Jesusita H. Christ

Amazing LA Times photo (credit Mark Boster) showing a helicopter in a fire fight last night. You can see the whole gallery here.

So, we live right on the edge of the evacuation warning zone, but when things heated up last evening, and boy did they heat up, it was easy to imagine the winds whipping the conflagration through San Roque Canyon and to our house. So we packed up both cars, got the dogs in, and headed towards Goleta, safely away. Had dinner, waited. It was an odd time, safe with friends, in a place with lots of TVs, some on the fire coverage (we got to watch that one home up Tunnel Road burn for what seemed like hours), some on baseball, some on basketball. It's weird how the world just goes on while this giant destructive force makes its random path. The Independent says over 30 homes, but lots saved, too.

Now things are quiet, but we know enough that that's not enough. The winds will pick up again tihs afternoon. Here's hoping it's not too bad.