"The funny thing about firemen is... night and day, they are always firemen." - Backdraft

And in Southern California, the firemen have *been* firemen literally night and day. It would seem that half of Southern California is currently on fire, from San Diego to Malibu and beyond. There are about 14 or so fires going on simultaneously, in various stages of flame-up, and the fires have been going on since early Sunday morning. First, there was the fire in Malibu that destroyed a humongous castle mansion and a local church. And then there were fires in the Orange County area. And a new fire erupted Sunday night in Ontario. And fires in San Diego. And yet another fire erupted in Lake Arrowhead. And numerous other fires have erupted all over. Some are thought to be caused by downed power lines caused by high winds. There is also some speculation that some fires have been caused by people, whether accidentally or deliberately.

It's been reported that over 100 homes have been burned in Lake Arrowhead. Many other homes have been destroyed or are still threatened all over Southern California. The high winds not only fan the flames, but they also deter the efforts of firefighters. With the high winds, air drops of water and other substances are either rendered useless (as loads are blown off course or water is dissipated before it ever actually hits the fire) or made impossible when planes are grounded for safety reasons. The winds are expected to die down on Wednesday. But Wednesday is a long time away.

There have also been reports that already-overwhelmed firefighters are spending time not actually fighting the fire but evacuating people who have refused to leave, even when specifically told to do so. I can't imagine what one must feel to leave your home with most of your belongings and not knowing if it will still be there when you return. And maybe 1 in however many people who refuse to leave actually help the firefighters in some fashion. But in most cases, it's just another hindrance to the firefighting effort. Some cities were bringing in police to help with the evacuation efforts to alleviate the burden from the firefighters, but those who have to be forced to leave their homes are not only endangering others' property, but they're also endangering lives.

Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, which is home to the Chargers, has become a shelter for many who have been evacuated. Requests for assistance have been sent out to Northern California and neighboring states, who are sending firefighters and other assistance personnel.

I remember watching the Malibu fires in the early 90s. I had the TV on all night, and I would nap and then wake periodically to see the flames on the screen. Watching the fires did nothing to help the problem, but for some reason, I couldn't help it. I found myself in a similiar situation on Sunday morning. Not having heard anything previously, I turned on the TV - and the flames lit up the screen. And I watched for hours. As horrible as it was to see, I had to watch, hoping I'd see the flames lessen and hear the reports that the fires were being contained. But instead, there were more and more reports of fires.

We live in such a technically-advanced time. And yet, there's nothing we can do to stop a fire of any magnitude. We can send people into space and to other planets, we can fit mega-computers into the tiniest of compartments, we can even simulate a human heart. But every once in a while, Mother Nature has to show us that we are at her mercy - that we are helpless in the face of devastating earthquakes, wind, water and fire. I remember seeing a picture in the paper of the Malibu fires, with flames hundreds of feet tall - and one lone fireman with a hose. He might as well be trying to put it out with a squirtgun.

Thank God that we are not personally threatened by any of the fires, but there are relatives, friends, friends of friends, and relatives of friends who have either been evacuated or whose homes are still threatened. I pray that they will stay safe. I also pray for the safety of those I don't know whose homes are still threatened. And I pray for those who have lost their homes and those who might still lose their homes. I pray for the safety of the firefighters and other personnel who are all in their way helping in this entire effort. And I hope that those who deliberately set any fires will burn in a fiery hell, the same as what they've created.