HOME         ABOUT ME         CONTACT         REVIEW POLICY         LIBRARY         RATINGS GUIDE         LINKS

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Wordless Wednesday Fire Photos













All photos above from the Los Angeles Times website. ('Cause my momma didn't raise no fool and I'm not getting that close..) All were taken from the Acton, California end of the "Station" fire, which has, at this point, has burned over 140,000 acres, or almost 220 square miles. To put that into some perspective, the square miles of Boston, Manhattan, Seattle and San Francisco combined are roughly 208 square miles. Two firemen have died. At least 60 homes are gone. And that number is sure to go up, once people can get back into their neighborhoods. At this point, the fire has cost $13 million to fight. And now we're being told by fire investigators that the fire was "human caused". They're not saying yet if it was accidental or intentional. The investigator said the initial options were human caused or lightning and lightning has been ruled out. This kind of makes me a bit nauseous and it isn't just from the pervasive, unending smell of smoke.

The Acton end of the fire was about 8-10 miles from our house, but burning mostly in the other direction, and I don't think my neighborhood was ever in any danger. There's a general feeling of relief tempered with concern for the thousands who aren't so lucky in the valley. The air quality is just God awful. At least the Santa Ana winds haven't kicked up, its a little early in the year for that. Temperatures have dropped a bit, its in the high 90's instead of 107, and the fire is said to be 22% contained. (You know, whenever I see those figures, I always turn them around and think....hmm..you mean 78% out of control?? But's that negative Nancy thinking and 22% is a whole lot better than the 5% its been since Friday)

Sorry....I'm incapable of being wordless...just ask my family....

10 comments:

ccqdesigns said...

So sorry you have to go through this. We lived through the south Florida fires about 12 years ago. I remember walking out of our house on July 4th and I could not see my next door neighbor's house. It is a very scary thing. I am praying for you and all the other families in the area that the fires are put out soon and no one else looses their home.
Rebecca

Mary (Bookfan) said...

Shocking and heart-breaking. So sorry for all you and all Californians are going through.

Lori L said...

Wild fires are always so frightening and 8-10 miles is way too close! Hopefully they can get it under containment soon!

bermudaonion said...

That is so scary! Stay safe.

Jennifer said...

Those photos are so vibrant and so shocking. It looks as though you are close to them.

Natalie W said...

What a heartbreaking site! I'm glad your safe! Its just so sad, wish there was something they could do!

Lisa said...

I have friends that live in L.A. and I don't know where their house is in relation to the fires. It's making me crazy that I can't get a hold of them!

Alexia561 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Alexia561 said...

Glad to hear that you and your family are safe! And agree that it's sickening that the fire was caused by man. I just hope it wasn't intentional.

But as horrible as the fire's destruction is, the fire is strangely beautiful as well. Hope it's contained soon though!

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

These photos made my stomach upset. I feel so bad for everyone including wildlife) that has been traumatized by this ...so sad.