This is a city nearby me, it started yesterday and the way I knew is that the smoke turned the sky orange. It wasn't as bad yesterday, but when I woke up this morning it was darker than it should be at 7 AM and ash was raining down. The smell is like somebody lit a charcoal barbecue and left it on. The actual fire is a safe distance away, but it's sending smoke and ash a good distance.

This is a city nearby me, it started yesterday and the way I knew is that the smoke turned the sky orange. It wasn't as bad yesterday, but when I woke up this morning it was darker than it should be at 7 AM and ash was raining down. The smell is like somebody lit a charcoal barbecue and left it on. The actual fire is a safe distance away, but it's sending smoke and ash a good distance.
I know what u mean Leland. I can see it from here. I am abt 35 mins. away from it. My boyfriend works in Westlake Village. The smoke has billowed all the way over here and from my standpoint, I can see the mountains so clearly, i am just waiting to see if I will be able to see flames soon. Scary situation, and this crazy hot weather doesn't help.

I'm well into the city, so only get thick air and see smoke (when there is no building obstructing the view). No fire danger.

Should this fire, or a new one, erupt in the Malibu/Topanga/Palisades area, we will probably start getting the ash fall where I am. Unfortunately, this fire seems to be headed in that direction. Lots of fuel in the form of brush in the hills of L.A. and adjacent counties, a result of the heavy rainfall we had this past winter.

Fleet... let us know how you're doing.

okay it's 10:30 and the sky all above is orange, dirty brown from the fires. the only blue sky I see is towards Ojai and the beach. This would be a perfect day for the beach if it weren't for my laryngitis...i wonder what this air will do for my throat now? Those poor people who are standing by waiting and wondering if their homes will be burned. Oh God, another fire season, here we go. I guess all that rain last year and this year didn't help.

This is too bad. I hate wildfires. Even if nobody dies, it causes so much damage to the environment....and a lot of animals die. :(

Well, last night I bicycled to a street just north of the 118 freeway (Rinaldi St.) and went as far west as I could go. Got a good view of the fire and the smoke. Took photos.

Today, I drove over to Chatsworth Park South, it was roped off so I went onto a side street (Jeffrey Mark Court) in which you can enter the park from the side. Parked near the top of that street which dead ends. There are apartments on one side and the hilly and brushy area on the other. There were fire trucks parked there in case the fire changed direction and started heading that way.
I walked on one of the trails I know of and immediately was into burned areas (took more photos). I asked the firemen and they said those burned areas, which were within 100 feet of the apartments were backfires- set by the firemen. Farther west, I could see where the actual fire burned- the sides of the hills and the hills themselves off in the distance.

I will post photos later today (they are already being developed).

My parents made a wise choice when they bought their house. Close enough to the mountains to have a good view of, but not too close to be in danger when the fires erupt.

The fires have already spread to Agoura Hills. Maliby Cyn and other canyons have been evacuated. The fire's doubled in size from yesterday and I heard that they're worried about it spreading to the 101 freeway. Traffic's been crazy these past two days...literally, bumper to bumper. The 101 was crammed this afternoon (which is typical for the 101 South, but it was even more). We can see the fires from the top of our backyard and it looks like it's RIGHT there. Smoke's filling up everywhere and we can smell it inside the house. I just hope everyone evacuates in time and the firefighters manage to control the fire.

and Simi Valley, Westlake Village, my God, here we go again. It never fails. right on time too with the Santa Ana's. Does anyone have any clue how it got started? the news hasn't mentioned anything; if they have, I missed it.

They never have said how it started. If it was because of a downed power line, they would have known by now. I suspect arson.

You should be safe way over in Oxnard.

oh of course, I am not worried...just worried abt my boyfriend who works over in that area. he called me in the afternoon to let me know all is well, he had a good view of the fires, but he knows he may be dealing with traffic when he gets out at six. I never worry abt us when these fires start, I worry abt the poor souls who deal with this every fire season and everytime the Santa Ana's start.

and Simi Valley, Westlake Village, my God, here we go again. It never fails. right on time too with the Santa Ana's. Does anyone have any clue how it got started? the news hasn't mentioned anything; if they have, I missed it.The good thing about Westlake Village is there isn't a lot of dry brush, it pretty much built out.