FIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Once again southern California is on fire. It was burning when we were there in October, too. In fact we were turned back up near San Simeon because of fires in the Big Sur area. We experienced a couple nights when the Santa Ana winds tried to blow the truck and camper down the street from where we were parked in the driveway at Bob's daughter's home. It's really, really an ugly wind. Not gusting but steady at 40, 50, 60 miles per hour. After experiencing the wind I better understand the fear that strikes the heart of those living near the fire zone. This last week the fires were in the Santa Barbara area. My sister in law grew up in Santa Barbara and even though her dad passed away a few years ago and her mom is presently in a nursing home there, the family home is ~ well, still in the family. The kids are cleaning and working on it in stages so that when the market is better it can be sold. The kids take turns going to Santa Barbara work on the house and of course to visit with their mother. This house has been touched by fire several times in the past but continues to stand. Once a wall mirror in a back bathroom shattered from the intense heat but the house didn't burn to the ground. Needless to say my sister in law and her siblings have been in a tizzy this last week over this house. Saturday my brother was able to get ahold of one of the neighbors, who had walked back up into the neighborhood to see the damage. This neighbor took a picture and emailed it to my brother & sister in law and they feel a little better. But once again, it was a close call. The fire truck is parked in the street next to the garage...notice the fireman up on the hill behind the garage. My brother & sister in law are searching for inexpensive plane tickets so they can fly down to Santa Barbara & check out the house. My heart goes out to the people in southern California who are victims of these fires. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor.........loosing your home is a heartbreak. Also, the authorities are concerned that there may have been many lives lost when the fires wiped out a mobile home home park for senior citizens. I hope and pray they are all safe.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who live in the fire area or have relatives and friends in those areas.