Devastating California Fires in October, 2017

@much2say - Thank you so much. We are safe, except for the air quality. You can smell smoke when you are outside and the air doesn't seem very healthy.

@DeborahDiane We went through that recently with that La Tuna Canyon fire. The skies were definitely affected by the smoke - the air was so horrible .

@DeborahDiane

@andriaperry - Thank you! I hope they get the fires out soon, too!

Yeah, it's surprising how close to our climate your's has become @DeborahDiane dad moved us here in 1959 and it's always been several years drought then one maybe two years of more or less wet. This last drought we had started in 2007 and finally this year we've gotten a lot of rain. I don't recall CA getting fires that often in the 1970s or 80s but it seems to have become a yearly thing since the late 1990s. I do recall in the early 1980s reading about mud slides somewhere in southern CA though. Your state has had it pretty rough over the last couple decades.

@rebelann - With so much drought during the past decade, it seems as if we never get a break from the fires. However, this week has been especially bad.

@rebelann - I agree that it has been pretty rough here the past few years. I also lived in California in the early 1970s, and I do not remember such huge wildfires then ... a few grass fires, but nothing like we are getting now.

@noni1959 - I did not realize there were fires in Bakersfield now, too. We are so overwhelmed with the fires in the other places, we had not heard about those. I pray no one else loses their life, too.

@JohnRoberts - Mother Nature has been a little hard on the world, lately ... earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, mudslides and fires.

@RubyHawk - This has certainly been a scary time across the nation! So far, our daughter's home is safe. I hope it stays that way.

@RubyHawk - The situation is very sad. I just wrote another post, updating what we know about what is happening in Northern California. Here's the link to it:

@DeborahDiane I certainly hope so. So many people have lost their lives. It's terrible to think about.

@BelleStarr - I heard on the news this morning that a new fire has sprung up near Santa Rosa, causing authorities to evacuate another community. This is awful!

@Srbageldog - I just heard there are fires near Bakersfield, as well. It feels as if the whole state is on fire. I'm glad your area has an evacuation center to help people out.

@DeborahDiane We did have some pretty hard rain today. I do hope that there are no more deaths from the fires in that beautiful area. It sounds as if much of Santa Rosa was destroyed.

@DeborahDiane I am sure that all this stress and no power is difficult for her. I would be worried too.

@JamesHxstatic - Thanks for your kind words. We hope our son-in-law and the other firefighters stay safe. If you are getting rain tomorrow, perhaps the Napa area will see rain in a few days, too. We can only hope!

@DianneN - Our daughter lives on the northern edge of Napa. Our oldest granddaughter lives in their guest house. So far, the fire has stayed north of Napa although, at one point, it was "snowing ash" on them. Neither of them have been to work all week. Our daughter is a teacher in St. Helena (the little town where all the wineries are) and our granddaughter, who just graduated from Loyola nine months ago, works for the City of Calistoga. Calistoga is under evacuation orders, and the schools are closed in St. Helena. Our son-in-law owns a business in Napa, but used to be a firefighter when he was younger. He volunteered to go back on duty to help fight the fires and has been busy doing that since Sunday night. It has been crazy for the whole family ... and all I hear is that the fires are still spreading. I hope the fire doesn't turn back towards Napa. That's will I will really be scared for them.

@DianneN - Thank you. We heard from our daughter a couple of hours ago. Her husband is still fighting the fires. She hasn't seen him since Sunday, although they have talked on the phone a couple of times. With so many cell towers down, that has been difficult, too. Our daughter and granddaughter are packed up and ready to evacuate if they have to. I wish they would go ahead and leave, but they want to stay with all their animals as long as they can. I'll be happier when these fires are under control.

@DeborahDiane Prayers to them all. I commend you SIL for helping to fight this horrendous fire.

@just4him - Thank you! They have been without electricity or cell phone coverage for two days now. They drive to another area two or three times a day to pick up food and send us a message. I'm just praying they stay safe!

@just4him - We'll just have to keep praying for all these people being affected by the fires.

@DeborahDiane I hope they remain safe as well.

@craftsmart - That is an incredible photo you took. This is simply awful!