Smoke in the air

Yesterday morning, I stepped out on the deck and this is what the air looked like.

That's not fog, that's smoke.

The fires burning in the Los Angeles National Forest above La Canada Flintridge have been out of control since they began last week. 120,000 acres have been burned as of this morning. Homes have been lost and two firefighters have died. Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, and thousands others are affected by the smoke. Good friends live close to the fire - we've heard from them and so far they are safe.

Topanga's about 30 miles from the big Station fire that's burning in the hills above La Canada Flintridge. Although wild fires always make us nervous, living as we do in a fire-prone area, we are not in any danger from the Station fire.

Yet it is so huge, and burning so fiercely that its smoke filled our Canyon yesterday morning, brought by the shifting winds.

Being in the Canyon as we are, tucked under the hills on the eastern slope, we have no view of Los Angeles basin or the valley, so I've missed the sight of the huge billows of smoke hanging over the city. And of course, when the air is so bad, you don't go venturing outside.

It has been hot - the last five days in the 100's. Here's our shady carport thermometer, Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Today's supposed to be hot, too, but a tropical storm off the coast of Baja may bring us some needed moisture - but with it also the danger of high winds, lightning strikes - all of which is not good news for the firefighters.

Thank you all for your concerns and kind thoughts about us Californians.