If You Don't Like My Fire...

...then don't come around.
--Ben Harper

The awesome--and terrifying--power of nature.

When Jesusita Fire (named after the hiking trail near where it started) in Santa Barbara started it was considered manageable, and sort of old hat. We've had three fires since I moved here, and two in the last year. The one that was raging nearby when I moved here had been going on for 3 months.

Unfortunately, the Sundowner winds and hot-hot-hot temperatures led it to an out-of-control, raging mess.

At the start:
My friends and neighbors gathered as if there was a lunar eclipse and watched the flames lunge in our direction.

We prepared to evacuated, since the warnings were just one exit away. Fortunately, we've been safely situated. We stayed inside all weekend (so NOT my style) to avoid falling ash and lung damage. I did pressing things like clean our spice rack and detail the vacuum cleaner. We made it out to the theater at one point to see the latest X-Men movie (great distraction) and gathered with friends to watch "Milk" (I heart San Francisco--and Sean Penn).

I've been a ball of nerves but the coastal fog has rolled in and it's cooling off out there and things are looking a lot better. My heart goes out to all those who lost their homes and I am in awe of and full of gratitude for the firefighters who came to the rescue from near and far.