"Thank you heros" read a the words in neon orange, painted onto a plank propped against the corner of Modjeska Canyon Road and, ominously, Shadowland. The spelling was off, but the sentiment was genuine.
Photographer Christopher Victorio and I stood with our cameras at the side of the road, watching as two L.A. County Fire vehicles drove past the thank you note, each full of California inmates clad in orange.
Moments earlier, fire crew supervisor and 25-year LAFD vet Curt Hummel stopped to chat with us as his charges sat on the side of the road, taking a 15-minute break. The crew alternates between KFI and KFWB for news of the fire.
Hummel and his crew battled the Malibu flames on Sunday, and drove down to help at the OC fireline on Tuesday. They're in better shape than they have been in previous days, says Hummel, who managed to get a whopping seven hours of sleep last night.
"Crews are stretched so thin right now that there are twice as many fires as there are crews," he said. So Gov. Schwarzenegger authorized the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to send their inmates out to help firefighters.
What do they get out of it? About $1/hr and two days off their sentences for every day served, Terry Thornton of the CDCR told the Weekly. More than 75 of these inmates are currently working on the Santiago Fire. (Update at 5 p.m. 226 are at the Santiago Fire.)
More details behind the cut:
The Orange County Fire Authority reports that the Santiago blaze is 
To catch an arsonist: "We will hunt down the people responsible for (the Santiago Fire). We will not fail," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said over the weekend. "If I were one of those people who started the fire, I would not sleep soundly." Strong words, but how much weight do they carry? Four years ago, a man was witnessed starting the fire that killed four people and burned more than 200 homes in San Bernardino. 
Most reports are characterizing the federal response to the California fires as respectable --- or at least not a Katrina-style fuck up. So it's too bad FEMA had to go and embarrass itself by having 
If you're among the praying, the Council on American-Islamic Relations invites ye of any faith to join in a special prayer at the 
If you call the eternal inferno of hell your home, the fires that have so far scorched 
Tonight the Weekly drove past roadblocks on Santiago Canyon Road to see the destruction left by the blaze firsthand. What we saw was depressing, but the planes spewing fire retardant overhead were a hopeful sight. Photos 
In the wake of the deadly, devastating fires burning from Ventura County down to San Diego County, one can’t help but feel for the victims. OC Weekly and LA Weekly have teamed up to give a voice to these victims as well as those close to them. 
The folks over at the Register are doing a fine job reporting on the massive Orange County arson fire that’s threatening to keep firefighters at work for another two days as winds approaching hurricane force continue to pound the region. Residents in Foothill Ranch are the latest to see their neighborhood in the path of a fire that’s consumed 8,800 acres in less than 18 hours. Reg reporters say that Orange County Fire Authority officials found three ignition points at Santiago Canyon Road near Lake Irvine. The arsonist must be sadistically thrilled. At one point last night, three miles of brush burned in 30 minutes, according to the paper. OC state Assemblyman Todd Spitzer is frustrated that more helicopter resources haven’t been available to fight the blaze. (Perhaps the taxpayer-funded pilots are busy whisking around Sheriff Michael S. Carona and some woman to a mountain site or simply spying on citizens again.) The Associated Press reported this afternoon that 1,000 inmates at the James Musick Facility were evacuated because of heavy smoke. Residents who've been displaced are staying in shelters. Anyone who knows the identity of the turd who committed this crime should call 800-540-8282.
As the sun rose this morning over Orange County, a huge plume of smoke near Irvine painted the horizon an eerie orange, blue, brown and gray. Renewed Santa Ana wind gusts up to 45 mph whistled through neighborhoods, blew trash cans down streets and slammed into palm trees seemingly ready to pop from the ground. Fallen trees rested on top of cars in Santa Ana and Orange, and presented hurdles for other drivers. Pete Weitzner at Daybreak OC reported early today that government officials called the fire, which has quickly consumed nearly 9,000 acres, the work of a late Sunday afternoon arsonist. More than 400 fire fighters continue to battle the crisis and evacuated several neighborhoods including in North Tustin, Lemon Heights and Cowan Heights. Irvine's Northpark is in the path of the fire. Some roadways are closed including portions of the 241, 261 and 133. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. Register photographers have done excellent work capturing images. The National Weather Service says “strong hot dry damaging” winds up to 85 mph will continue throughout Monday and will “slowly weaken" tonight. Ocean waves are expected to reach five and six feet. Officials also advise drivers to beware of blowing dust and sand that can drastically reduce visibility. Irvine resident Bryan Kerns told KCBS/KCAL last night, “I've never seen anything expand as rapidly as this thing has. In fact, it looks like it's winding its way down into the community there. It's unbelievable." 7:45 AM UPDATE: At a morning press conference, fire department officials say they've contained 30 percent of the blaze.