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Southern California Wildfires

Satellite photo of the fires in Southern California

The last two weeks have brought Southern California what has been described as the most expensive natural disaster in state history.  Three major wildfires broke out in the LA and San Diego area, the first of which was in the San Bernardino Valley.  Known as the "old fire", it started last week at the same time as another fire in Fontana.  This meant that both sides of the valley were burning, and I could see flames from either side of my apartment in the hills.  Most of the local resources to extinguish these fires went to the Fontana fire, so the old fire grew out of control.

Click this map to see a breakdown.  Fires went right up to Redlands

While it was pretty scary when the fires were burning towards us from both sides, it was a relief when they put the fires out on my side of the riverbed.  Most of the rest of the week was dealing with the smoke and ash.  On Monday when I got back from Berkeley with my new car, it literally snowed ash.  There was an impressive buildup on my car when I came out after work... and the next day crews swept through town cleaning all the ash off the roads.

These are photos along the I-5 freeway where the Simi Valley Fires were.  I actually took these pictures at a fire there about a month earlier.

Shaky because of the car, but I drove within 50 feet of these flames.

Fontana Fires, as seen from my front porch.

While for me, the fire stayed a good distance off, many of my coworkers weren't so lucky.  The company president had to deal with fires burning right up to his house (fighting them off with his garden hose and kick sprinkler).  Several others had to evacuate their homes.  Some of our employees down in San Diego were chased out of their homes in the rush... which was the worst because it swept through so quickly.

All week I heard stories from people in my fellowship about opening up their homes to friends, or walking around evacuation centers, or having to move out.  For me, I felt pretty detached after that first week.  I don't really know anyone down here, and my thoughts were with friends who were going through other problems. 

This is north of the wash, a few miles from my house.

All the hills are blackened, for about 60 miles around Redlands.

Welcome to Moridor.

The wind finally shifted this week, revealing mountains completely void of vegetation.  For probably 60 miles between here and LA, the mountains are just black.  I drove as close as they would let me to the hills, it looks like the moon.  Or a scene from Lord of the Rings.  Maybe its a time for new life.  Maybe it will bring a rebirth in the communities here.  I hope so.  Much thanks to the thousands of firemen who struggled to save homes.