Weve been evacuated from our new home due to massive Ventura CA fire

[Hekate]

135. GOOD NEWS! HOUSE IS OKAY, OUTDOOR PLANTS ARE OKAY. OAK TREE SINGED BUT NOT HURT...

After presenting our ID to prove residency, we were initially told to hike in and out, a mile and a half each way, but someone drove by and offered us a ride. She was a neighbor doing shuttle service, because her car was left behind when she evacuated. As long as she didn't go past the barricades she could just keep looping around the valley. As we started examining the yard for hotspots someone else drove by and said the cops were allowing cars in and offered to drive hubby down the hill.

I basically packed what I would have the other night if given some notice: clothes, toiletries, jewelry, dog food... Checkbook.

The inside of the house is FINE, but stinks badly of smoke. Water is on (the entire town must boil it, though) but electricity is not. Some neighbors are staying the night, but not us. High winds are expected tonight, with gusts up to 80 mph in some areas.

In the early adternoon the sun slanting in turned orange. The smoke turned back and filled the valley. We finished filling the station wagon and left.

As to the neighborhood, only one house is gone -- down to the melted steel girders. A lot of landscaping is crispy. The barranca out back burned, all the leaves under the oak are gone.

We are enclosed by hills, and they are absolutely black from top to bottom. The fire encroached on every property. We have been so lucky so far.