LA Is Burning

I woke up this morning to find my car covered in tiny white particles. At first I thought the tree overhead must have rained down flower petals, but then I realized it was ash. 

(Downtown skyline, August 30, 2009;

Don Barletti via the Los Angeles Times)

This fire is Vesuvius-like.

(Los Angeles Crest fire, August 30, 2009;

Al Seib via the Los Angeles Times)

I live about ten miles away from the nearest blaze and so am not in harm's way, but it's still very frightening. At last count, eight separate fires were burning out of control.

(Watching the Station fire, August 30th, 2009

Wally Skalij, Los Angeles Times)

Spirals of thick smoke are rising as high as 20,000 feet into the air and are creating their own wind patterns. 

(Smoke at dusk, August 31, 2009; Hollywood Hills visible on left of photo; Francine Orr via the Los Angeles Times)

Walls of flame have reached over 100 feet. Over 122,000 acres have burned so far, and experts predict at least another week before the fires can be contained. 

(Station fire, August 30, 2009

Genaro Molina for the Los Angeles Times)

Over 3700 firefighters have been mobilized; tragically, two lost their lives on Sunday.

(La Crescenta fire, August 31, 2009;

Wally Skalij via the Los Angeles Times)

For the first time ever, a Boeing 747 was used to drop fire retardant on the blaze.

(Jet plane near La Canada Flintridge,

Irfan Khan via the Los Angeles Times)

The largest fire is burning in the Angeles Crest National Forest. My son Luca knows this area intimately; his summer camp stayed overnight there every Thursday. Looking over the photos snapped by his camp counselor, I wonder how much of it is still there.

(Angeles Crest Forest before the fire, August, 2009;

photograph by Andreas Wenger)

(Luca cliff-jumping in Angeles Crest Forest, July, 2009;

photograph by Andreas Wenger)

My thoughts go out to all those affected by this fire and to the tireless firefighters who spare no efforts in always doing their heroic best.