And the Fires Rage On

It is difficult to express the extent of my sorrow as parts of Los Angeles and LA County are reduced to rubble. Each night when I go to sleep I wonder if I will awaken to an evacuation order, and if the fires have spread even further. Part of what makes all of this feel so apocalyptic is not just that the main fires (in Pacific Palisades and Altadena) keep growing, but that new fires are constantly popping up. The Santa Ana winds continue to be a driving force that is spreading these fires, and the drought conditions, and lack of rain, have provided the perfect conditions for this firestorm. 

As a native Californian, earthquakes and wildfires are part of the world in which I live, but I have never seen anything that comes even close to the scale of these devastating wildfires. New evacuation orders have been issued reaching parts of the San Fernando Valley, and UCLA and Brentwood have been told to prepare for evacuation. I am impressed by the swift evacuation orders because keeping people and animals safe should always be a priority, but I also mourn the lives lost and the lovely neighborhoods (houses and businesses) that have perished. As I watch the news, and view online videos that document the destruction, I witness houses and businesses that meant a lot to me disappear into flames. Melted metal, rubble and glowing embers remain. The images look less like evidence of a catastrophic colossal scale fire, and more like pictures of the bombed out remains of a world war. There really are no words to express the level of devastation and loss Angelenos are experiencing, and sadly these fires continue to burn. Please send your good thoughts and prayers to everyone being impacted by these devastating fires.