The "Tea" fire: Saturday update

The "Tea" fire in Santa Barbara has been knocked off the front pages by the horrendous new fires now burning in the San Fernando Valley neighborhoods of Los Angeles. An entire mobile home park in Sylmar, some 600 units, has been destroyed. Vast numbers of people are being evacuated. Major highways are closed. There are rolling blackouts. And the winds continue to be vicious.

Here in Santa Barbara, the mid-day winds are calm, and officials tell us that the Tea fire is 40% contained. As long as the sundowners don't kick up again this evening the news will continue to be good. 

Our thoughts today are with those who have lost their homes, and for many, their security and their dreams.