I hope everyone is safe down in San Diego where there are so many fires this week. 
 
I traded e-mails with Julibee and, thankfully, she and her family are OK.  She sends a big hug to everyone in the CH. 

I have family down there that had to start evac but then luckily did not have to leave.  University of San Diego had to cancel finals and graduation!  Imagine all the family members flying in to this area.  I feel for those down there.  It is a beautiful place to live and looks like most fires were started by juveniles.
 

Hi,
 
I remember in Santa Barbara years ago, 1975/76 or 77 or something like it, I was coming back from the City College and go over the hill from the street by the ocean, and from the top of the hill you could see the cauldron of hell in the Sycamore Canyon fires. Those flames were easily a quarter of a mile high and you could tell they were nasty.
 
Our own Mr. Whittaker and his wife lost their house in that area.
 
I hope everyone is safe!

Julibee has been posting photos on FB. The fires are close to her, but not close enough to pose her a direct threat. She can see the smoke from her house, tho!

There needs to be MUCH harsher penalties, perhaps ultimate, for anyone, juvenile or not, who purposefully starts a fire that becomes a wildfire. There was a time not long ago when such people would be dealt with in such a way that they would NEVER do something so destructive again. These people are a threat to civilized society... if you get my meaning.
These are horrific crimes on the level of warfare, IMO.
 
Being careless isn't the same as starting a fire for "fun". I just have no tolerance for such.
 
J
 
 

I heard on NPR or somewhere,95% of fires in California are caused by stupid mistakes or intentional.  These aren't *natural* disasters.

Fires are one of the many reasons I'm done with So. Cal.  I've been within two miles of being evacuated before and I can remember several times when evacuated relatives or friends had to stay with us.
 
Here's a few of the pictures I took from a Thanksgiving visit to our cousins in Ramona.  The tankers were actually flying below our level!  (This was just a flare-up after the devastating fire that wiped out hundreds of houses in 2006 - The main fire went directly over their house, they were VERY lucky.  The fire fighters setup a line on their street and that made all the difference.)