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I just can't get over the idea that all these fires broke out on the first day of this years Santa Ana winds. Two days ago it rained on me in Moorpark and today we've got independent fires near Moorpark College, in the Santa Susana Pass (and Calabasas) and in Moreno Valley.

I've been trying to catch up with the fires around the area ever since Sarah alerted me to the rest of the world when she got home from work. We left shortly afterward for Harley's and as we drove into Simi Valley on Tierra Rejada Road, the two fires on the east side of the valley were distinct. Traffic was a mess, probably because of the 118 freeway closure through the Santa Susana Pass. The traffic on southbound 23 exceeded the usual morning rush hour problem and was still at a virtual standstill as far north as Tierra Rejada and probably looped around to the 118 and back into Simi.

At the bowling alley, the topic of conversation was the fire near Moorpark College. Several people live in the area and had stories to tell about some tense moments this afternoon.

It seemed impossibly hot as we left Harley's at about 8:30 this evening. The smell of smoke in the air served as a reminder to what was happening outside the little cocoon we'd lived in for the last couple hours. As we drove north west out of Simi, the southern fire was burning brightly on the east side.

There's a lot of confusion. KCAL is the only station doing local coverage (FOX might be doing so now). KCAL has talked about the fire burning south and west, both into Ventura County and into Agoura. This part of a VCStar article confused me...

A 100-acre fire burned through brush in the Chatsworth area of Northwest Los Angeles County getting close to the Ventura County line before it was contained early Thursday, authorities said.

I read that about 10 PM which is still Wednesday. Yeah, OK, wire services but it still caught me at first.

Either way, nothing seems contained at this point.