The following is an email response I received today from a close friend of mine in the military.
Chris serves as an officer in the Air Force Reserves in Southern California, and I had a feeling he'd be right in the middle of the wildfires. Here's how he describes the scene:
"Eric,
Well, once again the fires are ravaging So Cal. As we drive down the hill each day into Ventura, the air is extremely thick. You literally see a black wall of smoke to the southwest as you pull into the oceanfront.
Malibu's fires are the primary sources for our smoke & ash here. Santa Clarita is also right over the other mountain from us. For as often as the same places burn, it's amazing there's even anything left to burn!!!
Our Air National guard unit, the 146th AW, is home to So Cal's largest MAFFS unit (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System). Our C-130s are outfitted with equipment to fight fires with retardant & will be working overtime this week. Just last night we had 10 more aircraft arrive - from North Carolina, Colorado, and Wyoming.
I'm spending most of my days in the Command Post fielding calls from news organizations (Good Morning America asked to RIDE on the plane!!!) and logging events as they occur. It's hot here - very hot - and windy. Santa Ana winds some right out of the desert.
We're safe for the time being. However, due to the fact that several of these fires were determined to be arson, they could flair up anytime, anywhere.
Good to hear from you, dude...I enjoy the news updates as well.
Chris
(By the way, Chris has been searching for his big break as an actor and has had walk-on roles in the background of quite a few TV shows .. he also danced right next to Julia Roberts in "My Best Friend's Wedding")
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We returned from San Diego for a wedding on Tuesday. The skies are a frightening shade of brown and the air quality is terrible. Of course, the TV there is only of the fires and it's so devastating. We are praying for those who have lost so much.
Cinda
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