Say some prayers

[flar]

See those houses on the hill through the smoke? That's where Bill (shinysideup) lives. I've heard that neighborhood was evacuated, so hopefully he should be safe...

[flar]

By the time I took that picture, the fire was already dying down and it was reported as contained not too long ago - the streets are still blocked off to cars, though, as they chase down all of the little smoldering pieces and chop down some trees that are dead.  It doesn't show in that picture, but the entire hillside over (actually "next to" in that picture) that neighborhood burned with a fast moving brush fire...

[flar]

And for something remotely closer to "on topic" - if your neighborhood ever catches on fire, then think of how much safer it would be escaping the blaze on an electric motorcycle compared to a rolling pyrotechnic fuel bomb!

[protomech]

If it gets hot enough to ignite fuel, it's hot enough to cause a thermal shutdown for both the bike and you.

Hope all's well.

[flar]

All is well.  No houses (or schools) burned:

http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local/crews-fighting-3-alarm-grass-fire-south-sf/nZqKm/

As for escape plans, my humorous attempts at staying on topic in the Off Topic forum were only constructed to Hollywood standards - please suspend disbelief. 

[Shinysideup]

Thanks, Jim: I'm in  Basel, Switzerland, well out of harm's way.

I don't recognize that location with the flagpole. The trees in the background look like the stand of eucalyptus by the school. If so, that would certainly account for the fire being described as "smoky". 50 acres is substantial; I'm glad they got it under control.

I'm happy to hear my house is still standing and that my Empulse (on topic!) is intact.

Lots of electric bicycles in Basel, but no electric motorycles or scooters. Wide open market!