Two Wildfires Prompt Evacuations, Smoke in Parts of L.A.

Los Angeles has had some hazy and reddish smoke layer in some parts yesterday. That usually leads to brilliant sunsets, but they are a sign of nothing good. The two wildfires burning north in Santa Barbara and Shasta counties have grown to be "out of control," as characterized by the LA Times. Since last Saturday, the fire burning in the Los Padres Mountains 26 miles east of Santa Maria has burned some 40,000 acres prompting about 150 evacuations. Winds and inaccessible terrain has hampered firefighter efforts. Further up north north of Santa Cruz, a 2,800-acre blaze that began on Wednesday has pushed 2,000 from their hillside homes as officials mostly attack from the air.