Sunday evening, October 21st 2007 and we
were sitting down to dinner. "I
think there might be a fire," said
my wife. Sure enough, a huge plume
of smoke rose from the hills to the west
of us and drifted southwest across the
communities of South Orange County,
California. "I don't think it's
been burning for long. The smoke
hasn't traveled very far." We
didn't know it at the time but the dry
Santa Ana winds had pushed the fire
three miles across the foothills in just
half an hour. I don't particularly
like saying this but after living in our
house 18 years we're pretty used to
seeing smoke coming from the hills and
mountains that drew us here in the first
place.
"I want to drive down the hill to check
it out. Anyone want to come with me?"
My wife and daughter both declined.
They would go to the stable to check on
our horse. In fact, many of our
horse-people friends would be gathering
and I would be joining them later but
not until I had a chance to get a closer
look. I grabbed my camera and
jumped into the car.
Next
Read the ongoing journal on the
aftermath of the fire.
Click here.
