I live in Ventura County and this fire is bad.

[TeamPooka]

I've never seen one grow this fast and destroy so much so fast before.
150 structures lost and it only started last night.
I'm in Port Hueneme and watched the glow of the flames a few miles away most of the night.
The Santa Ana winds are making this the worst Ive seen and the winds can push it anywhere very quickly. Also flying embers are starting smaller fires everywhere.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-school-fire-20171204-story.html

[True Dough]

1. Stay safe, Pooka!

Scary to be talking about such a raging fire in December. The summer was bad enough!

[dhill926]

2. very bad...Pierpont area here....

winds are just brutal, so embers are flying around. Homes going up near Ventura College now....scary...

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Is this month unusual for those fires?

I know late summer/early fall brings the winds....but Dec?

[dhill926]

6. Not too unusual...

fire season has been expanding.

[Sophia4]

7. Here on the East side of Los Angeles, we have not had even one half an inch

of rain since June or May.

NO RAIN.

Last year we had rain, so the vegetation grew. This year, no rain.

Thus, we have had fires and can expect more.

And, we went for a walk on a hill near our home (East of Los Angeles, East of Santa Monica), and saw ugly smoke to the West above Santa Monica. Here is the story.

SANTA MONICA, CA – Ash from the Creek fire near Sylmar is blowing south to Santa Monica. Strong east and northeast winds are expected to continue through Wednesday evening, leaving a heavy layer of smoke over the beach city. The burn area is reported to be approximately 2500 acres with zero percent containment reported, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Air quality may reach Unhealthy levels or higher in areas directly impacted by smoke, SCAQMD said.

https://patch.com/california/santamonica/do-you-see-smell-smoke-santa-monica

[TeamPooka]

8. The winds are crazy. It's made it so embers can carry to any neighborhood and start a new fire

[livetohike]

3. Stay safe. I lived in Newbury Park for six years. Seeing pics/

receiving updates from friends. Looks really bad.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Stay safe,

we have another day of North east winds to come here in Vegas. Gusts to 40+ right now.

[BigmanPigman]

9. It IS bad. It is all over the news down here in San Diego.

We have warnings until Thurs. There has been no rain since last winter which was 150% of the normal average rainfall so all the new growth has dried up and is kindling. We have been told to have cell phone chargers for cars ready, pet's meds, full tank of gas, etc. Also, they warned us not to mow lawns or drive crappy cars (a spark can and has started the fires in the past) and not to throw cigs out car windows, etc.

We had two giant fires in 2003 and 2007 and in each fire my friends and co workers lost homes, schools were canceled for a week each time (a first for SD history) and the sky was orange for days on end with ashes the size of potato chips were 50 falling miles away. The embers and winds jumped two 12 lane freeways and was burning all the way to the ocean. Finally a change in the weather saved La Jolla from burning too.

My friends and coworkers lost their homes. This is really late in the year for this to occur. Climate change?
I hope the fucking moron doesn't come...he would throw match boxes to the evacuees.

[TeamPooka]

10. 3 friends/coworkers of my wife's have already lost their homes today/last night.

2 local doctors and one of their nurses have lost houses so far.

[BigmanPigman]

11. Oh Shit!

This thing is a monster. Fot this to occur during the holidays makes it even worse if that's possible...just awful.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. ahhh...I remember the 2007 one, now

because it was marching to the ocean. Remember seeing maps of the fires. jaw dropping.
Mr. Dixie is from Orange county area, one of his adult children is living in San Diego, but on extended travel adventures out of country now.