Fire Season

This year’s fire season has begun in full force. We could sort of see it coming with all the triple digit temperatures across the area. I believe it was the Morris Fire in Azusa (photo below) that started it off, but the La Cañada Flintridge fire (seen above) that’s really confirmed it. Both fires seem to be stuck in places that are very difficult for firefighters to get a handle on. It makes for pretty eerie backdrops to the city as you can see.

As I showed you yesterday, the only real benefit that comes out of these massive fires are the photo opportunities. I’ve seen more photos of Los Angeles with these fires in the background than I normally see people posting photos of Los Angeles. While they show a tragic season we always experience, they also show how beautiful our city can be. Usually.

Unfortunately, thousands of people are misplaced by these fires, as are untold thousands of animals. Tens of thousands of acres of forest are burned. The air quality decreases to a point where it burns your eyes and throat to go outside for long periods of time. Even the ride to work starts to get rough about 15 minutes in. Then if the smoke doesn’t bug you, you still have to deal with record temperatures.

At 100°F, 19% humidity feels pretty ridiculous. But so does any sunshine. On the walk to buy a new keyboard I had to hide in the shadows of the street lights just to get a break. Granted I’ve been doing that little trick for years, as I refuse to carry an umbrella like most everyone else. It just seems ridiculous to use an umbrella without rain, even if it’s just to get some shade.

At least it felt like 98°F.