my family and friends keep asking if i've had to evacuate because of the fires going on around here... no. as far as i know i'm safe and shouldn't have any problems. but, i have been able to see the results of the fires in the skies. and, for the first time on tuesday i could actually smell smoke in the air. i've heard that in parts of the city, stuff is covered in ash or soot. i don't know if that's true, and i haven't noticed that where i am in the valley. the smell has been faint but noticeable, although i only noticed it on tuesday. the sky is what is the most interesting to see, however extremely depressing. the sun is really bizarre too! i wish i could get a good picture of it. tuesday it was, for lack of better words, fire red.

yesterday the skies seemed a whole lot clearer, and i didn't notice any smoke smell in the air. the wind was blowing pretty good and the temps are a lot cooler than they have been in the past few weeks. so, maybe the forecast for rain this weekend will actually happen and help the fire fighters contain the fires.

the photos were taken on the roof of where i live. the first photo in both sets was taken on monday. the second on tuesday. the third on wednesday. all taken at approximately the same time of day, in the early afternoon (around 1-2pm). the sky is usually perfectly clear, crystal blue. lately, it's been gray or light orange/gray.

i have a good view of the edge of one big mountain, in the general direction of san bernadino, where a large fire is burning through the forests. this is how it has looked for the past three days: view image

my other view is in the general direction of the los angeles airport and the coast. there are no fires burning there, but obviously must be pretty bad in the air: view image

this is a great map that shows where all the fires are in location to los angeles.