Every year, after a hot summer, there is a major chance of brush fires in the Southern California region. This year (2007) was one of the driest years on record and, consequently during this month of October there is a severe "Red Flag" fire warning in effect due to 70mph Santa Ana winds blowing off the desert. This has resulted in major brush fires to erupt throughout Southern California, causing a great loss of structures and vegetation. Denuded hillsides will result in mud slides when the rains finally come.

THE FIRE SEASON

The smoke’s so thick, I cannot breath,
Summer couldn’t be much drier,
It is the season - please believe,
California’s on fire!

The desert winds come in so strong,
Through canyons to the sea.
It doesn’t take so very long,
That there’s nothing left to see.

The flames grow fast and reach much higher,
There goes another home.
It burns just like a funeral pyre,
And on the fire does roam.

A church is next to go I fear,
Its structure can’t be spared.
The fire’s so hot my skin does sear,
I’m feeling very scared.

The water dropping planes try hard,
But the wind blows it away.
And everything just looks so charred,
With all the structures, grey.

The men in yellow fight the flames,
But get beaten back again.
The fire another structure claims,
Please God! Let there be rain!

And yet, the fire-line marches on,
There is no end in sight.
Another fiery spot is spawn,
But still those firemen fight.

The flames reach almost to the coast.
There’s plenty water there.
But structures still go up like toast,
We offer up a prayer.

Now several days have gone and passed,
And things have quietened down.
The wind has lessened from a blast,
As green turns black and brown.

The firemen take a long earned rest,
And view what nature’s done.
They’ve worked so hard and done their best,
But don’t believe they’ve won.

And every year it’s just the same,
The fire wins every time.
There isn’t anyone to blame,
It’s nature’s wilful crime.

Over a thousand houses were destroyed in San diego alone.