Smoke Is Scary

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Helaine called from the road. She wanted to tell me about the Silverado Canyon Fire. At eight miles distant, it’s far enough to not be a threat, but close enough to see. There’s a layer of dirty pink smoke to my northeast. The photo above shows the smoke plume rising well beyond the homes in my neighborhood.

30500 Silverado Canyon Rd   Google MapsIt’s a 200 acre brush fire in a steep walled canyon. There’s not a lot of wind today. I’m hoping firefighters knock it down quickly.

I can’t smell the smoke–we’ve already had a few of those in our fifteen months here. Seeing it rise is enough.

silverado-canyon-dropFox 11’s live chopper feed has been following tankers dropping water and flame retardant. From their 8,000 foot perch the blaze looks massive.

When you live in a place where rainy days are few and far between, fires are a natural worry. It’s all being brought home today.

Does It Scare Me? Yes It Does!

You don’t have to look to know. The air is acrid with smoke, blown by our very strong and gusty Santa Ana winds.

I’ve been watching an Orange County Fire Authority chopper fly in, probably dropping water or retardant. He’s flying too low to see for sure.

Dangerous work. I can’t thank them enough.

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Two sounds dominate my neighborhood this afternoon: copters and firetrucks!

Fire!

Nearby!

I estimate it around a half mile from here.

You don’t have to look to know. The air is acrid with smoke, blown by our very strong and gusty Santa Ana winds.

I’ve been watching an Orange County Fire Authority chopper fly in, probably dropping water or retardant. He’s flying too low to see for sure.

Dangerous work. I can’t thank them enough.

More than likely this will be controlled. It’s a heavily populated area. There are scores of homes nearby.

In the meantime I’m here with Doppler, ready to go if we must.