Another Inferno!

SANTA BARBARA BEFORE THE FLAMES
This is the famous pair of copper dolphins at the
Stern's wharf, home to famous restaurants.

This is the the "Jesusita" fire, creeping down the hillside toward the town of Santa Barbara.
Molten aluminum has flowed from the wheels of a burned-out car, in front of a home destroyed after the Jesusita fire swept through Santa Barbara, Calif., Thursday, May 7, 2009.
(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Towering Palm Trees explode as flames jump across state highway 154 early Friday morning May 8, 2009, in Santa Barbara, Calif., bringing the fire dangerously close to heavily populated areas. A wildfire raging along coastal mountain slopes burned more homes Friday as it expanded in two directions along a five-mile front, and mandatory evacuation orders grew to encompass some 30,500 people, authorities said. Thousands more were urged to be ready to move on a moment's notice.

Over 30,000 people have been evacuated, with more evacuations expected at any time.
They have a "sundowner" wind effect which happens when the warm air meets the cooler ocean air and creates wind overnight. The winds hamper the firefighters, Santa Barbara has had extremely high temps, in the high 90's and low 100's. It's usually 75-85 degrees.

Santa Barbara is rich in Californian history. The fire is threatening the mission and a lot of other historical sites. A lot of dignitaries own homes in this area, and I know, they understand the risk they're taking because these fires are also part of Santa Barbara's history.

My daughters and I visited Santa Barbara just a year ago, staying in a hotel just across from the famous pier. It is one of my favorite places to go for a short trip. We drove up in the hills and saw so many very beautiful estates. It's heartbreaking... It's also home to one of the largest polo clubs. All of those horses stabled there have to be relocated, along with all of the family pets.

Please pray for the folks of Santa Barbara and the 2500 firefighters that are laying their lives on the line....