Wildfires Ravage California

"Firefighters conceded defeat on many fronts to an unstoppable force that has chased more than 500,000 people from their homes and closed a major interstate connecting Los Angeles." - Foxnews.com

You know, I used to... a long time ago, run with my local volunteer fire department. You want to talk about a proud bunch of men, Engine Truck Company 2 was one of the best in my county. Personally, what fires I saw were car fires and building fires, but I did spend a summer in California trying to get qualified as a woodland's firefighters out there. Needless to say, I didn't make the cut, those guys were some tough characters too.

My point to all this isn't just to wax nostalgic about firefighting, but to consider how hard it must be for those guys out there to throw their hands up in the air and say in effect. "We're getting our asses handed to us."

Defeat may be a bitter pill that we all have to swallow from time to time, but I like to think I know how hard it is for those guys out there to be on the front line and to constantly be pushed back time and time again.

I know that when the wind dies down, the combined forces of the California Department of Forestry, the US Forest Service, National guard and Likely several thousands local and city level wildlands firefighters backed by an armada of Ariel tankers are going to hit back with everything they have and try stop this beast in its tracks. And with them go my prayers, add the prayer's of over a half a million refugees.

But the question is weather or not they will be in time to make a difference.