I was kind of hoping there’d be some good news to report if I put off reporting this, but there isn’t, so here goes: Large parts of Southern California, including a part that I grew slightly up in, the part that Lara more seriously grew up in and that her family still lives in, the part Rob’s brother’s family lives in, the parts relatives of mine on both sides live in, and possibly the part Antone lives in, are still burning out of control.

Figure 1. Fires spotted by satellite in the last 24 hours, 3AM MDT 27 October 2003. Image courtesy United States Forest Service.

If anyone can find a better way of tracking the San Diego fires, in particular, than trying to piece a picture together from CHP incident reports, let me know, will you? Lara’s family had been safely evacuated, last I knew, but I still haven’t heard from anyone else down there.

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Update (8:56 a.m.): Mom’s side of the family is all accounted for, and hasn’t had to evacuate, though aunt Diane’s office may have burned down. Lara’s house is apparently still standing, though the authorities are telling evacuees not to move back in yet in case the wind changes and sends the fire north again. On the other side of the family, still no word from uncle Lance.

It’s not over; it’s still pretty much zero percent contained. It’s just moved on to neighborhoods where I don’t know anybody.

Rob’s got more news on the San Bernadino fire. Like he says, it doesn’t look good.