing shot, and creepy. "High winds drive hot embers smoldering in the Malibu Hills, Monday, 10.22.07, in Malibu, Calif. A wildfire driven by powerful Santa Ana winds forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes in the Malibu Hills and briefly threatened a university Sunday. Flames destroyed a church and several homes, one of them a landmark castle. Streaks at bottom center are embers blown in the wind during a long exposure. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)" 
"A huge plume of smoke billows over the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, CA on 10.21 as fires raged through the region. (Photo and caption submitted by Jared Crisafi)"
"A sunny, warm California afternoon turned into a dark, "snowy" night after thick smoke and ash from the fires burning miles away in Malibu dropped over the suburb of Ventura on 10.21.(Photo and caption submitted by Sam Galvez)"
What is this was over your house? "Smoke billows to the sky above where fires are spreading near houses in Stevenson Ranch, California. Half a million Californians have been ordered to evacuate their homes and flee the spreading wildfires blazing across southern California, US media reported. (AFP/Getty Images)"
I guess... all we can hope for is RAIN and this to be contained and over soon. You can taste the DRY in the air here, even if you're "far" from the fire. The sky is painted with smoke -- the sunset last night was out of this world amazing... with a RED HUGE sun going down & smoke surrounding it. Pray for NO WIND, cool temps, RAIN, and containment... and, all the families who've been displaced and all the animals who've lost their lives and homes. Ugh. 