Purrs for all affected, I hear the fires have now crossed the border into
Mexico. :-(

I think it was 1998 that we had our worst bushfires of several decades if
not centuries. Of course, the arsonists picked the days that naturally suit
bushifires - the ones with the very hot, dry, gusty strong winds. Wiped out
large tracts of natural forest, took out alot of houses, and made the sun
look blood red because of all the smoke in the air. We had to get to my
sister's place for Christmas lunch, and had to constantly listen to the
radio to find out which roads had been cut off by the fires - its usually
40 minute drive but we had to take a detour and it took us three hours to
get there. We had to take another route again on the way home as the fires
had changed as we were eating. As we drove in seperate cars, my parents and
I staye din contact for the drive through mobile phones- that was a nasty
bill when it came, but I'm glad we knew each other was OK.

I remember walking out the front of our house on Christmas evening, seeing
the scallops of fire fronts coming down the escarpment and looking in both
awe at the beauty and fear that it would soon be our turn. Later that
evening, we heard the fire engines screaming up our main arterial road, and
readied ourselves to be evacuated - as hte village next to us was. Nights
were very difficult, because as the air cooled, the smoke sank to the
ground, and we had to keep the windows closed otherwise we'd choke, but it
made it stifling hot in the house. There were some rather sleepless nights
that year.

Our capital, Canberra, went through the same thing 3 or 4 years ago and it
was arsonists too. Because the ACT is a small territory, and the location of
the fires, there wasn't enough fire fighters able to get to the fire fronts
in time and alot more houses and unfortunatley lives were lost. Although
250km away, the smoke reached us and I think I posted photos of how much
smoke was inthe air from a fire 250km away - apprantly it even reached New
Zealand.

You'd think that anyone growing up in bushfire prone areas would understand
just how horrific, scary and destructive they are. I waver on what to do
with an arsonist, on one hand I can only conclude they *must* be mentally
unwell to do such a thing, and are therefore not as culpable as a sane
person for their actions, and the other part wants them charged with
everything that the can be charged with, including multiple animal cruelty
for all the animals that suffer and indeed die in bushfires, and even murder
if someone dies as a result of the fire they lit.

So, many purrs to all the lives effected by the bushfires in California.
Hope they can put them out soon.

Yowie

I had a cousin (now RB) who lost everything in a California fire many
years ago.  All they saved were the clothes they wore, their two cars and
two dogs.  

Her only child now lives in Santa Barbara.  I hope she is safe.  I haven't
heard from her in a long time.  We are purring for all in the path of the
fires.  MMLB

PURRS AND PRAYERS IN ROUTE

Lots of purrs heading west. I can't believe someone would deliberately
do that!

[California fires]

Sending lots of purrs to California

Michael

Lots of purrs for everyone affected,
Polonca and Soncek