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These are a few pictures of a cloud of smoke from a wildfire in the City of Orange. Pretty scary. I'm not in any danger, but it's freaky nontheless.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/ ... G_1448.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/ ... G_1446.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/ ... G_1450.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/ ... G_1454.jpg

I have to link to them because the pictures are waaay too big.

WOW!! Your that close to them?! That's crazy heh didn't know you we're so close cause me an Z aren't too terribly far from these fires, but I don't think they will even reach us..But we been tracking these fires over the news..Be careful please..

That's one thing I don't miss about having moved out of california ( for now ) We have fires every year without fail.

That looks like a bad fire from the glow.

I woke up one night with an uneasy feeling and looked out my window to find the house on the corner on fire! Later I found out that what probably woke me was the woman's screams for help! Its very exciting and nervous!

Luckily the fire was further away than it looks, and has moved out of my area for now. It's about 30% contained, but last night was just crazy. But with winds expected to kick up again tonight, I don't know what will happen.

I just heard the news. my brother ( a chef ) just phoned to tell us his restaraunt is now on fire.

Oh man... I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to lose something like that...

We've had some fires come pretty close to us in the past, but I'd say this was one of the closest. It came within half a mile to our house.
It seems the fire has moved out of our area for now. Hopefully it stays that way until it is put out. I can still strongly smell the smoke in the air, even in the house.

We saw our area being covered on multiple occasions by the news on TV. Amazing how the firefighters were able to keep it from burning a house right as it was coming up to the backyard!

The thing that really gets me is that the authorities are near 100% positive that the fire in this area (which originated at three points simultaneously) was caused by arson. It just baffles me as to how somebody could do such a thing.

Ceekur, I think we had the same fire. Santiago Canyon Fire in the Irvine/Orange area?

Yep, that would be ours (Wow, we must live close to each other). I think we're a good bit closer to it than you are though.

About 30 minutes ago, we saw a reporter down in the market center covering the latest on the fire here. It appears there was quite a large line of people gathered there on the sidewalk watching the fire on the hill and looking at the news camera. Honestly I don't know who would be outside in this condition. Even if I really wanted to know exactly where the fire is (like now, as it's night and I can't see anything), I'd stay in my car and look around that way.

Yeah, you probably are closer. I haven't seen any reporters around, and Portola Parkway is pretty far from me. (Well, a few miles anyway. I'm in the Westpark area, which apparently wasn't in any danger at all)

As for who has been outside, I've been outside. The school wasn't closed today, (I think only Northwood High School closed) but they didn't open any rooms during lunch, so everyone was out there for about 35 minutes. People were covering their mouths and noses with whatever possible.

As for where the fire is, the Orange County Fire Authority states:

[the fire is] now wind-driven in a north-easterly direction pushing the fire in a south west direction moving toward the foothill communities of Lake Forest including Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills.

The area where the elementary school is had a fire that seemed to have broken out of nowhere. Fortunately the fire crews managed to put it out within minutes. It was pretty close compared to the first one we had. We could see the flames right from the upstairs window.

Oh, I wasn't referring to just setting foot outside, but more to the looky-loos just a block away from the fire standing outside in the smoke with a camera or just looking around.

I had to go outside for a bit too for this one class I had. Even 10 miles away, I could still smell the smoke as strongly as it was at home. I was surprised I saw no one else covering their nose and mouth while I was there.

Covering the face is a good idea. This was me essentially all of today:

I used my sweater since I don't have masks.

Geez they made you go to school anyways? WTF?! They said on the news that smoke isn't good for the lungs not that any smoke is for serious..Why on earth would they make you go to school even if the fire is not coming towards you the smoke is an who knows the fire could come back at you.. Damn I wouldn't have went..Screw that..

The skies were once again filled with smoke, and ash rained down like a light snowfall.

>_> I don't get why they make us go to school in these conditions. ("They" being the school district and my parents...)

What do your parents think about the smoke and ash?

They don't think its a problem at all. Then again, they barely go outside.
It just sucks, cause I can feel the effect of all the crap in the air on my lungs.

I live in around LA......so all I see in the sky is smoke and dust. Boy, it is humid and hot out there.
The sky looks like it is covered with clouds, but it is not.

I saw the Red Sun and the Red Moon, creepy....

Read something about possible arsony going on admist the madness. Any truth to this?

Yes. The Santiago Canyon fires, all three of them, were started by arson.

You get quite a lot of fires out west, don't you?

We have controlled burns out here to keep that sort of thing from happening. Of course most of the land around here is the Savannah River Site, which is owned by the government and handles nuclear material...they can't really afford to have wildfires, now can they?

Do they do that where some of you live? Controlled burning, I mean.

spongypants23 wrote:Yes. The Santiago Canyon fires, all three of them, were started by arson.

Thats crazy.

We get Wildfires every year, most of them caused by arson. I got news today that all schools in my school district are closed tomorrow due to bad air quality. The air is literally brown. Its so gross.

And yeah, we have controlled burning in overgrown areas. Sometimes these get out of control and lead to the wildfires they were meant to prevent. (Ironic, isn't it.)