I pray for all the courageous firefighters and the law enforcement personnel who are risking their lives to protect everyone from this disaster. I also pray for those people that lost everything right before Christmas. It has touched my heart so profoundly, I just signed up with the Red Cross to volunteer, wanting to help those that really need it now.

I am only 5 minutes from Ventura and I can't even be outside... The heaviness of the smoke burns the eyes and so does the pieces of ash flying through the air.

You are a good-hearted person, volunteer Debbie! Those unfortunate people who have lost everything will be immensely grateful for your help. It's a horrible disaster, and I am too far away to lend a hand, but I can donate to the Red Cross. Stay safe!

I am glued to the news. My sis is in Vista, son El Cajon, son in Norwalk, friends in Oceanside where I use to reside by Camp Pendleton. It truly is sickening.

Good post, Debbie! I'm glad you're volunteering. We have friends and relatives all over the southern California area and we always worry when the winds are high and the fires are bad.

It is heartbreaking seeing the immense devastation from those wildfires. My thoughts and prayers are with all those in the fire zones, especially those who have lost their homes and belongings. Prayers are also with the heroes who are doing their very best to protect homes and lives. I saw one news report recently of a firefighter who was on duty, working to control fires in one area when he got a call from a friend telling him that his home was destroyed by one of the fires.

Stay safe Debbie It is heart wrenching seeing all the fire damage. Same with everyone, monitoring the news. I have relatives and friends down there in SoCal.

Seeing the forecast seems the fires will run to Christmas day is just so sad to think about. Hoping the usual marine layer tries to get into the coast and inland to help cool down the area and slow down the fires somehow.

This past Sunday my boyfriend and I drove through the area that was devastated by the fire. No words can even begin to describe what I saw. There were many signs that people wrote and attached to lamp posts (or anywhere that they could) thanking the firefighters. The air quality here is still so horrible everybody walks around with a mask covering their nose and mouth cuz it feels like it's burning your lungs and everything. Over a week and its only 35% contained. It is the 4th largest fire in CA history.

Thanks for the update, Debbie. It is heart wrenching, and with the climate changes I'm afraid this will be happening all too often. I hope the winds will die down so they can get them under control.

Here are a couple of pictures that Debbie took last Sunday. It looks like a real health hazard even for people not in the fire areas!

Here is what gets me.. a lot of bad people scam the good people over the phone in whatever capacity, but especially now with these people that were devastated by the fires?People are capitalizing off of other people's misfortune and trying to scam them and posing as Edison employees, Southern CA Gas, etc. Is that sick or what? Shame on those dishonest people. I never wish bad things on people, however, I hope worse happens to those idiots and they get a taste of their own medicine... times a thousand.

It is sad that disasters bring out the worst of the worst people. Try to focus on how the disasters also bring out a lot of kind and caring people who do what they can to help others.

Exactly. It truly is heartwarming to see all the people pitching in to help with whatever is needed. Things like that renew my faith in humanity. I just went to go feed the cats where I lived, and in that short walk, I had to put my mask on.

JuneOntario said:You are a good-hearted person, volunteer Debbie! Those unfortunate people who have lost everything will be immensely grateful for your help. It's a horrible disaster, and I am too far away to lend a hand, but I can donate to the Red Cross. Stay safe!

You are a kind hearted person wanting to make a donation. With all the people that they are helping, I'm sure resources are stretched very thin. They would appreciate it more than you know.

Just now heard on the news that the Thomas fire is 50% contained and almost 272,000 acres burned, and also shows it still raging on.