I took these pictures from our bedroom balcony at 8:00 am on Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.After a long night of relentless winds, we woke up to this. It proceeded to get worse throughout the day, just like the fires. By the end of the night, our air quality was terrible. It was raining smoke and ash, and we were under voluntary evacuation.
Today, the fires aren't much better. The one closest to us in Rancho Santa Fe is still out of control. The winds have shifted, however, and our sky is a bit clearer, but the air outside the house is still unbreathable. The beach just to the south of us is under mandatory evacuation, so we know it's a possibility that we will be forced to leave, however, we are staying put for now.
Why? For the most part, it's because there's nowhere to go! Basically everything is on fire, or covered in smoke and ash. Hotel rooms are booked well into Orange County, and if we go east, we will have to go WAY east to get away from the fires.
Today will be pivotal, depending on what the winds do, and if they can get the Witch fire under any control. Our local authorities called today very "volitile and crucial."
I am hoping that we can stay here in our home, even though the air quality is very bad, and will be for the next few days. The kids are comfortable here, and even though we're getting stir crazy because we can hardly open the doors - we don't want to have to go to a hotel somewhere or to an evacuation center with two toddlers.
I just wanted to post an update, and will do it again tomorrow - hopefully with good news!
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