At a loss for words. Southern Cali is burning.

I lived in Los Angeles for 3 years. Most of the fires are not super-close to any of the places I resided but I can only imagine the smell and the scenes from the highways and hills. Today, I received an email from a friend in L.A. and thought I should share. I don’t know who took the photos but I was just stunned looking at them. If you happen to know who took the photos let me know and I will add the credit.

Dear God,
Please keep them safe.
Please keep their homes, pets, and families safe.
Please convince people that no house is worth their lives, and that they need to evacuate when asked.
Please keep people off their cell phones so the firefighters can use the lines.
God, please let them all be okay.

Over a dozen wildfires across Southern California, United States forced the evacuation of thousands of residents. This evacuation comes almost four years to the day after the Cedar Fire of 2003. Fires burned in Malibu, Lake Arrowhead, Irvine, San Diego, and many other places. This is the worst case of wildfires Southern California has ever had.

Here’s some ways you can help: Network for Good

10.26.07 UPDATE: Thank you to Kathy for this info. The deer photo above is not from the So-Cal fires which leads me to believe some of the others might not be either. I am leaving it up because it’s an amazing photo and to let others know it’s origin. The photo was taken in the Bitterroot National Forest in Montana on August 6, 2000 by a fire behavior analyst, John McColgan. You can read more here.