The Jesusita Fire slows on Day 3, but continues to burn. Leaves behind wake of victims.
Ash falls like snow. The air is heavy with it. The world outside looks like a sepia photograph from the way the sun filters the light yellow. We do our best to return to normal, at least while we can. We wait, either for news of the firefighters’ success or news of more victims.
Though there is no official word, my friends estimate more than 30 homes have burned. The foothills where the Jesusita fire burns have some of the largest and most expensive homes in Santa Barbara. On the news last night, we watched them burn, their flaming carcasses crumbling to ash.
Continued below…
Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust, they say. I cannot say that yet. It is at once too near and tragic, and also too far–as I sit in my home, away from the violence of the fire–too numbing. The news feeds my thirst for information, not my compassion. And definitely not my wisdom.
The fire makes victims in Santa Barbara. Besides the dozens of homes lost, ten firefighters have been injured. Ten men who took huge risks to help others have suffered consequences for their strength.
This morning, the Jesusita fire is calmer. The winds, which blew at 50 miles per hour, have slowed considerably, down to 10 mph, just a gentle breeze really. They are forecasted to pick up to 20 mph later in the afternoon, but still nowhere near the strength of yesterdays devastating winds.
We try to return to normal, as best we can. We wait for news. Good or bad, we wait.
