Since living in California for over 10 years - I have had the good fortune of beautiful weather, outstanding scenery and a creative culture that almost goes unmatched in the World.
That being said, we have plenty of downsides of living here as well: earthquakes, mudslides, pretentious people (LA for the superficiality, SF for the ego induced tech crowd, and SD for the laissez-faire lifestyle) and of course, the topic of today, the California wildfires.
(Via WCBI)
The Thomas fire, the behemoth of the current fire apocalypse, began in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles and has infiltrated Santa Barbara County, made more powerful by the stronger winds and consumption of century-old unburnt coastal sage and chaparral. One part of the blaze is pushing through the mountains while another is descending on Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean. Hundreds of firefighters are doing all that they can to save the picturesque beach community of Carpinteria. Meanwhile, 8 miles to the north, evacuations have begun in Montecito, an enclave of old money and the location of the homes of celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres. We are witnessing destruction on a scale that hasn't been seen with wildfires.
The latest round of California fires now ranks as one of the worst in state history and as it enters day seven there is still no end in sight. More evacuations have been ordered as the fire enters and threatens even more communities.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
Since it erupted near Thomas Aquinas College on Dec. 4, the Thomas fire has forced 88,000 people to flee their homes. Official estimates have put the cost of combating the blaze at $25 million.
By Sunday evening, the fire was 10% contained.
(Via David McNew / Getty)
So what does this all mean. Why is this happening and can we prevent it from happening again in the future? First, it is important to understand that there are many reasons that fires can start, but we live in a place that has bouts of heat, coupled with drought. Our vegetation quite often turns into tinder and fuels this phenomena. Second, we are really living in times that climate change is accelerating this situation. Whether we like it or not, the extreme heat of the summer carried over into the winter and threatening to do so into our "winter." Currently, it is 85 degrees F or 30 degrees C and it is December. The fundamental fire equation in California has three variables: the fuel mass, including the age and dryness of brush; the extent of residential and other development into chaparral and forest ecologies; and the intensity of the wind.
Wildfires happen. This much we know. And the images that have been coming out have been nothing short of amazing. My good friend 
We have all seen these videos and series of shots (I drive here ALL THE TIME!!!)
(Via Cactus Hugs)
Shrubs in Ventura County:
Evacuations taking place:
(Via CNN)
Fires burning in Santa Paula:
(Via Travel + Leisure)
Driving by UCLA:
(Via Newsweek)
Horses being saved:
The members of the animal kingdom have been also profoundly affected by the wildfires. There habitats literally going up in smoke driving many of them to seek sanctuary wherever they can.
(Via LA Times)
Satellite imagery of fires from space:
(Via ABC7)
34 people have died so far as firefighters struggle to keep up with the devastation:
(Via Chicago Tribune)
The aerial devastation is just massive:
(Via CNBC)
Our heroes at work:
(Via LA Times)
Billions and Billions of dollars has been lost from the fires including wine, marijuana, tourist and other industries:
(Via ABC News)
(Via ABC News)
Just pure craziness! I would like to turn our attentions towards the animals a bit. I have had friends and others that have scrambled to get their horses out of the stables in time. Every type of animal from cougars to goats to exotic zoo animals have had to scramble for safety.
(Via Huffington Post)
This is SO sad and could have been prevented. Most ranchers have a contingency plan and know how to get their animals out when needed.
(Via Daily Mail)
To all the non-horse people confused by the videos and images that they have seen: The fire spreads SO fast.
In San Diego it spread from 175 - 1000 acres in under an hour. A lot of the time at a barn, phone service is terrible. So it’s hard to know where it is, where it started or that one even started unless you see it coming towards you (The case of San Luis Rey training center).
Most of the news we relay from social media and peoples live feeds. Best case you load and evacuate horses...
In cases of fire these roads can be shut off for access VERY fast. When people hear about the fires in horse communities there are so many volunteers who go to the mandatory evacuation spots. You can’t just call and book a hauler when your horses are 5 or 6 miles from the fire because everyone is helping at the most needed spot.
The next thing is to get horses out of stalls. You may have seen horses tied up in open arenas. Like at the Gibson Ranch. This was because there were still people able to load horses and hand walk them out. The safest thing for humans and horses when it’s possible. They were tied up so they didn’t escape, but were out of barns and stalls that could burn down and so they could be grabbed and taken away. Gibson Ranch burned down but all the animals were evacuated!
Then worst case you set them free and hope that they get away from the fire and burning structures. This is what saved many of the horses down at the Del Mar race track when there is no time. You would just run and open each door and hope the horse runs. There may not be time to pull each horse out when you want to undo as many doors as you can. And some horses sadly might not leave as the feel it is their safe place. I heard a story of one owner almost beating his horse to get him to leave his stall and he wouldn’t!!!
Then there are the images of the padlocks and the statement from animal control about padlocking.
(Via Daily Mail)
This made me sick. There is no excuse EVER for padlocking a horse in. I just have no words to express how irresponsible and neglectful that was and it is quite horrifying. From free rescue horses to million dollars + show horses. This absolutely is NOT standard practice.
But that was just one ranch and many horses died and many people are injured from doing the right thing...
(Via Local News)
(Via NY Daily News)
(Via Daily Herald)
As this story is still developing and we aren't out of the woods yet - I will post any new updates. Please have the people and animals of California in your thoughts and prayers this week.
(Via International Fund for Animal Welfare)
(Via Newsmax)