Well, it’s no surprise that there was no kickball game tonight. It was to be our anticipated matchup against the team that won the division last season. With all the smoke, ash, evacuation zones, and the field being used as a landing pad for fire fighting helicopters, there is really no way it could happen.

It is crazy how big this fire has gotten and how close it has come to downtown. For the first time that I can remember since I’ve lived here, the evacuation area has actually extended to State Street—the street was even in the mandatory evacuation zone yesterday! As well, a few friends I know who live just off of State were put in the mandatory zone for a bit, which of course sucks. As it is, my apartment is only a mere 2 1/2 blocks away from the edge of the evacuation warning area—nowhere near being dire just yet, but still quite shocking to think about.

Yesterday a bunch of us, including those who were displaced in the evacuation, went up to the house of some friends who live in the hills by the mesa. From there, we went to the nearby park to look at the destruction the fire was causing. With binoculars you could see how big the flames were, how many little fires there were, and how many houses were burning. You could also see fires very, very close to homes, which is scary. We all stayed there until late in the night, watching the fire, watching the fire on the news, and hanging out wondering how bad it might get.

In addition to the record-high 100 degree temps, there have also been the sundowner winds in effect, which has not helped the situation, so containment hasn’t really happened (and in fact, the fires have now jumped over to parts of Goleta!). Hopefully this will not result in the loss of more homes than have already burned, and the winds and weather will cooperate.

There are so many homes in this small area, and so many historical buildings, I really hope that the fire doesn’t hit the heart of this town.

Posted at 10:57 PM |