High Drama! by Weezilou

High Drama!

Please know that while the changes brought by the fires in the mountains affect us, we're a densely-populated 25 miles away. Like may of you, we get our news via the press.

We went to the beach for dinner with our neighbors last evening, and in a few short hours, the following sights were quite captivating.

1,Looking up at the sun in front of our house, the smoke obscured it, revealed it and blocked it once again...
2. At the beach, that's a smoke cloud covering the sky. Catalina Island is in the sunshine out there on the left. What must they be seeing as they look across the ocean?!
3. Between dinner and dessert I saw the sun drop below the smoke cloud, and our dinner guests and I weren't the only ones to dash outside for some pictures!
4. Driving home, the unexpected happened... I gasped when I saw the sky turn bright orange above where the fire was in the mountains! Ken continued driving ahead to a dead end at the river channel. Unfortunately there were two chain link fences on each side and I had to shoot through two, holding my camera with no tripod to assist. Again, I remind you that what we're seeing is at least 25 miles away, the site of the smoke plume I posted...
Shocking sight. So far away yet so visible.
August 10th, 2018  
25 miles away but still unnerving, I'm sure. And you must be getting a lot of smoke in your area?
August 10th, 2018  
This is such a scary sight. I feel so sad for all the people who have been made homeless by the fires and have lost everything. My heart is breaking at the thought of how many animals have died!! I hope and pray the fires do not come any further in your direction. Stay safe!! xxx
August 10th, 2018  
‘Only’ 25 miles with wind heading your way...?
August 10th, 2018  
Wildfires are so scary...Seattle is getting its share of smoke too. I hope the firefighters and anyone else close to the fires get through these wildfires safely
August 10th, 2018  
25 miles is really quite close, I feel! Amazing how the smoke changes the sky and the colours that eventuate!
August 10th, 2018  
What to say. If you do n`t witness those fires yourself every explanation is beside the realthy.
So sorry for the victems of it and a medal for the brave fire man.
August 10th, 2018  
25 miles is really quite close! Such horrific fires. Stay safe.
August 10th, 2018  
25 miles sounds uncomfortably close to me, mate. Your photos are both spectacular and very sobering, fire is so fickle. Do take lots of care.
August 11th, 2018  
Scary
August 11th, 2018  
@golftragic Your words are well understood... This is "only one" of so many fires worldwide, it breaks my heart for the losses of any life and the homes that are our security. The winds seem to have shifted, and we have blue skies today, though that means little where the fires are still growing...

@pyrrhula If I knew of a disaster near any of my friends on 365, I'd want to hear how they were doing, which is why I share these. I do know that after the fires on the central coast last year, there was an outpouring of financial gifts to and fund raisers for the fire departments. We really can't thank those people enough!

@maggiemae @seattlite "The beautiful, rich red colouration" in the sky and sunset comes with a price that's far to great. We have well-trained firemen to thank for all their training and understanding of how a fire behaves!

@mastermek The winds have shifted, Mek...today has clear blue skies overhead, but the fires are only 5% contained...

@365karly1 The smoke must be high enough that we can't smell it. I saw a news story that showed fire smoke on our west coast has traveled as far as the east coast, but it's a mile high, and can't be smelled...

@casablanca There were a few minutes last night that the fire was so visible on the ridge, I thought a new fire had begun in an area much closer to us. Happy to report I was disoriented! The last thing we needed was another fire!
August 11th, 2018  
Those fires are very worrying for a whole bunch of reasons, all of which you'd know well. Must admit I am very worried for you and Ken.
August 11th, 2018  
Oh my! Such awesome pictures, but it is terrifying at the same time. I agree, 25 miles seems much too close. Thank you for your updates. Wendo see it on our news, but your photos really bring it into perspective.
August 11th, 2018  
@golftragic OK...time to write you! Marnie, we're totally fine...trust me on that! It's a given that fires are worring to all people, but the last thing I did last night was to write to a friend who moved to a lovely canyon area not far from the range of settled areas in the planescape photo. I told her we had a place for her if there was any danger at all! Today she said it was smoky, but reports were that the fire was moving in the opposite direction. She even invited me to join her and some of our friends for lunch next Monday to a restaurant much closer to the burn area; No one is being evacuated, and most hopefully will not be! We would always err on the side of caution! ♥
August 11th, 2018  
@henrir Thanks, Henri. I believe that the further one lives from the site of a news story, the more general it becomes. When this affected our own daughter last year, we wanted photos and her personal accounts so we might understand better what everyone was personally dealing with. Because I've been asked about this, and because I care for my friends here, I want to show what's going on as I see it, but I don't want to alarm anyone. With "25 miles" of densely populated Orange Cty, the water-and-flame-retardant planes would be cutting a swath by the mountains to stop it all from advancing! Unfortunately, as my arial photo showed, our mountains that are many around here have such rugged terrain, the crews have to let the fire burn in the inaccessible areas. I'm pained for the loss of the wildlife...
August 11th, 2018  
Agree with you Louise, the loss of life and homes is heartbreaking. I always feel so very sorry for the wildlife too, the death count must be so very high.
25 miles isn't far enough for my liking, be safe you!
August 11th, 2018  
@blightygal ♥ (I have to love moments like this when some of my favourite lurkers reveal themselves : ) xox~
August 11th, 2018  
Just incredible. I was wondering today about seeding the clouds to make rain. I’m not sure how successful that was, but surely with the devastation from fires year after year, wouldn’t it be great if something could be developed to cause rain to fall in the fire areas. Sounds kind of pie in the sky but if they could perfect cloud seeding I think it would help. Thank you for explaining your amazing photos. Just the scariest of times for so many people.
August 11th, 2018  
The fires are certainly scary and seem to be so bad every year.
August 11th, 2018  
Glad your safe
August 11th, 2018  
Scary! Especially the one over Saddle Mountain. Way too close for comfort.
August 11th, 2018  
Shockingly dramatic. But how wonderful you were able to capture all of this.
August 11th, 2018  
This is so horrific and yet it happens year after year. So sad for all those, be it human or animal, that are affected. I so wish that prayers would help too and not only the firefighters.
August 11th, 2018  
Im with previous a lovely series of shots all the same
August 11th, 2018  
The drama and the worry come through in the series, as well as the surreal beauty.
August 11th, 2018  
A terrible situation, so well captured but it looks far too close.
August 11th, 2018  
@Weezilou I thought I'd replied yesterday, but if so it's gone up in smoke. Ooo, maybe not the best term to use right now. Thank you for your reassurances, very good to hear you and Ken are OK. Sorry if I sound overboard but we Aussies know only too well about bushfires and their unpredictability.
August 12th, 2018  
Sunsets are soooooooo cooL!!! Love warm colors
August 12th, 2018  
i think our western provinces are also suffering from wildfires but as it is not in the news too much i would guess that it's not as bad as the one in CA. that said, there is nothing good about fires. are they caused by men or just occurring naturally, say lightning hitting some dried bushes or trees? i so remember last year's worry with your daughter and her family having been evacuated. i hope they are far from it this time or are they the ones who migrated to the east? i'm so old all memories are a-jumbled inside my head. what i'm quite sure is that 25 miles is something like 39 or so kilometres and that is not a very far distance and a bit scary. take care, you guys. and how's your health? back's okay now?
August 13th, 2018  
@summerfield Thanks for the concern and sweet thoughts, Vikki... The Central Coast is still in the clear after last year's fire (thank Heaven!) The concerns for the fires were all up in northern Cal again until recently. I hears one was caused by a spark from a car's wheel rim (how DO they learn these things?!!!) but the big one down here (one of 3) was man made; he's in custody. HOW could someone do something like that??? The smoke I photographed at the outset seems to have moved in the other direction...looking out the window one would think all's well... I'm meeting some friends tomorrow who don't live far from the fires, but again, they're moving in the other direction (across the mountain ridges...) My back is "better"...taking it easy and I see the dr again Tue about my MRI results. Likely nothing can be done but to control the pain and not overdo...and you know how hard the latter is! (You take care of yourself, too!) ♥
August 13th, 2018  
@louannwarren I was wondering about cloud seeding to create rain too, LouAnn! If is works, why are there so many droughts? We need more rain in CA because it is getting more and more dry here...as well as many other places! Make it rain!
August 16th, 2018  
Incredible collage, Louise! The statistics are not in our favor! Such a tragedy with all these fires...and very scary too! I thought it would be nice to live in Tahoe but think I will just go to visit instead!
August 16th, 2018  
PS...I am glad to hear your back is better, Louise! Same here...it is the overdoing that gets me in trouble! :)
August 16th, 2018  
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