Fires. Again.

Dogwalks have been more interesting than usual: the mountains above Valencia were glowing reddish-orange, like a never-ending sunset. From my side of the hills, you could see flames: lines of fire that went from valley-level to the tops of the mountains. Bright red zig-zags that you can see actual flames moving in.

Each morning the valley is shrouded in thick smoke and smells like a big campfire. Fortunately, the brush of this area does not have much poison oak, so the smoke isn't as toxic. Sunsets are gorgeous and even during the day the light is tinted gold.

A part of me is relieved that they are so far away; another part of me knows full-well that a fire could break out in the hills behind us at any time. Even when there aren't active fires that danger is always on my mind. I have a very complete mental inventory of what I need to grab in case of any evacuation: different things depending on the time available. I've only had to evacuate once, thank goodness! I took my dog, some art and my hard drive that time.

Right now the worry is about Mt. Wilson: that is where the antenna farm for most of L.A. resides. Mt. Wilson Observatory is adjacent to that. I've hiked that area a lot-- Mt. Wilson, Mt. Disappointment, Mt. Lowe, Chilao Flats...it will be sad to see the damage.

Another thought is what is happening to the Wildlife Weigh Station and Shambala-- two organizations in the path of the fire (WWS is in Big Tujunga; Shambala is in Acton). No news on them, surprisingly.

Good luck to friends in any danger or smoke from the fires. Take care!

Fires. Again.

Dogwalks have been more interesting than usual: the mountains above Valencia were glowing reddish-orange, like a never-ending sunset. From my side of the hills, you could see flames: lines of fire that went from valley-level to the tops of the mountains. Bright red zig-zags that you can see actual flames moving in.

Each morning the valley is shrouded in thick smoke and smells like a big campfire. Fortunately, the brush of this area does not have much poison oak, so the smoke isn't as toxic. Sunsets are gorgeous and even during the day the light is tinted gold.

A part of me is relieved that they are so far away; another part of me knows full-well that a fire could break out in the hills behind us at any time. Even when there aren't active fires that danger is always on my mind. I have a very complete mental inventory of what I need to grab in case of any evacuation: different things depending on the time available. I've only had to evacuate once, thank goodness! I took my dog, some art and my hard drive that time.

Right now the worry is about Mt. Wilson: that is where the antenna farm for most of L.A. resides. Mt. Wilson Observatory is adjacent to that. I've hiked that area a lot-- Mt. Wilson, Mt. Disappointment, Mt. Lowe, Chilao Flats...it will be sad to see the damage.

Another thought is what is happening to the Wildlife Weigh Station and Shambala-- two organizations in the path of the fire (WWS is in Big Tujunga; Shambala is in Acton). No news on them, surprisingly.

Good luck to friends in any danger or smoke from the fires. Take care!

Fires. Again.

Dogwalks have been more interesting than usual: the mountains above Valencia were glowing reddish-orange, like a never-ending sunset. From my side of the hills, you could see flames: lines of fire that went from valley-level to the tops of the mountains. Bright red zig-zags that you can see actual flames moving in.

Each morning the valley is shrouded in thick smoke and smells like a big campfire. Fortunately, the brush of this area does not have much poison oak, so the smoke isn't as toxic. Sunsets are gorgeous and even during the day the light is tinted gold.

A part of me is relieved that they are so far away; another part of me knows full-well that a fire could break out in the hills behind us at any time. Even when there aren't active fires that danger is always on my mind. I have a very complete mental inventory of what I need to grab in case of any evacuation: different things depending on the time available. I've only had to evacuate once, thank goodness! I took my dog, some art and my hard drive that time.

Right now the worry is about Mt. Wilson: that is where the antenna farm for most of L.A. resides. Mt. Wilson Observatory is adjacent to that. I've hiked that area a lot-- Mt. Wilson, Mt. Disappointment, Mt. Lowe, Chilao Flats...it will be sad to see the damage.

Another thought is what is happening to the Wildlife Weigh Station and Shambala-- two organizations in the path of the fire (WWS is in Big Tujunga; Shambala is in Acton). No news on them, surprisingly.

Good luck to friends in any danger or smoke from the fires. Take care!