Ring of Fire, Land of Drought

From coast to coast, America is experiencing natural disaster.  On the West Coast wildfires are spread at an enormous rate.  My good friend Caleb who is teaching at Pepperdine, along with the rest of the school, was evacuated Sunday, and the fires south in San Diego County are taking over that region of California.  This morning Mark Lauterbach, who pastors a church in San Diego, provided this update:

San Diego County

Witch Fire: About 196,420 acres in northern San Diego County from Witch Creek to Rancho Santa Fe. One percent contained; 500 homes, 100 businesses and 50 outbuildings destroyed; 375 other structures damaged, including 250 homes and 75 businesses. Two civilians and 12 firefighters injured.

Harris Fire: About 72,000 acres 70 miles southeast of San Diego north of the border town of Tecate. 10 percent contained; 200 homes destroyed; 2,000 homes and 500 commercial properties threatened. One civilian killed, 21 civilians and five firefighters injured.

Rice Fire: At least 7,500 acres in Fallbrook in northern San Diego County. 10 percent containment; 206 homes and 2 commercial properties destroyed. One firefighter injured.

Poomacha Fire: 20,000 acres on the La Jolla Indian Reservation and in northeastern San Diego County. No containment; 50 homes destroyed and 2,000 homes threatened. Ten firefighters injured.

Camp Pendleton Fire: 6,000 acres on the Marine base north of San Diego. 10 percent contained.

If I did my math correct, that comes to:

301,920 acres burned
1,483 houses or buildings destroyed
51 injured

You can check out this map and see where exactly the fires are burning and spreading.

In the Southeast United States, the drought has reached a real state of emergency.  Gene Bridges writes,

Raleigh, NC has 90 days left, as does Atlanta. Durham, NC has less than 70. The people are in terrible need in these places. Rain making systems are coming this way right now. Please pray the Lord over the weather that he will be merciful and give extended time to these systems where they are most needed. Thank Him for what He is now providing. Do not let us be ungrateful.

You can read more of Gene’s request for prayer and current situation by going here and here.

As the news and media seek to compare how the government and their agencies respond to these crises to that of Katrina, let us pray to the Lord of heaven and earth that he would mercifully work to bring the need rain and relief in these critical areas of our country.