The scope is much more than I had expected or thought possible myself. I grew up in Ohio. Fires were put out the same day they started, almost without failure. I knew California and other western areas had more significant fires, but this is the first one that I've followed play-by-play and I'm feeling very bad about the incredible devastation. I know from reading here that this is the worst in years, and I'm doing my best to get a grasp on the situation. I'm as fixated on this as I was on 9/11 - it has captivated my attention.
Your e-mail is a powerful, but accurate representation of the situation as far as I can see from my perspective as a freeper. It is good.
We used to spend a lot of time up there doing parties at the skating rink in Blue Jay. We used to see Brian Boitano and Bryan Orser and others skating exhibitions. There is a training camp there also where skaters stay when they are in training there. I don't know if that is still happening but there are so many stories and sp many lives affected up there and all over Southern California. It's the worst thing I've ever seen happen here including the earthquakes.