California wild fires

I know you've all heard about the Hell many Californians have found themselves in.  Well, this morning I received an email from a dear friend, Mimi Hiller.  I'm sure most of you know her, or at least know of her.  She's run Mimi's Cyber Kitchen, Recipe Circus and MimiMart in cyberspace for I-don't-know-how-many years, and opened a physical-location bookstore called Cookbooks Plus just within the last couple of years.  (And Mimi, if my memory's failing on the time frame, please correct me!)

Anyway, here's the message, reprinted with her permission:

Friday, when the fire broke out, it was on the other side of the freeway,
moving away from our direction. With gusts up to 75 mph, it didn't take
long to consume thousands of acres. We could see the flames on the ridge
and lots of smoke.

Yesterday, they closed the two intersecting freeways close to us (I-14 and
I-5). You could still get in or out, but you had to go all the way
around...a 3-hour trip vs. 15 or 20 min. Going home last night, the whole
side of the mountain was ablaze, but the scary part was that it appeared
the winds were shifting back toward us.

By this morning, the fire was much closer, and this afternoon, when April
came to visit, she said it was up to Golden Valley Road, which is just up
the hill from us.

She left a little while ago, but she came back to tell us that as she was
leaving Friendly Valley, she looked across Sierra Hwy and there was fire.
We talked to the security people and they said it was a controlled burn.

The high winds have diminished, but we're still seeing gusts 25-30 mph,
and worst of all, humidity is only 7%. Yes, that's seven per cent!

Once more, we have the cat carriers ready, my cello is waiting at the
ready with a brief case full of important documents. We're gathering a few
more things and waiting, hoping, we'll just have to put everything back
tomorrow.

One sad note. If you're familiar with this area at all, you'll remember a
house that sits on hill on the east side of the I-5/I-14 interchange, next
to the aquaduct. Quite noticeable, because it's the only domicile within
view, and quite beautiful, especially at night when the water is cascading
down the hill next to it, changing colored lights making the water appear
to be something more appropriate in the Six Flags park up the road.

The house is no more. So is the tall mast that stood before it, proudly
displaying the red, white & blue.

I imagine the landscape will look like a Hollywood depiction of hell for
some time to come. But winter rains are just around the corner, and it
will turn green again, then brown as summer drought kills off the
vegetation and produces more fuel for future fires.

I want to believe we'll be okay. I really think we're safe, but if we have
to evacuate, I'll be back in touch.

Pray for everyone affected by this.

Mimi

That's scary as hell if you ask me.  I've seen a number of grass fires and wildfires over the years and have helped put several out, but have never have I personally witnessed anything that even comes close in comparison to the infernos that have been raging there.  That's a sight that could give the most psychologically stable of individuals nightmares.

I don't know how firefighters can go up against something like that without wondering if they maybe should have chosen a less exciting profession -- but fight them they do, and God bless them for having the courage to do it!  I'd like to think that I could run into a fire if someone's life was at risk, but can't help wondering if I really would have the courage to do so.  I hope and pray I never have to find out.

Yes, Mimi, we'll be praying for everyone's safety....