California

Well it's been a long week that is not over yet. As most of you have heard California is, well, most of it is on fire. Within those fires are many family and friends and my hometown. I'm thankful that my parents were able to move before having to deal with this again but it doesn't make my sadness less. I have been watching the fires (particularly the Slide and Grass fire - the two in the San Bernardino mtns). They began early monday morning causes still unknown although arson is suspected. Now as I sit here Thursday night they are still burning. The Grass Valley fire in Lake Arrowhead has taken over 100 homes but is now thankfully 70% contained. The Slide fire however in Running Springs, my hometown, has burned over 200 homes and is only 15% contained. From what I know my old home is okay however many of my close friends have lost their homes. Nearly the whole mountain is evacuated and with all the So Cal fires they are estimating 1 million people have been evacuated! The toughest part is the waiting, the not knowing whose house is there and whose house is not. I sit most of the day reading the scanner reports that have been transcribed on rimoftheworld.net hoping to hear some good news but between the unpredictable fires, winds that at one point got up to 108mph, and the looters that are taking advantage of a tragedy... my week has been pretty depressing. On top of the many friends and old neighbors that have lost thier homes the police force is having to work round the clock trying to catch the looters and continued arsonists! It makes me sick. Over 200 homes (that they know of) have been broken into, no one knows yet what has been taken as residents are still not allowed home. And for the arsons, they have started at least 3 additional fires (which were quickly contained and put out) caught one arsonist and shot and killed another. I don't know what would posess someone to light a fire that would threaten thousands of people out of their home and cause many to loose everything they own. I am just so disgusted! Anyway keep California in your prayers, the residents, the firefighters, the police force, and the many volunteers; then look at what you have and count your blessings:)