When I woke up this morning the most glorious sight greeted me--clouds! They don't look like rain clouds, but the whole sky is full of grey and white, and I’m hoping the cooler weather they brought with them will help smother the fires into submission. The weather forecast even predicts a slight chance of thunderstorms. Yesterday evening I had noticed a few clouds in the sky, and those were the first I’d seen since the fires started--the sky has been a blank relentless smoky blue all week. So clouds are good.
Almost all of the news I’ve been finding since yesterday is of evacuation notices being lifted. This is also good! I have heard nothing about new homes and populations being threatened. However, my cynical side is raising its baleful head-- I’m wondering if the recent dearth of reporting on where the fires actually are now is because the more highly populated, wealthier areas are no longer in any danger. Do we really stop reporting on who’s facing destruction if they don’t have enough money? The fires are only in the unincorporated areas of the county now, in the most rural reaches near some of the Indian Reservations and where the folks who don’t have scads of money live. Maybe my righteous wrath is too quick to be ignited; but I really can’t help wondering if this doesn’t have something to do with the lack of reports.
Despite that little pessimistic glimmer, I am fairly confident that the news will continue to get better. Here is the latest fire synopsis as of 9:24 this morning, copied from the San Diego Emergency site:
Harris Fire is 85,800 acres and 50% contained. Full containment is expected on October 31st and full control on November 4th. There are 2,068 firefighters assigned. Cost to date $7.8 million. There have been 16 injuries to firefighters, 21 civilians burned and 5 civilian fatalities. 188 homes, 1 commercial property and 222 outbuildings destroyed. 250 homes and 2 commercial properties damaged.
The Witch Fire is 197,990 acres and 60% contained. Full containment is expected on October 31st and full control on November 5th. There are 3,031 firefighters assigned. Cost to date $9.2 million. There have been 34 injuries to firefighters, 2 civilian fatalities. 911 homes, 30 commercial property and 175 outbuildings destroyed. 62 homes, 10 commercial properties, 50 outbuildings damaged.
The Rice Fire is 9,000 acres and 80% contained. Full containment is expected on October 28th and full control on November 5th. There are 967 firefighters assigned. Cost to date $3,108,143 million. There have been 4 injuries to firefighters.
The Poomacha Fire is 43,000 acres and 45% contained. Full containment and control on October 29th. There are 1,838 firefighters assigned. There have been 14 injuries to firefighters. 78 homes, 19 outbuildings destroyed.
On a much more frivolous (but much-needed!) note, I went out with some friends last night. Brett’s band played at the bar at Humphrey’s and they were all outfitted in crazy 70s-ish gangster/pimp/disco mode. So we all dressed up, too. I was a little more subdued; Kerry decided I was more on the beatnik end of the spectrum, but more brightly colored. Kerry did such a fabulous job with my eyeshadow that I feel you need to see it. I was also wearing a truly amazing orangey-red sparkly super shiny lip gloss, but the color just didn’t transfer in the photo, so here is the consolation prize, the first non-fire related photo of the week (the eyeliner wore off, but you can still see the funky eyeshadow):
The rest of my outfit consisted of a black velvet top, a short knitted skirt of orange and purple marled yarn, tights, knee high black boots with chunky heels, and my mother’s authentic 70s super long pearl strand that I wrapped twice around my neck with a long loop tied in a knot. I do love to dress up! I apologize that there aren’t any other photos; Kerry has yet to send me the ones that she took while we were out, and I couldn’t exactly take a full-length shot of myself after I got home, now could I?
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