Tony de Groot <<email>> writes:

There was an amazing battle that went on in our mountains. Helicopters dropping water and large planes dropping phoscheck. It sounded like a war zone. The fire got as close as possible to the Trout Club homes but as far as I know no homes were lost.

Arnold Schwarzenegger came by and said we were the number one priority for funds due to the proximity of the fire to so many homes. They didn't want the fire to burn any further toward houses to the East and were successful, but it got amazingly close.

They didn't fly planes at night so they slowed the fire as much as they could and crossed their fingers at night. More sun downer winds and they wouldn't have been able to stop it. We still have major flare ups to our west which are bringing huge smoke plumes, red sunsets and ash.

The link below has some amazing photos of the firefighting that went on in the Gap fire in Goleta, near Santa Barbara and Big Sur.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/07/californias_continuing_fires.html

Jim Madox writes:

I got to fly the Alternator on July 4th, in spite of the fire. I drove to the "T" wanting to fly really bad. I hadn't flown' in a while. Unfortunately, no one else showed up, so I drove up just thinking I would take pictures. When I arrived, the cycles were perfect and I could not resist. I was desperate. I figured that I could just land at Robins. Better judgment came over me, however, I am not one to be a rebel.

I thought, just for a fluke, I would call to get the mountain window open. Maybe, I was worried for nothing. I knew eventually the area would be closed down, but maybe it was still open. You never know until you try right? Besides, I would be able to report the situation to everyone directly from the control tower. To my surprise, the tower said I could fly, but I had to do something for them!

Yes, it is a spoof.