All figures updated as of 5 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Oct. 23
A follow-up blog–written today, Thursday, Oct. 25–is here.
As you probably know, much of Southern California is burning. San Diego (where I live) sure is. The fire has so far consumed some 250,000 acres in the mountains and rural areas immediately east of the city proper. It’s pretty effectively shut down the whole city. Highways and main roads throughout the county are closed. 1,250 homes have been destroyed or damaged. 500,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes. Qualcomm Stadium (where the San Diego Chargers play) is now/still an evacuation center — one of many throughout the county. (About 10,000 people are now living outside at Qualcomm stadium. Amazing.) No one’s supposed to go outdoors–or even use their cell phones, if they can help it. Just about every government employee who can move has been called in to help fight the fire.
And it’s [still] going to get worse before it gets better, because what’s [still] fueling the fires (what started Sunday as 10 or more fires have now become two, named the Witch Creek Fire and the Harris Fire) are the mighty Santa Ana winds, which are [still] these huge, hot, ferocious winds that sometimes sweep through Southern California and wreak all kinds of havoc with the temperature and people’s allergies and so on. They’re nasty. And they’re going to keep blowing for a couple of days. And that’s … well, how you keep a fire going.
I live on the coast, about half a mile from the beach. Our air here is as clean as it is anywhere in San Diego. The sun is completely blocked by the smoke: it’s just a dark pink ball you can stare right at. Everything is covered by a layer of grey soot: it’s basically snowing fine ash. The air is so thick with ash it muffles sound, so outside the air has that heavy quietness that comes with snowfall. [Update: The air out here is actually now pretty clear. The sky is still white/gray, and the outside still smells like a cigar butt jammed up each nostril, but at least you don't feel like it's an eclipse during Armegedon, which I feel pretty sure I just misspelled.]
Everything’s pale with ash. The light is this eeerie grey-red. Nobody’s outside. If we go outside, we’re supposed to wear breathing masks. [Which the drugstore was out of. So I was forced to buy some Haagan-Das ice cream bars instead.]
My wife Cat and I woke up this morning to learn that we now live within an Advisory Evacuation area, meaning we dang sure better get ready to evacuate our place. But to where? The end of the land is a bicycle drive away.
So we’ve now got tote bags jammed with Evacuation Vitals waiting by our door. Change of clothes. Water. Flashlights. Box of Vanilla Wafers. We’re set. [Update: Evacuation line getting closer. Not good, because I've already munched pretty heavily on some of our evacuation supply food, which we had to buy at a drug store so it's all canned peanuts, and dried fruit, and Wheat Thins, and how am I supposed to stay cooped up inside this place for two days without at least nibbling on our Emergency Vanilla Wafers?]
When the end of the world comes, it’s hard to imagine that it won’t look, feel, and smell just like this.
![John Shore on The Huffington Post](http://johnshore.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/huffpost.jpg?w=120 "John Shore on The Huffington Post\")
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In response to: “When the end of the world comes, it’s hard to imagine that it won’t look, feel, and smell just like this.”
In Scripture, if one were to take the word “fire” literally then your statement is logical. But there are so many times “fire” is not used in a literal way. Example: Luke 12:49, “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled?” This is not literal fire.
In the book of Jude we learn those in Sodom and Gomorrah are in a fire, and today all those who believe as those in S&G are in a fire.. The fire is not literal. Jude 23, speaking of those given to unnatural sex, “Save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” We are instructed to pull them out of this fire right here on earth. Today, how wide spread is this fire? When you see a gay parade, a gay wedding, a homosexual, or a heterosexual who commits unnatural sex do you see flames of fire? Put on your spiritual glasses, look again and you will see that they are in a fire. Of course the fire is not literal. How wide spread is that fire today? Is it everywhere? Can you see it?
The fire that will come at the end is when Jesus fights fire with fire. Jesus will kindle a fire that will burn up the wicked. None of this fire is literal like the fire that just burned so much of CA.
Marilyn: I didn't actually mean "end of the world" in any sort of Christian or biblical sense at all. Sorry I wasn't more clear on that.
Sigh. More talk about how gays will burn in hell.
That's such a bizarre fixation. Is there really nothing else in the world right now, Marilyn, that you think might be more worthy of your attention and concern, than the idea that gays are going to burn in hell? Anything? Poverty? Disease? War? Spreading the love of Christ?
WELL I FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST ALL THERE HOMES OTHER WISE THE RICH PEOPLE BETTER NOT CONPLANE BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE HOUSES TO GO TO SO I HOPE THET THEY ARE NOT CONPLANING
Now you know how us arizonaians feel everytime our forest up north decides it wants to burn another million or so acres, though I am sorry for at least that didn't burn to many houses, unlike yours which seems to be taking a buldozer and running it right threw San Diego.
Sam: Fantastic note to me, which I take to heart. Thanks for your thoughtful, kind encouragement.
Glen: And you too, Glen. Thanks for writing, and paying attention to our drama out here.
Thank you all for the comments and updates. Here in South Carolina we get the info by major news networks. Some do better jobs than others. Thanks to Crosswalk and everyone. May the Lord Jesus keep you safe!
I’d like to offer any encouragement possible. Your blog turned out to be more informative than the major news web sites. From my web searches I see several volunteers and organizations heading to San Diego’s aid from many states. Stay safe and informed to move quickly if needed. And thanks for any updates.
I’m sorry that I’ve failed to answer everyone’s wonderful comments, for each of which I’m grateful. Lemme see if I can say a word or two about each below.
#3: Hermz: HOW ARE YOU? How’s your house???
5: Matt: You okay?
6: Steve: Can you BELIEVE how far west the fire came/is coming? Did you ever think when you woke up Monday you might actually be seriously thinking about evacuating???
7. Bob: What’s happening with you?
9: Sabina: Thank you. Seriously. Thanks.
10: Ben, I emailed you to see how your parents/house is doing. I fear the worst, of course, given the location. Inform us when you can. I’ll say a prayer for you and yours right now. Jesus, I hope your family home is okay.
Michelle: Bless your heart. Thank you.
John: What’s happening with you? Are you still in your home?
Lynn: The winds have decreased significantly today. Thank God. Seattle! Just SAYING it feels like a cool little shower. Nice.
Elizabeth: Thanks to you and H.H. And you’re right, of course.
J Michael: I hope your friends are all alright. Are they?
Jill: Yeah, you’ve been through it, then. These fires are much bigger than the 2003 ones, but so many less lives have been lost due to hard lessons learned the first time around. Now they evacuate everyone, so soon.
Determined: Amazing comment/post. Thank you. How ARE you??
Marcy: Bless your heart. Thank you.
Michael: Thank you very much. Lovely.
Kerri: That human slinky on your site is crazy.
Windy: You said it, baby!
Judy: WOW! How is your friend? I didn’t even realize that today is the fourth anniversary of the hell that was the Cedar Fire. Amazing. Terrible.
Sukky: We’re fine, thanks for the (eloquent) inquiry. We’re not going to be evacuated. We’ve had two air filters running in our place for three days now. We’ve got plenty of food and water. We feel, right now, like some of the luckiest people in the world. Since we are.
Abar: How’s your dad?
Stef: Yeah, the Santa Anas are one of the weirder weather phenoms I’ve ever known. They just wreck the air, don’t they? (He said, speaking as a guy with allergies.) It’s weird. They’re so … dramatic.
Ann: Thank you! Your note came in just as I was leaving to go to the store (MAN IT WAS WEIRD TO GO OUTSIDE! LIKE WALKING INTO THE WORLD’S LARGEST ASHTRAY!!), and I must say, your mention of Graham Crackers and M&M’s inspired me, while shopping, to continue on my apparent quest to make sure that if a fire ever DOES come anywhere near me, I’ll be so fat that putting it out, for me, will be as easy as … well, rolling over on it. Perfect! Already, I’m ready to snuff out any flames that come within about 18 feet of my couch. (What is it about stuck-inside Regional Disasters that make a person want to EAT?? My freakin’ JAW practically hurts from the monster workout I’ve given it. Even as I write this, I’m thinking about the delicious can of Planter’s Cashews that I hear calling me. Too … stupid, basically. But fun! Which probably explains it…
Pat: You son and his family are okay, yes? Are they? Real borderline right there…
Rachel: What an awesome thought/comment. I wish everyone in San Diego could read it. And a lot will: This blog’s getting read a lot. Please tell your friends there how much we’ve been touched by their empathy.
John and everyone experiencing the fires…here in Dallas Texas and everywhere else in the nation, the fires are splashed all over the television. Yesterday at the Black Eyed Pea, the lunch crowd was amazed by the footage and I witnessed some genuine empathy right there in the middle of Uptown Dallas. Truly, everyone hears the numbers of people having to leave their homes and there is just silence and sorrow. Please know we are all thinking of you!
My heart thoughts and Prayers go out to all the people who have lost their homes in Southern California. My son and his family live in the La Costa/ Carlsbad area. I can imagine just how you are all feeling at this time.
Stay safe.
Pat
NJ
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