I've been reading about the fires in Southern California and was just wondering if all our California friends are okay.

So far... my parents and my sisters are both packed up and ready to go out... Though it looks like they're bypassed (barely).

Thanks, margie!

I haven't been able to get rid of a cough from my cold last week due to the dry, ash-filled, smoky air. But other than that, I'm okay... though my car needs a wash BADLY.

Hey, just wash the car's windows... that'll guarantee rain! (Well, every time I wash my car's windows, it rains a few hours later, even on initially sunny days.)
Seriously, I hope everyone's OK, and that lives can return to normal ASAP. Good luck!

Yeah, it's getting really smoky here in Calabasas. Where are you at Darth?

TrekGrrl and Robin's sitter got evacuated... she's in the Lake Manor area.

It's been a while since I've posted, but I'm still here. OC, thankfully, is unaffected, save for the lovely layer(s) of soot and ash on my car.

Unfortunately, I'm not totally unaffected, as the huge fire in East San Diego County started pretty close to my childhood home (since sold, but still sentimental), and I still have friends who live in the area. They are all still here, though, so halleluiah for that. Also good to hear are the reports that the Santa Ana winds (hot, dry winds coming off the desert to the east) are dying down, and they are predicting cooler, more humid air flow coming in from the ocean, which should help the firefighters.

The San Diego Chargers Monday night game had to be moved to Arizona because the stadium is being used for relief efforts.

I've got to go down to Anaheim on a business trip -- and the 101's a parking lot due to fire detours and the 5's a parking lot because ... well, it's the 5. Meanwhile, the Simi fire is now apparently in the Porter Ranch area (north SF Valley). I told Mrs. ScottN to pack and be ready, but I'm going to be 3 hours away minimum, and potentially out of phone contact! This is not a good thing.

ouch, good luck ScottN, we had the floods of 95, two of them in Central Ca, we are in the 100 year flood zone, (no floods for a 100 years yea sure)so no flood insurance....

I went to college in Fullerton Ca and my father was so worried about the fires of 81, he called me up long distance to ask me how I am....nice of him...

We also had a controlled burn near Fort Ord... it was to be 500 acres turned into 1400 acres or so...

I'm glad you guys are all right so far. My boyfriend's sister lives in Fontana. She said the fires there are pretty bad but they haven't had to leave yet. The rest of his family is in Stanton (OC), so I think they're still in the clear.
The pictures I've been seeing are really scary. You Southern Californians are all in my prayers!!
(BTW, washing the car usually causes rain for me too. You all should try it! )

Why hasn't Schwartzenagger said or done anything about these fires? (Like declare a state of emergency or something)

He's not governor yet, he hasn't the authority.

Davis, on the other hand, has already declared a state of emergency}.

Schwartzenegger has spoken out about the wildfires (albeit in sound bytes), but as Snick pointed out, he's only the governor-elect right now and has no authority, yet.

Schwartzenegger has announced that he will pummel them and that they are not a tumor.

Ha!

"It's naht a tumah! Naht a tumah!!"

Nitpickers of San Bernadino County Beware!! I, Brian Webber, the feared and hated (by Peter) ex-Moderator of Babylon 5 and Movies, am coming out there this December for a week!* And you thought the fires were bad? MUWAHAHAHA!

*I'm trying to sound menacing. Can you tell?

Run! RUNNNNNN!!!!

I hope any of our nitpickers who live in California are safe and OK.

I'm good, thanks. Sitting under the smoke plume from the Sayre/Sylmar fire, but not in any direct danger.