California Fires Rage
November 16th, 2008 at 3:55 pm by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog
<–the picture looks like a cumulonimbus cloud. Firefighters continue to battle blazes near Los Angeles. At least 815 homes have been destroyed, including at least 500 mobile homes. At least 25,000 people have been evacuated (that’s almost as many people as live in Oceana Co.). Another 36,000 homes are without power due to the fires and strong winds of up to 60 mph. About 14,000 acres have burned in the 3 largest fires. The most significant fire is east of Anaheim. At 1 PM Saturday, Whittier, CA had a temperature of 93, a dewpoint of 7 and a humidity of 4%. Palm Springs and Blythe also had afternoon humidities of 4%. A total of 5,110,550 acres of the U.S. have burned this year, the LOWEST total since 2003. For the latest U.S. Fire News…click here.
Got this note from Gary on my Facebook:
“Rescue Task Force is departing Sunday morning November 16, for Sylmar and Orange and Riverside County fire zones. This initial Rescue Task Force assessment team will be responding to remote areas that are typically overlooked and underserved. The team will assist with immediate needs of disaster victims and will be assessing and determining projects for subsequent RTF teams. During the first hours of the disastrous San Diego Fires of last year RTF teams assisted with wheelchairs for elderly and handicapped fire victims who had lost or been separated from theirs during evacuation. We also supplied hundreds of air beds for evacuation centers, hygiene items and filled many personal needs as well as supplied air beds, and support to Fire Fighters and disaster workers.”
It is difficult for us here to imagine a disaster of this magnitude. Our prayers are with all involved and especially for the firefighters who are putting their lives on the line without a second thought for their own safety.
“No Greater Love”
The Wildfires of California has really saddened all of us. We are certainly praying for a miracle to that area. It kinds reminds me of that great fire of Sodom and Gomorrah mentioned in Genesis. This is really horrific and worst than anyone’s worst nightmare. I pray lives will be put back together speedily.