Cool and Drizzly!

We woke up this morning to a thick marine layer, cool air, and some drizzle! It was such a welcome to the weekend after the crazy week of fire! Quite a bit of the smoke had dissipated, and we could look out our windows and see the hills for the first time in 7 days. This morning the fire was 75% contained. Woohoo! It sure felt good to relax.

These flags mark one of the points of origin of the Santiago Fire. The investigation is moving forward, but they tell us that arson cases go slowly and may take a while.

This is a picture of a truck that was seen at one of the ignition sites on Sunday at the exact time the fire started. They are asking for any information of persons who might own this type of Ford F150, white truck, with chrome pipe running boards.

This breathmobile from CHOC (childrens hospital of Orange County), is in the Ralphs parking lot and they are treating and screening any one who is having trouble breathing. There are many who are having problems with asthma, allergies, coughing, stomach aches, headaches, etc.

A charred grove of trees.

Burnt hillsides. Kind of looks like a scene from a science-fiction film.

This is a tent city that the firefighters are living in at Irvine Regional Park. It is the staging area for all the firemen fighting our fire. We now have several thousand fighting for us. They have come from No. California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada.

Here is a group from Modesto, CA getting their instructions.

Getting some rest anyway they can! I can't imagine how hard they work and how tired they get, but I sure am grateful!

Evening Update:

The fire has now burned 28,000 acres. The total of all acres burned in all the fires last week is more than twice the size of New York City! Our fire is back to only 35% containment tonight. This means that as the fire keeps growing, they lose containment. They are hoping to have it contained by Tuesday.

Duff and I were at Albertson's getting the weekly shopping done, and had the opportunity to talk to a fire-fighter who was grabbing some groceries. I guess they were on a break and brought a firetruck in with some of their crew to get food. We were thanking him for all they've done, etc. and asked how it was going. We didn't like what he had to say: that it's not over yet, and the Santa Ana Winds are expected to kick up again late tomorrow, which means that the fire will blow back towards our direction. My stomach just sank!

He told us the terrain is so rugged and the brush is 100 years old, so they can't fight it with a ground crew right now. Everything is aerial at this point. At least the weather has cooperated today! I'm quite sure 'Providence' smiled upon us with a bit of relief. So we will see what happens!!!