I wrote a few days ago that the slowly erupting sun was casting an eerie sepia hue on the world around me. Turns out that while the sun was indeed freaking out, the cause of the eerie yellow air was the series of huge wildfires that have now made national headlines.

The Old Fire, Grand Prix Fire and the Simi Valley Fire are closest to us here in LA. The Grand Prix Fire is in Rancho Cucamunga, about 40 miles due east of my workplace, while the Old Fire and Simi Valley Fire flank it on either side. None of the three are in any way contained and there is no sign that they may be subdued any time soon. All weekend, we’ve been watching the news and breathing the ash from these fires, the closest of which is an hour’s drive. Thousands have been evacuated and the current conservative estimate is that 13 are dead. Police suspect arson in at least two of the fires (Grand Prix, Old).

Meanwhile the Cedar Fire has closed schools and some workplaces, and killed 11 in the San Diego area.