This morning the light had a strange movie-like quality to it due to the recent fires. The smell of smoke is everywhere and there was ash on my car, even though I live 20 miles from the nearest fire. Seventeen thousand acres is a big area and a lot of incinerated trees. Living in L.A. is always a strange mix of extremes: near-perfect non-weather 95% of the time, punctuated by fires, earthquakes, mudslides and the once-a-century deluge. It’s like Mother Nature sings you a lullaby, kisses you goodnight – then jabs you with a hat pin.

UPDATE: It looks like there’s a fire in Burbank as well, only two miles from my home, and that’s the culprit. Hopefully they put these things out in a hurry.