Sunday, October 19, 2008

Fire in the Sky

With three wildfires burning in the vicinity, our air has had an odd feel to it lately. On the worst days we could smell it. Mostly though, the air just feels close and hot. Not as close and hot as it feels to the firefighters. By the way, they have all the local fires contained now, and the cause found for at least one.

We can't complain here in Pasadena - I mean, the fire's not burning here. We've been warned, though. Fire season has only begun, so people are clearing dry brush and being careful. It's when the Santa Ana winds kick up that folks have to be the most vigilant.

In my part of town we have plenty of asphalt, and I tend to think that's a decent firebreak. But we should probably clean our gutters just in case.

In San Marino the other night, particles in the sky produced a stunning sunset.

17 comments:

ben wideman said...

Awesome! This is the sky that I missed out on. Maybe it will show up again sometime soon.

marley said...

The fires are awful, I've been watching on the news here, but it has helped make a gorgeous sky.

Anonymous said...

Ohh, I like that shot so long as I don't think what's behind it. Or ahead of us.

Petrea Burchard said...

Yeah, that's the one you mentioned, Ben. I was almost late to rehearsal because I couldn't stop taking pictures of it.

Wow, Marley, I'm surprised the news reached you in Cheltenham. The fires are that serious, though.

Yeah, Karin, it makes the picture way more bitter than sweet.

Vanda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vanda said...

Last year when Griffith park was burning I took some pictues: http://suscito.com/blog/fire.jpg

PS. I can't figure out how to do links here.

Virginia said...

I remember living in Ft. Lauderdale and everytime the Everglades burned your would wake up in the night to that frightening smell. Stay safe. Hope rehearsals are going well.

Kay said...

This photo is beautiful but it's scary to think about all those fires in California.

Saretta said...

Beautiful sky...too bad about the cause! I remember those fires from my California days, and we get them here in Italy, too!

Christie said...

That is good and bad at the same time. I can't imagine living in a place where the threat of fire comes every year. But then again, I can't imagine living where they have hurricanes. And others can't imagine living where there is snow and ice like I do! I guess it is all what you're used to!

John Sandel said...

OK, here's where I put on my enviro-liberal hat: we're all living in a place where the threat of rising temperatures encroaches every day. Global "warming" didn't sound very dire to me 'til I rethought it in class terms. A lot of poor people are going to gave their homes obliterated by rising seas … and the monsoon cycle in India & Pakistan will be changed in ways we can't predict. What's that going to do to cultural & political stability over there, when then harvest is all f*cked up? That's just one way in which it's a national security issue. (Don't mention :"water wars" …)

USelaine said...

P, I know what you mean about the feel of the air. It's creepy, because you can't get away from it. I remember those Santa Ana winds, and how they made a dry place even drier. Static cling hair and clothes, getting zapped by doorknobs, swimming pool earaches. Blech!

Petrea Burchard said...

Vanda, very funny! I'll email you the link info.

"Every time the Everglades burned," Virginia? That sounds bad. But I guess it's like us saying "every time there's a brush fire."

Hello, Kay, nice to see you! Thanks for stopping.

Hi Saretta, we read about terrible fires last year in Greece. Not far from the heel of "the boot."

That and earthquakes, Christie. And don't forget those Midwestern tornadoes. It's this dang planet. We haven't perfected it yet.

Bernie, I think about that when they put so much water on the fires. We're in the midst of a serious drought, with little water to spare. But we can't let the fires burn when they're near homes. Homes were lost this time as it is, and most were trailer homes. I wonder how that fits in with your theory.

Elaine, that must be why I'm so electric these days.

Ms M said...

Stunning sky! But unfortunate that it's due to fires. Keep safe, everyone...

Cafe Observer said...

A bark out 2 the thespian hiding inside the shutterbug 4 this shot!

Laurie Allee said...

This is beautiful, P. How did I miss this sky?

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm trying to remember what night it was. It must have been Thursday or Friday. Sometimes a mommy is busy, right?