i was up at Mt Lassen a couple weeks ago, and the Paradise fire above Chico was going off, wind blowing it inland one day and seaward the next. if nothing else, it made for an amazing red moon.

the firefighters truly are some bad dudes, i can't imagine staring down walls of flame like that. one time a guy told me a story of getting trapped in the path - they issue thin fire-retardant blankets, and you have to dig a ditch for yourself in a clearing and lie down in it with the blanket completely covering you while the thing roars overhead...and do NOT poke your head out until you're sure it's passed. the fire sucks up all the oxygen, he says it's hard to breathe in there, and one of his mates popped out too early and bought the farm.

he also said the coolest thing was watching every type of animal you can think of come flying past ahead of the blaze. crazy shit.