I am sure most of you already know that California is on fire. I know that may sound like an exaggeration but it is really not. During the last 3 ½ weeks there have been 3 days where we could actually see the blue sky or a sun that didn’t look like something out of a scary nuclear war movie. The smoke here is beyond crazy, in all of my 38 years living here in California; I have yet to experience what I have been a witness to during these past few weeks.

Before I go any further, I want to say a big heart felt THANK YOU to all of the Firefighters that are working there tail ends off to protect our properties, our homes and our lives, you are HEROES.
I am not sure how many Firefighters we have here on DA but I know that with all of us here collectively we must know many and with your help maybe we can let them know just how appreciated they really are.

I have not been on DA much this last week because the American River Complex Fire took a turn for the worse last week, news was that it was 3 miles from Blue Canyon, well….Blue Canyon is just a hop, skip and a jump from here, to be exact, it’s 15 miles, 5 exits up the Highway and we were all getting a bit anxious. I have spent the last week gathering things that are important, making sure we were prepared for the worst. Every night in bed I listen to the helicopters and planes flying around trying to sleep but getting little. I have been glued to the computer looking at web cams up and down the Sierra so to know when or if the conditions change.

The conditions did change over the weekend and yesterday, today when I woke up and looked out my bedroom window, I actually saw the blue sky and the sun, the beautiful, normal looking sun, today is clear day number 3, in almost a month of smoke filled skies. The American River Complex Fire is at 40 % containment, the Firefighters have been able to keep the fire from spreading to Blue Canyon and they are holding it, this could change with the winds at any moment but for now, they are holding it, those brave men and women out there, giving it all they have to protect us, they truly are amazing individuals. Everywhere you go around here, you see the firefighters, some trying to get a few moments of rest, some charging in to battle the blazes. Each time I see them, I make a point to stop and say thank you and almost every time they have acted almost surprised that I stopped. Today I was reading about the Paradise fire, I have family there and was getting updated. I read an article where the Fire Chief was being interviewed about the conditions out there for the firefighters, he responded by telling this reporter that the residents who are being evacuated are going through much more right now because their homes are being threatened and they are being asked to leave what they have behind. Not one word about how tough it has to be out there in the triple digit temperatures or the fact they are working around the clock, his concern was for the people he has vowed to protect.

I have been reminded of what America is all about during this trying time and what it means to be an American, what it means to be human. We may have our issues as all people everywhere do but when push comes to shove, we pull together and we look out for one another and we do what it takes to help our neighbors. The Fire Departments all over this great Nation of ours have proven to be the driving force when it comes to help and rescue during disasters of any kind, we have witnessed this with 911, Oklahoma City, Katrina and so many others. Our Firefighters are there when we need them the most; they do so much more than fight fires; please join me in thanking these selfless people and pray that they stay safe.

I have been taking photographs along this fire journey and I have also collected a few here on DA from other Deviants.
Here is California...on fire.


I took these on the day of the storm that rolled through quickly with its thunder and lightning and left California ablaze.



The lightning strikes and California burns








And this is what it has looked like here in Colfax, California where I live.




The Heroes



THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS

Here are some shots of the clear days in between here in Colfax, I pray nothing ever takes this beautiful place away