Los Angeles Is Burning
Artist(Band):Bad Religion

Somewhere high in the desert near a curtain of blue
St. Anne's skirts are billowing
But down here in the city of limelights
The fans of Santa Ana are withering
And you can't deny the living is easy
If you never look behind the scenery
It's Showtime for dry climes
And bedlam is dreaming of rain

When the hills of Los Angeles are burning
Palm trees are candles in the MURDER wind
So many lives are on the breeze
Even the stars are ill at ease
And Los Angeles is burning

This is not a test
of the emergency broadcast system
When Malibu fires and radio towers
Conspire to dance again
And I cannot believe the Media Mecca
They're only trying to peddle reality
Catch it on Prime Time
Story at nine
The whole world is going insane

When the hills of Los Angeles are burning
Palm trees are candles in the MURDER wind
So many lives are on the breeze
Even the stars are ill at ease
And Los Angeles is Burning

A placard reads "the end of days"
Jacaranda boughs are bending in the haze
More a question than a curse
How could hell be any worse
The flames are stunning
The cameras running
So take warning!

When the hills of Los Angeles are burning
Palm trees are candles in the MURDER wind
So many lives are on the breeze
Even the stars are ill at ease
And Los Angeles is burning

This was the song playing on the radio on the way to work this morning. Fitting. Really. Too well at that. There are fires all around the county. I'm lucky that I'm near the coast and we've got a breeze that is keeping us flame free. And I live basically across the street from the fire station. The skies are a brownish gray and there is some soot in the air, even in Culver City. Air quality sucks, but not as bad as other areas. I wouldn't want to stay outside for long, but I was okay from my office to the car.

My mom called this morning to tell me they haven't been evacuated yet, but they could be. Google Maps is missing a few of the fire, like the one in San Marcos that is the closest to my parents. My godmother has already been evacuated from her home in San Marcos, I don't know if she's allowed back yet. My aunt in Escondido is apparently just far enough way in the right direction of the wind to not be evacuated.

Brian is safe, there's nothing around his house but dirt. His parents were evacuated this morning, but told they could go back a little while ago. Apparently the San Marcos fire is almost contained, which is good. My other aunt's are far enough away from the fires that they weren't at much risk. There was enough risk for the family to put in out-of-state contact points with my great aunt & uncle and a second cousin in Kentucky. Hopefully there's no need to use them.

I'm glad to hear that all my friends are safe so far. I've got lots in my thoughts who are near fires and hopefully they will not have to be evacuated or, if they are, that they return to a safe and whole home.

Fire Map