Here's a photo I took today of the smoke from a distant fire accumulating over the rolling hills surrounding Lake Hodges in Escondido. There are two fires burning in the eastern part of San Diego County, and the Santa Ana winds are carrying the smoke westward. Smoke from the fire was visible in most parts of the county today, and I could even smell it from my house.
The scene was eerily reminiscent of the Cedar Firestorm, which burned more than 300,000 acres in October 2003, almost four years ago to the very day! That deadly fire spread quickly and was fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds. So many people lost their homes in that fire! The fires burning today were located in relatively remote areas of the county and were not threatening major populations. As we did four years ago, we are praying for a change in the weather, a shift in the wind, and for the protection of our firefighters.
I'm so thankful for our wonderful and dedicated firefighters for their brave work! What we're witnessing today is a timely reminder about how vital these people are. Please see my post about the fundraising efforts for the Rancho Bernardo Fire Station for more information about what we can do to reciprocate.
Comments(2)