You may have noticed all this going on. The LA Times' breaking news blog updates fairly regularly if anyone's following. I'm totally fine and don't live near anything currently ablaze; work is closer but that fire's more under control than the others. Some friends were not so lucky, though; please keep them in your thoughts and consider helping out.
Update from LAT:
Posted by Nastinchka at October 23, 2007 07:32 PMAmerican Red Cross: Cash donations can be made through www.redcross.org or through a local Red Cross chapter. Volunteers also are needed. Information on shelter locations can be found on Red Cross websites for Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire. Donations of clothing can be made at Goodwill locations. Information: (800) REDCROSS or (800) 257-7575 for Spanish speakers.
Salvation Army: Cash contributions can be made through www.salvationarmy-socal.org or by calling (800) SALARMY.
Governor's Office of Emergency Services: Businesses wishing to donate large quantities of goods for distribution to fire victims can call (800) 750-2858 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Pacific time. Individuals wanting to donate items or volunteer to help with local disaster response efforts should contact the Red Cross or go to the governor's CaliforniaVolunteers website at www.californiavolunteers.org.
United Health Group: Southern Californians coping with the emotional consequences of the fires can call a counseling hotline at (866) 342-6892. The free service provided by the insurance company will be available around the clock for as long as needed.
The Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Cash donations are needed to support efforts to provide emergency shelter for animals displaced by the fires. Contributions can be made through www.spcala.com or by calling (888) SPCALA1. Food supplies also are needed.
New Leash on Life: The animal rescue group needs help caring for evacuated pets at its Newhall facility. The group can be contacted at (661) 255-0097.
About half the time I forget that there are people involved when digging through statistics and video on this.
Sympathies to anyone who had to leave their homes...
Posted by: Signal to Noise at October 24, 2007 12:22 AMI've completely lost track, what with pretty much everything being on fire....things OK up there?
Posted by: Holly at October 24, 2007 06:52 AMMy little corner of the world is fine. Santa Barbara County had the least damaging fire at 710 acres, and it was contained on Monday. The closest inferno is in Ventura County, near Piru. The haze wafted all the way up to SLO County.
Posted by: Signal to Noise at October 24, 2007 10:43 AMi covered more than a few wildfires in my tenure as a cop reporter in riverside/san bernardino counties. it's a pretty bad scene. my sympathies or anyone having to deal with it.
Posted by: kleph at October 24, 2007 03:21 PMI was so ready to offer up my bed if you were without yours... Hell I still offer up my bed anytime you're in the greater DC area.
Posted by: MDG at October 25, 2007 11:25 AMAm keeping that very much in mind.
Posted by: Holly at October 26, 2007 12:14 PM