Fire and Santa Ana winds in SoCal...

yesterday morning we woke up early in anticipation for ab & uj's visit that afternoon. i turned on the news and saw to my horror Malibu was on fire! my aunt an uncle live right over the hill from PCH and Malibu. we watched the news for a while and called them up. my aunt had been up all nite due to the smoke. she was getting things together and my uncle had gone out on a supply run early. it was a good thing since they had closed topanga canyon blvd by the time he got back.

while watching tv all day and seeing so many fires popping up i started getting a little worried. then about 6pm a fire was started in Irvine. the reports now are saying that was arson (the Malibu fire was cause by an electrical line as of now). I could totally go into a rant about arsonists but i'm not going to waste my time because karma will get them.

i spent most of the nite awake and watching the reports and checking blogs online. we only live about 20 miles from where that fire is and my work is almost right there! i did not go to work today. it wouldn't be as scary if the winds weren't going so crazy! the gusts are amazingly strong and change direction all the time. i've got all the water bottles full, the gas tanks are full, the cat carriers are ready...paranoid? no prepared! :) but i don't have some face masks or disposable cat litter boxes... i'm going to meet N for lunch now. i don't imagine i'll be relaxing until the santa ana's have died down this time. i usually LOVE it when they blow too. 2 more days to go.

here are a couple pics of the smoke from the Irvine fire from our balcony.