The air smells like smoke. It tastes like smoke. I usually do a bike ride Saturday morning with friends, but we cancelled because the air is so unhealthy. And I live over 200 miles from the fire-- my problems are as nothing compared to those truly affected.
If there is something those of us far away can do to help, please let us know.
@CADREAMIN - we are in wet WA, but I also pulled out cat carriers out of storage and stashed them by the front door. Hope never to need to use them in an emergency but as my grandfather used to say, god saves those who are prepared.
This video is just terrifying. 
The dad is so calm, but geez… I bet inside he wasn’t!
OMG I think I just lost years off my life watching that.
My heart breaks for you, California…
Have been reading about the decision to shelter kids in place at Pepperdine and how stressful that was for the parents. 
It sounds like they’ve got it well considered - the buildings they had everyone in are made of fireproof materials, all brush is cleared far away from the buildings, and the fire fighters were right there protecting the campus. I’d have been worried sick if it was my kid. Just… can’t even. My New Year’s resolutions this year are going to be around what I can do personally to reduce climate change. I’ve voted for candidates, and for the carbon tax resolution this year in WA (which did not pass, a lot was spent by oil and gas companies to defeat it). But I want to take a closer look at what I can do personally in my daily habits. What else can we do, except start changing one person at a time, and encouraging others to do the same? (Have we had a thread on this yet?)
@Redslp, our dearest friends live in that area and one of them used to teach at that college. Two of their kids live in Chico and have bugged out to the grandparents in Corning. Our friends are in Oroville and are on 24-hour evacuation notice. They have taken in two sets of friends who evacuated, along with whatever they could carry.
This is beyond heartbreaking. We’ve been out there virtually every summer since 1987. Have been to Paradise, camped in the hills up there, driven up and down 70/99/149 more times than I can count. @TatinG, my heart is with you and yours. Be safe.
@lookingforward- You bring up a good point. I’ll have to ask her landlord if it’s okay to store a gas can in the garage.
My daughter doesn’t have a car at school, but her good friend does, so I don’t have any control over teaching her to keep the gas tank full. I’m thinking after this experience the lessons been learned.
Both girls did have extra battery chargers.
@CountingDown- I’m sorry to hear about your friends in Oroville. I hope the winds change and the firefighters have a chance to get the fire better contained. We’re about 2 hours from the fire and the air quality is terrible. You can smell the smoke inside the house with the all the windows shut.
We are in SF, far from the fires, but the skies are completely grey with smoke and all outdoor activity has been cancelled. It is like Mars here – every thing is dry and smoky but nights are freezing cold.
We were in San Francisco today and the air quality was poor. In Santa Cruz, even farther from the Paradise fire, all soccer games were cancelled. A heartbreaking situation for so many.
I felt quite nauseous watching that video. Made it very real.
I am still unable to return to my house. 2 people burned to death in their car here, but 25 died in the fires in Northern California. We dont know the cause yet. This seems not to be getting much national news attention.
So, so sorry @TatinG and wishing the best for this to be over for you all.
I am seeing many reports and pleas and WAVES of support for all of you affected on the news and social media. Hang in there, may it be over soon.
I personally have not seen any wave of support. The Red Cross shelter was grim. No TV to track the news. 3 toilets. No outlet to charge phones and little security for people with cars full of valuables. The volunteers were nice but I left and drove many miles to a hotel, where there was no discount for evacuees. I can afford the expense but it would have been a nice gesture.
Most of my news is coming via Facebook.
NYT is covering all the CA fires. Probably not so much other media, including broadcast. (NYT, I believe, has a very strong readership in CA.)
Not sure exactly where you are, @TatinG but CBS and NBC have reported on three California fires fairly extensively - the Paradise Camp, Woolsey and Hill fires. We have also gotten lots of coverage on Canadian stations. I hope that things improve very soon for you and your neighbors. I have a high school friend who runs the California Urban Forests Council and she has shared very scary images and stories. It is a terrible situation that is difficult for most of us to imagine. Please stay safe.
Stay safe, everyone!! I didnt ask my kids yesterday about the air quality. Imagine its not great
The fires were the top and recurring story on the national news I watched last night (NBC, I think). That said, I’m sorry this hasn’t translated down to effective help on the ground, @TatinG. Your situation is awful, and I wish you were getting more help and support.