SoCal Fires: Santa Clarita Valley
(Mountain Bike Access Photos by Ron Jones)

Looking North toward Aqua Dulce fire and I-5 Freeway

Looking Southwest towards Simi Valley

Looking West towards Stevenson Ranch

See my Fire Photos (Monday PM)

See my YouTube Videos (Sunday PM)

See my Fire Photos (Sunday PM)

Tuesday AM (10.23.07):  Absolutely incredible sight last night.  From the mall parking structure roof, nearly everywhere I looked there was flame or smoke...last night was hell here.  This morning things seem to be settling down.  I've hardly slept the last two days.  My lungs are jacked up.  I feel like crap, but I have no property damage, and I'm fine so can't complain.  You think you are prepared, but quickly find out when something like this happens that there were other things that needed to be done.  Racing around by mountain bike getting photos the last two evenings was quite the experience.  Was headed up to the freeway last night for the final sunset shots and some guy in a pickup buzzed by me screaming, "There's a fire.  Get a car asshole!"  Interesting comment...when things totally breakdown in a natural disaster and your cars don't have gas, how would you get around?  Give me three water bottles and handful of Powerbars, and I'm good for at least 100 miles by bike!  To hell with the gas and the butthead guy last night yelling at me!  Bikes become VERY efficient for transportation in times of urgency.  Riding my bike was the "appropriate action" as Steve Ilg would say--the last thing to do is clogging up the roads with SUVs and their smog right now.  Engaged Zen too weaving my way through evacuation traffic...how's that for focused and mindful attention?

Hoping things improve today and tomorrow.   Winds are not quite as strong now.

Monday AM (10.22.07):  Wind is still howling.  Smoke was worse this morning looking North towards Castaic and I-5 Freeways.  Area is on lock down pretty much.  Schools closed, residents asked to NOT drive so emergency vehicles can have full unrestricted access.  It's horrible...catastrophic...will try to get more photos later from East Canyon as long as fire is no where near this Southern canyon ridge.  Keep the fire fighters in your thoughts and prayers today.

Sunday (10.21.07): I was born and raised in California and lived there most of my life.  I'm in Northern LA County this week working.  I have never seen anything like what I witnessed today.  In a matter of hours, SoCal literally erupted in flames in apocalyptic proportions.  I jumped on my mountain bike and hammered up to the top of one of the few ridges not involved in flames.  I was able to get some high elevation photos looking down on Santa Clarita Valley which is in Northern LA County where my apartment is located and where I stay when not home in Atlanta.

The power of nature is humbling.  In minutes, we were on fire.  In about four hours, the local fire here went from a few acres to ten thousand plus.  The hills are literally exploding tonight in Santa Clarita and this is just ONE of the many fires in Southern California.  The winds are hurricane force--literally.  I was nearly blown off my bike riding up East Canyon tonight.

For now, I think I'm safe.  Bags are being packed in case of evacuation.  God speed to our fire fighters tonight...they'll need it.  May their fitness be some power tonight baby--to keep them and others alive and well!  Don't tell me fitness doesn't matter.  Tonight, it could be life or death for those on the front lines.

From the flames and smoke tonight,
Ron Jones

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