Fire in Southern California...Again

I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but today in Southern California it's over 90 degrees with humidity around 15%. Add 35 mph canyon winds and you have the ingredients for a major wildfire.

As I came out of Costco this afternoon I saw the telltale smoke header coming from the area of north Orange County as a big fire is working up there:

ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif. — Authorities evacuated more than 200 homes as a fast-moving brush fire scorched up to 1,000 acres of dry hillside Sunday and crept into backyards, fire officials said.

At least two homes were on fire and many others were threatened, Anaheim city spokesman John J. Nicoletti said.

"This is a very dangerous firefight," said Orange County Fire Authority Chief Ed Fleming. "The terrain is quite rugged, with homes on top of ridges, and the fire picks up speed as it head up the hill."

I read in another report that the two homes that have been damaged were the only homes in that area with wood shake shingle roofs. If this fire had hit 20 years ago, there would probably be 100 homes burned because back then everybody built with wood shakes. Over the past years most homeowners switched to non-flammable materials, and I'll guarantee you that the decision to reroof, along with great firefighting, is what's keeping people in their homes today.