Eastbay, Your observations about the fires are accurate. United States fire fighting policy has altered the nature of our wildlands. Fires now burn hotter and do more damage because of this unatural buildup of vegetation. Of course the public in general, all through this period has been behind this tatic of fighting fires as soon as they start. On the one hand its a natural thing for people to do, fight fires and keep them from damaging things but in doing so we are now seeing the consequences of this policy. DCR, Yesterday while driving home from work I was looking out to the Northwest and saw a large clould on the horizen. I thought that it was odd since there were no other clouds out in that direction. It looked like a thunderhead but now I think it may have been the fire cloud from that fire your talking about. Is that right and if so you must have been able to see that clould better than me being much closer to it?