I won't lie. It sucks.

The air smells like a smoldering Marlboro and it's virtually impossible to walk outside without squinting through the ash and smoke. It's hot. The wind has blown down trees and scattered leaves across the entire breadth of Southern California.

We are the fortunate. We have not been evacuated, nor even seriously threatened by the blazes. We live closest to the so-called Santiago Fire, but we are several miles from the actual fireline. Some of our friends have not been so insulated. One has voluntarily evacuated his home. Another is on stand-by.

The Orange County Fire Authority has confirmed that the Santiago Fire was started by an arsonist.

I've been locked onto the all-news radio station for three days. This morning on my drive to work, the anchorman mentioned the San Diego city where Hot Wife's sister lives as a candidate for mandatory evacuation later today.

I've lived in Southern California for 37 years. "Wildfire season" is somewhat commonplace here -- as much a fact of life as snow in the Northeast, hurricanes in the Southeast, and tornadoes in the Midwest. In exchange for the mild climate and physical beauty in which we live, baring an occasional earthquake and a few fires is the least we can do.

But I can't recall it ever being as ominous as it is now. There are 16 fires burning between Santa Barbara and the Mexican border. Most of them have taken homes. We have been living in a drought for several years, the byproduct of which is miles and miles of dry, flammable brush. It's as if all of it is burning simultaneously. The air is virtually devoid of any humidity. The air temperature is in the 90s. The wind is fierce.

It's hard to keep the kids from being scared, but the best way is to shield them from the televised images of crying people, burning homes and flummoxed public figures trying to be helpful. We rented Cheaper By The Dozen 2. The kids have watched it nine times.

Thank you all for your emails expressing concern for us. We're fine.

Comments

I'm a fairly new lurker to your site. I didn't realize you were from Southern California - glad to hear you are not in danger and doing well.

I even got a concerned e-mail from my friend in Spain. Since we are alright, at least we can be of some help to others who are not.

Call me cynical but I forsee terrible mudslides in the future for Southern California.

I'm glad that you posted. I was a little worried....

These fires are terrible. I'm lucky because I live in West LA, but my friend's parents lost their house in San Diego. Very sad, but at least they are ok which is the most important part.

Keep safe!!

I didn't even put two and two together... and I try to consider myself fairly well-informed. I'm glad you guys are alright.

I still have frightening memories from the Tuolumne County Complex Fire in 1987, which was, thankfully, the last really huge fire we had that threatened my family. I was 8. I still can't smell fire without getting scared.

However, I do have a couple of good memories from it, too. Because my mother had a friend who was a "Hot Shot" jumper (she jumped out of helicopters to fight hard to reach parts of the fire), we were able to get packages of the fire fighter's rations. It was weird, freeze-dried, vacuum- packed stuff, but it was fun. We used the opportunity to learn more about fire fighters instead of just freaking out about the fire. If you haven't already, you might want to find something like this to help your kids get their minds off of the scary parts.

I must live in a bubble. I didn't even realize there were fires going on. Of course, I tend to avoid the news. I'm glad to hear that everyone is ok!

I'm glad to hear you are still in your home. I hope this nightmare is over soon.

Danny, I'll take the occasional hurricane (I'm in Orlando) rather that risk the whims of a fickle wind in a firestorm. I agree with Hot Wife...I predict mudslides in the future. Take care of your loved ones and we'll all say a prayer for those in harm's way!

Glad to hear you guys are okay, and hope that your sister-in-law is okay too. I hope it's over soon.
Take care!

Glad to hear you and your family are all OK. Did everyone bypass that comment that the kids have watched Cheaper by The Dozen 9 times? I'm hoping and praying that you have not been subject to all 9!

good to hear you are safe...maybe not sane after watching that movie nine times, but safe.
it is ominous, the fires all happening at once.

Danny, it's really bad out here, isn't it? I'm not too close to any of the fires, but the smell and the air quality are terrible. It just seems amazing to me that so many fires are all going at the same time and I'm curious to see how many of the fires are arson-related.

I lived in California nearly half my life... now living in Portland those kind of fires seem far removed. I recall what it's like... I'm hoping you, your family, everyone continues to be safe.

Danny, I'm so sorry that your family had to be subjected to Cheaper by the Dozen 2 that many times. Know that you have my support, and I would assume the support of all of your readers, if you need to head down to Blockbuster to find something to wipe those images from your memory.

Seriously though, glad to hear you're all OK.

The winds are pretty calm here, but I nearly blew over at The District this morning. The ash, wind and heat are simply too much to take. I can't imagine what families are going through right now.

My God I have shivers. I cannot imagine what is taking place in you home town.
My thoughts and prayers to your family, friends and community at this time.

Kate

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I hope you guys stay safe.

Glad you are fine and hope all stays well and safe for you and your family.

Such a tragedy going on there.

Julie
Using My Words

Thank you for taking the time to post. I have been worrying and praying for you and your extended family. Glad to hear all is well so far. I just finished reading a book called "Summer of Fire" by Linda Jacobs. It is about the fires in Yellowstone in 1988. A vivid description of what wildfire fighters go through and how quickly a fire burning in the underbrush can become a fire storm when the wind picks up. Make a list of things to take in case you have to evacuate. Don't forget the family photo albums.

Danny, I am glad you all are ok. Take care out there, you are in our thoughts and prayers over here on the east coast...

My friend lives in Newport and sent me pics from the area-it looks so scary. Glad to hear you are okay!

Writing this with the sounds of Superscoopers and Corskis droning overhead, heading up to Arrowhead and Running Springs. We're in the foothills below Arrowhead, and the ash is floating down like some perverse snow. My neighbor just got back from her vacation home up the mountain, and said the embers drifting across the roads are as big as phone books.

I know it's fashionable to jump on Bush these days, but seriously - another example of what an ass he is. The idiot cut the Dept. of Interior's budget for prescribed burns by 70% this past Congressional budget. Less prescribed burn, more fuel = more wildfire. This clearly affects all of us, not just those of us on the Forest. Moron.

Can't wait for November next year.

Awww Danny. I hope you and yours continue to be safe. It has to be tough keeping the kids calm what with channels worth of dramatic news coverage.

My dad's unit has been activated and they're coming your way with chinooks to dump water on you folks. Better wet than ash, right?

Since I live close to you, my thought is at least the ash from the Santiago Fire is from brush, and not someone's home and belongings!

I hate this air, makes my asthma go nuts!

I'm thinking of you guys and all your loved ones down there. I hope everyone stays ok.

maybe some three stooges?

ps - it's my half birthday!

Wishing you the best...

I go to school near the Santiago Fires and have had to skip yesterday and today because of the smoke. Its bad enough that almost every school district in Orange County has canceled every sporting event and practice.

Right now, I'm thankful that the 8 firemen that had to use their emergency fire shelters are ok. I have a lot of friends who are out there.

Sorry about having to watch CBD2 9 times. At least you don't have to deal with hysterical kids.

Glad to hear you are safe and I hope you are able to stay in your home for the duration. It's a scary thing.

Wow, that's scary...keep safe!

Delurking to say I'm glad you are all doing okay. And I like Cheaper by the Dozen 2...but I love Steve Martin no matter what.

And congratulations on the agent (tweet)!!!

So glad you are safe. Funny how we see the news and think of people we have never met.

I've lived in San Diego on and off over the past 25 years. It's a beautiful place and the people are as nice as they can be. Thinking about all this destruction chokes me up. I hope things return to (somewhat) normal soon.

If you DO get evacuated, maybe it will be to the rink where the Ducks prepare for defeat at the hands of the Sharks.

Oh that sucks. We've driven through wild fire smoke in eastern Washington and the kids freak out. It's all you can do to keep their minds off of it. Good luck!

My thoughts are with you and your family.

Yea, it's definitely scary. My husband asked me the other day what it is I would grab in a hurry if we had to be evacuated. That stressed me the f out.
I heard that hotels are charging higher fees for rooms down in San Diego. It's like 189 a night at a best western of all places. Damn bastards!

You and your family are in our thoughts. Please be careful. I am very sorry that this has happened to yuor area and those that you live around and know. I hope that they find the person that started all of this. We are staying up to date. Please do let us all know how you and your family are.

I've been watching ths one progress on the BBC website... I just can't imagine what it must be like. I'm glad you are all safe and I hope it's all over soon... you could do with some British rain!

I'm glad to hear the Evans Gang is hanging in there. We'll continue to send positive vibes your way.

Happy Half Birthday Wondersis! Awesome!

I'm so glad you posted too..I was worried. I was mesmerized last night watching Anderson Cooper/Larry King...

The fires are different from our tornados in that BOOM the tornado hits, does its destruction and it's gone..and very centralized. These fires are psycho!! They are all over the place.

Hope things get back to normal for you soon, and I hope Hot Wife is wrong on this one and that they mud slides aren't too bad.

Glad to hear you guys are OK.

It is definitely scary. One of my close friends is in San Diego.

I can't believe someone would purposely cause this much damage.

Good man, not letting your kids see that sort of thing. Let them keep their innocence.
There is no fire. And if there is there is only a little fire which will be gone soon. Daddy the Super-Hero and Mommy the All-Powerful will keep it a hundred miles from their house and loved ones. It hasn't hurt anyone or anything and the person who started it will be found and punished. All will be right with the world again and there is no reason to be worried.
Good job, DGM and HW, keep them safe, they can see reality later, for now...there is no fire...

Every day I hope I'll wake up and hear that it rained out there, or the winds died down or something, but every day they are evacuating more and more people. I'm sure it's scary. I guess the only positive part is people might have time to get their most cherished posessions (and families, pets) out before their houses get torched. Small comfort, that.

I hope they find the idiot asshole arsonist who started it. I can think of a few things people might want to do to him in a cold room with no windows... ya know?

Hang in there - hope it's over soon with as little damage as possible.

My sister and her family were evacuated and their apartment complex consumed by fire. They, on the other hand, are safe and together, and that's what we can be grateful for. My thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone affected by this devastating tragedy.

Glad you are doing well. Keep alert.

Hi,
Found you site through Man Overboard....was reading and know what you are talking about ..our kids live in Orange Co.. not far from one of the fires...and we are flying in to Ontario Friday....hope they get all your fires out soon...we are thinking of you all here in the Midwest.

Found this post via Parenting 411, but I'm a long-time lurker. Just a note to say I'm glad you and your family are okay. We hope that the same for your friends and extended family in the area. Best wishes from Brooklyn.