It's almost Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. A quiet time for giving thanks to God. In the maze of life, the strange wandering we all do, there are such perplexities as the Camp Fire that, as it turns out, did not destroy all of Paradise. Consider this excerpt from another blog I found: The randomness of … Continue reading Thanksgiving: The Fire Did Not Destroy All of Paradise

Dear Friends, The Camp Fire that burned up the beautiful town of Paradise (population 27,000) near Chico (about 80 miles southeast of Redding) now ranks as the deadliest fire that the United States of America has suffered in a century. To give you some perspective, the second worst fire in California history killed 29 people … Continue reading The Nation’s Deadliest Fire in a Century

Dear Friends, Until now, I have been too numb, too shocked, to write about the Camp Fire, the most devastating fire that California has ever seen. On Thursday November 8, 2018, this speed-fire -- within eight hours--engulfed, gulped down, and swallowed whole the 27,000 population, beautiful town called Paradise, which lies about 90 miles away from … Continue reading Paradise Lost: New Worst Fire Ever in CA Still Burning

Friends, I cannot imagine how extremely tired California firefighters yet must be.  Although the Carr Fire is 100% contained, there are three more active fires near Redding:  the Kerlin fire, the Hirz fire, and the Delta fire. Kerlin Fire is a relatively small wildfire west of Redding in the Trinity Mountains.  It has burned about 1625 acres, … Continue reading New Fires Near Redding

"But the wicked will perish, and the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures.  They vanish--like smoke, they vanish away." With 69% of the Carr fire contained, the smoke here in Redding is dissipating, vanishing away.  Though it hovered over us so oppressively for never-ending hours of over-heated days, the … Continue reading Good-Bye Carr Fire

Dear Friends, The Carr fire has attracted the attention of President Trump who has approved the release of federal funding for victims of the Carr fire. Over the weekend, the Carr spewed out 18 more fires to the north.  Soon the huge conflagration will catch up with them.  You can count them yourself by looking … Continue reading White House Involvement Now

Dear Friends, CNN provides a jaw-dropping map of the Carr fire.  They show how it grew from being small and west of Redding to outrageously flooding toward Redding as a huge sea of fire that tried to drown our city.  If you watch the CNN site three or four times, which only takes a matter … Continue reading Oh My Gosh, Watch How the Fire Grew

It is just after midnight, the beginning of August 3rd, and the air quality in Redding has improved by 80 points.  The toxins are vanishing almost as rapidly as the speed of the onset of the fire.  Voila!  I was so taken aback by the change in the atmosphere that I went straight to the … Continue reading Amazing Progress Putting Out the Fire

Late July 2018 is now historically infamous in Redding.  The Carr fire started on July 23rd as a no-threat fire in Whiskeytown that officials thought would be quenched on the same day it began.  But now it's August 2nd, and the fire has burned through 126,000 acres.  Even with help from 176 fire fighters from … Continue reading Listen How Two Firefighters Died

Good morning, Friends. Thank you again so much for your prayers. A friend of mind sent me this photo that says more than I can say. Thankfully, the firefighters continue to make progress. The fire is now 35% contained, but is on its way to becoming one of the Top Five worst fires in California … Continue reading Panoramic Photo of Redding’s Hellfire

With 6 people killed, 4 people missing, 884 homes consumed, 112,000+ acres burned (over 172 square miles), and more than $25 million spent on battling the fire with 70% of it still out of control, the Carr fire now ranks as the 6th worst fire in California history. As a resident of Redding, the past … Continue reading Sixth Worst Fire in Cal History

Dear Friends, As of yesterday the Carr fire ranks as the 9th worst fire in California history. Over 800 homes so far have been devoured along with almost 104,000 acres. And it is now 23% contained. Currently it is mostly burning to the north, but its gigantic dragon puffs and atmospheric layers of particle-filled smoke … Continue reading Ninth Worst Fire in Cal History

Dear Friends, The active fire is burning about 14 miles from our home (as opposed to 8.8 miles as before), so things look better for Redding. The Carr fire is still 80% out of control, but thankfully 20% contained. A few communities are repopulating such that two of our evacuees get to move back home. … Continue reading Carr Fire near Redding: Day 8

Thank you to all who care to read this, and especially to those who are praying. About 38,000 people have evacuated. That's a lot for Redding, a city of 92,000 residents. But I guess if you count the outskirts, we probably number well over 120,000 or so. Still, at least a quarter of us are … Continue reading Monster Fire Day 7 in Redding

This, my second post, is occasioned by California's ongoing fire catastrophe. So here's what I have learned. First of all, the number of homes devoured by the Carr fire in the Redding area is not yet accurately known, but it appears to be over 150. Whole neighborhoods have been wiped out. Authorities have figured out … Continue reading Monster Fire Doubled in Size

​Grace and peace to all who choose to read this, my first post. Below is an adaptation of an email I sent out on July 27th, 2018 about the fire near Redding that is located just west of Interstate 5. The fire doubled in size on Tuesday and tripled in size last night. That's why … Continue reading Monster Fire in Redding, CA