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10/25/2007: "The Battles Continue"

Today is the fifth day of the SoCal firestorm, and most of the fires - and all of the largest - continue uncontained. As the fires move across virgin territory, authorities are able to go into some of the areas hit earlier in the week to assess damage. Unfortunately, that means we're starting to hear some of the bad news that was feared all along.

Two bodies were found in a burned home in Poway, and four more were found in an open area near the border. That last group are presumed to be illegal immigrants trying to move north who were caught up in the flames. With the steady stream of workers and their familes that comes from the south, I doubt they are the only ones to meet this fate.

On a personal note, today was the first day the air was clean enough to exercise outside, although after a brisk walk my nose and lungs are feeling it. It's that same sense you get when you go into a musty, dusty room - not enough to bother your eyes, but enough to choke your lungs if you stay in there. They say we'll be dealing with this air for another couple of weeks. The good news - both for me and for those fighting the fires - is that I felt a definite onshore breeze at the beach this afternoon. That will bring relief to the firefighters, as it raises the humidity and drops the temperature. It also means it'll push all the smoky air inland - but they're used to smog anyway. Sorry!