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Like everybody else in the area, I have been following the fires in Southern California and more specifically in Orange County. The OC Register has started putting together near-live coverage. They are providing updated fire maps via google.

On an intellectual level, I knew that the property loss has already been great, but it wasn’t until this afternoon that I realized it on a personal level. One of our favorite mountain biking trails called Santiago Truck Trail was just east of the Santiago fire, but as of this morning the fire had jumped Santiago Canyon Road and by this afternoon had burned across the ridge to Flagpole and down the Luge. I can’t believe it, we had just ridden this trail on Sunday right before the fires started later that afternoon.

Actually, trails getting burned happens somewhat frequently because after all, we are living in a desert. And, beyond the debate of whether we should be building homes near fire-prone areas, the reality is that we are living, working and riding in the midst of nature, which we must respect and appreciate in its entirety, both the wonders and the disasters.

Please continue to pray for the health and safety of the firemen fighting the fires and those families that have been affected.