In the line of fire

I woke this morning to find that the area that I live in, San Diego County, is ablaze. Stoked by strong, warm winds and dry air, fires are, quite literally, ravaging the countryside. Apparently everything started last night, but I spent much of yesterday following a conflagration of another sort--a major dramatic episode over the sacking of a popular member at a message board I frequent--and I guess I wasn't paying attention to much else.

The good news is that the fire burning closest to where I live is pretty well contained. The bad news is that there are six other fires in this county alone that are not contained! I already talked to a friend of mine who lives quite a bit further east than I do, and she told me she is safe, but had "lost everything." She will not be alone in her loss; thousands of people have already been evacuated, and I'm sure more will follow--perhaps even me.

Our local NPR affiliate, KPBS, is doing a fantastic job of providing the public with vital information concerning the fires. I'm listening now via the web (The one radio I own is the one in my car.), but due either to problems with my internet connection or difficulties are their end, the broadcast is constantly cutting out, making the updates difficult to follow.

Today will be difficult for all and tragic for many. And by all accounts, things are only going to get worse.