There's a wonderful Website, http://yubanet.com/, that give up-to-date information about fires all over California. We're northeast of Sacramento, and the Lowell Fire was about 15 miles from us and across the Bear River, and it's now 100% contained - still smoldering in spots, but not a danger. It burned 2,304 acres. We have friends in the evacuation area, and they're OK.

The biggest fire, the Rocky Fire, is in Lake County, maybe forty miles west of Sacramento. It burned 69,636 acres, over ten square miles. It's now 95% contained. The Jerusalem Fire, also in Lake County, has burned 23,500 acres and is 33% contained.

There are lots of fires in the northernmost part of California, but they're one or two hundred miles away from the Mudcatters I know in Northern California.

Over the years, a number of Mudcatters have lost their homes to fire. It's a scary thing - but for now, all California Mudcatters seem safe.

-Joe-