"Deer Fire" in Deer Park Almost Takes Our Home.

On Friday we were evacuated from our house because a fire was running along the ridge behind us.

About ten minutes after the fire started, I shot this photo from the Foothills School.

Helicopters and airplanes were dumping lots of water onto the flames.

Firetrucks and bulldozers were at our corner, and they cut a fire-break through the vineyard at the end of our road. We were evacuated when it was clear that the flames were only a few blocks from the houses.

The flames were forty feet or more and one family's house was lost. The fire had been started by a car that hit a rock and sparked a flame. In less than five minutes it was out of control, fanned by Santa Ana winds.

I had gone down town for just a quick errand and everything seemed fine. But 20 minutes later, coming back up the hill the plume of smoke was enormous.

CBS came to report the event:

We were really lucky, and we really appreciate all the fire professionals and the Sheriff's Department for working so hard to keep us safe. Thanks to Yoda - who fought the fire. Free beer for him when he comes by!

And many thanks to Linda and Tom Shiebal for putting us up, and to Susan Shay for reading us Dylan Thomas during the conflagration. (I think there's a poem in here somewhere).

It's good to be back home tonight. The fire is now contained and even the smoke is down. We have another fire going on here tonight, but fortunately for us, it's in our fireplace.