May 16, 2014
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What a Difference a Day Makes
This morning when I left home it was clear that there had been changes overnight. The sky was once again brown, but this time it smelled strongly of smoke! The winds had changed, and they were blowing smoke away from the sea and towards the northwest -- towards Los Angeles. There have been air quality advisories all day. Some of the fires are still flaring up, particularly on base at Camp Pendleton; some people are being allowed to go home in San Marcos and in Carlsbad, but there are still many evacuees; and work continues to put out 11 fires! This afternoon, I went to Dana Point again to see how things had really changed -- these were taken this late afternoon:
The smoke is spreading out as yesterday, but the majority of the air flow is in the opposite direction.
The wind was less strong, and more boats were enjoying the water.
The Sheriff's boat rushed in with lights on and horn blaring. He was moving quickly, and I almost missed him completely!
Look at the wake he left behind!
The little yellow Ski-Doo was in a hurry too.
Hmm -- here comes a big fire engine with lights on -- no siren, but he was probably alerted before the boats got there.
Apparently there was a man on the Sheriff's boat who had dislocated a knee, and they were bringing him to shore for treatment -- an ambulance arrived, and loaded him onto a gurney.
As I look out the window, I see blue sky, with bright pink clouds -- not enough for a photo, but the clouds are very pink, as often happens when there's been a fire. The weather predictions are for cooling weather over the weekend, possibly with drizzle by Monday! What next?! About a mile from my home, this is the hillside that I see -- there are many of these througout Southern California that could go up in flames at any time. The hope is that we won't have another hot Santana spell until the fall.
Comments (28)
The news said they have 2 people (teens) in custody for setting 2 of the fires! I do hope the weather cooperates to make it easier for the firefighters to get the fires out! Does the smoke bother the birds??
I hope those two turn out to be a good arrest -- they had somebody yesterday afternoon but released him after a short time. It's a little frightening that there might be somebody on base responsible for some of the fires! And a 57-yr-old has just pleaded not guilty for one of them. It can take years to correctly identify arsonists! The weather changes over the weekend should be helpful -- if nothing else, calmer winds should allow the aerial assault to be more active, and cooler temps should help the poor men who are doing all the ground work! I don't know if the smoke bothers the birds -- along with the heat and high winds (gusts > 50mph), I wouldn't be surprised. Hopefully they'll be back!
I am in Canada and flying home tomorrow. I hope I will have a home to come back to. Hope they put out the fire soon.
If you live north of Camp Pendleton, you should be ok -- all the fires except one have been on base or around the base -- I hope you'll have a home too!
I certainly hope June Gloom will work its odd magic, and that the sky stays as blue as in your first few shots here. It is a relief that OC and San Diego are getting a handle on the fires.
Poor LA, though. There was an oil spill in the San Fernando Valley, leading to several dozen cars being bathed in goo, as were several young ladies working in an adult club. I don't patronize those places, but no one deserves that kind of fate.
I think we have May Gray today -- it's a little hard to tell, though, because of the amount of smoke hanging in the air! The sky is bright, but gray, and the air smells of smoke -- well worth the air quality advisories that are in effect!
I often think of you when I hear about those no end fire in California.
Take care of you
Love
Michel
Thank you, Michel -- I'm safe, but it's been pretty nasty for a while. I'm looking forward to some overnight drizzle in the next day or two to wash the smoke out of the air!
I appreciate your updates, because the news doesn't tell me how things are at your house.
Thanks, Doris -- the air isi pretty smoky today, but it's a little cooler, and there's no wind. We should get some drizzle in a day or two, and that will help clean the air!
I just saw those fires on TV today. How far are you away from them?
I hope no firefighters get killed. That is very dangerous work!
I'm about 20 miles from the first, closest one -- and 40 miles from the bad ones. The worst is close to the Flower Fields that I've shown in posts.
I've been hearing a little about the fires. In each climate there are things that are nice and not so nice. We get used to our own set of weather and then of course records are made every year!
Keeps life interesting. Sad that someone would deliberately set fires that destroy so much. Hope your week-end is fun and safe.
Our weather has turned topsy turvy -- this is fall weather that we're having now! They've arrested three in connection with some of the fires, but some may have been accidental.
Such a hard time to go through. I'm glad you are safe. Maybe there will be enough "rain" to dampen the air and help with the fires being put out. We've only had one big one so far this year in my part of Florida. Ours are mostly around the major highways. Do stay safe and well.
Thanks -- we are all hoping for a little more moisture in the air to bring down the smoke. This group of fires began with a truck fire (there have been several of those recently) that caught roadside brush on fire. Another I didn't write about began when a tree fell and hit power lines. The authorities are considering all the others suspicious until they can prove otherwise -- they have arrested two teens in connection with a couple of little fires, and another person in connection with one of the bigger fires. I hope this will not be a pattern through the summer, but it's been so dry and now hot that we may see a lot more of these.
I do hope you get cooler weather and some rain and less wind. A dislocated knee. Ouch! Our 13 year old grand-daughter dislocated her knee while they were at our house. She got it to go back in, but then it happened again so her folks took her to the Dr. and she had to wear a brace for several weeks.
Thanks -- it is quite a bit cooler today and, except for the smoky air, much more comfortable!
I understand that ALL of California is still in a draught. If this is part of the general climate change, the residents are in trouble.
There are residents in parts of the State who are in trouble now -- they will run out of water in Montecito (a suburb of Santa Barbara) in July if there is no relief -- and they are just the first to fall! Santa Barbara is playing ostrich, although they are finally beginning to take some preliminary actions that will be helpful, if a little late. It's a very dire situation! And the weather has not been helpful! We are likely in for a rough fire season, too!
Hi, Janet! I'm glad to see that you are here and the fires haven't reached you. I know the smoke can become a nuisance, even when the fire isn't that close. It's a joy to look at your photos. Oh, how I miss that place. We are doing pretty well, considering the stress. It's almost wedding time and we have a lot to do yet! OY!!! Hugs!
Good to see you here, Gail -- yes, the smoke is a nuisance, but the weather is changing for the coming week. More in private e-mail!
I hope the fires get controlled quickly! I noticed the comment about arsonist. I don't understand people like that. How awful. I'm glad to see you are safe. It must be a stressful feeling to see the smoke in the air. We've had some problems in the state with fires because we are in a drought but I know it's not the same. Take good care. peace always
Arsonists are a major concern in Santana winds -- there's something in those winds that brings out the crazies! They do not think they have captured the person(s) responsible for these fires, but expect that at least some are arson fires. One man was arrested for adding fuel to a fire already burning, and a couple of teens for starting little fires near some of the big ones. Your problems in OK are somewhat similar -- fires set by whatever, fueled by dry brush and winds -- the difference this time has been the density of populaton in the fire areas. Thanks for your concern, Jane, and know that I'm as safe as I can be!
I heard yesterday that they were down from 10 fires to 4. I have not seen the news today. I am surprised you had so many smoke clouds.
Today, Monday, they are still working on the fire in San Marcos, but not particularly mentioning the others except as a thing of the past! Everybody is home who has a home to go to, and the firefighters are "mopping up." The temps here are in the low-mid 70's, 25-30 degrees lower than they were last week, and the humidity is up somewhat as well. What a time it's been!
My husband's family lives in the Bay area around Berkeley, and they have been complaining of this draught for so long too. I am glad you are safe.
Northern California is dry too, although not as desparate for water as we are in the South. San Francisco water comes from the mountains to the east; the little rain we had in March brought snow to those mountains, and will help relieve the Bay Area supply for a while. We usually get some of our water from those same mountains; with the drought, though, that water cannot be brought to Southern California through the normal canal system without compromising the quality of the water (it will pick up salinity from the delta area). The drought currently affects Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas -- very unusual!
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