(Image from the Los Angeles Times)
Fall is usually fire season in California, thanks to a combination of hot temperatures, warm Santa Ana winds and dry brush. The Marek fire is not too far from home, in the hills just northeast of us. We're well safe here, but we're getting some smoke and a definite burning smell in the air. Coincidentally, I flew right over the fire last night on a flight from Sacramento landing at Burbank Airport. It was quite a sight from the air, at night. The fire is named after a truck trail that I know meets up with one of my favorite roads in the Angeles National Forest. That means no more riding up there for at least a little while - luckily, only a minor inconvenience for me compared with what some people are going through.
-Andrew