Smokey the Bear has his paws full

Just back from Mulholland Drive, a bit east of Laurel Canyon, checking out the massive forest fires. Overlooking Universal City, the vantage up there of the Station fires is incredible. You could actually see the flames tonight, ripping up the slopes, getting very close to the communications towers on Mt. Wilson which could vaguely be seen in the distance. When I stopped yesterday afternoon, you could just see smoke from there, approximately 18 miles from the closest fires, as the crow flies.

The billowing clouds look like massive mushroom clouds – these pictures don’t do justice the size and scope of the clouds. They are enormous.

My grandfather was a firefighter in my hometown of Troy, NY, and my grandmother and great aunt used to take me to many fires when I was just a kid. We’d sit there for hours and watch the firefighters do everything they could to douse the flames. Very sad two firemen lost their lives today battling the forest fires. And these fires are a long way from being over…

Click on the photos above to enlarge the pictures of the spectacular – and ominous – skies.