We think our house is ok, as some people down and across the road stayed in their house and said that the fire circled the hill that our house is on without touching it. No, Doug, I didn't think to bring my poster, but it should still be ok. Pepper is safe, I found his Petco carrier box that he came home in when we bought him (it is small and portable), and we packed up his big cage in the back of the extra truck. He is currently sleeping in his big cage in the spare room I am staying in (I am in my cousin Jason's room, as he is off to college). We were forced to leave our three cats, but we left a lot of food out for them (for thefew days we planned onbeing gone) and just hoped that the fire didn't hit our house. They should still be there, and have food (as they are outside cats, the only difference is that theyhaven't seen us).My college was closed down Monday and Tuesday (yesterday and today) and I need to check online if it will be open tomorrow. I am not sure of what they'll do, as many freewways are still shut down.

Nyssa and Adelle live in the heart of town, and away from leafy foliage, so they stayed. I don't know how they are breathing as the air quality is so poor, but they and their house are safe.

Yes, Hannah had to evacuate too. She evacuated with her family to Clairemonte (they are staying at her Grandma's house). They had enough time to pack some of their clothes and more important things. They packed up Emma too and put her in an animal carrier. She is safely with them, but grumpy.Hannah's house in on the side of town that the fires burned, so we don't know yet if it is ok. No one in town that stayed can check for us, because that side of town has been blocked off due to the fires.

Oh wait, I just I called Hannah and she said thatour friends Nyssa and Adelle drove into the fire area (they snuck in somehow) and said that her house is safe. She also said Emma is happily adjusted to her Grandma's house. She is currently sleeping on someone's bed, under their sheets.Hannah was able to grab her frogs too. Her last beta died before the evacuation, so she only had to move the frogs.

So both of our houses are safe, which is quite the miracle as they were both quite near fire zones. We don't know if our church has burned down yet, or how many members and staff have had their houses burned down. The church staff is going to have an emergency meeting to assess the damage and start helping people whose houses have burned...as soon as we are allowed back in Ramona. Both of our families have decided that as soon as they allow people to re-enter Ramona, we are going back in. We don't want to burden the people we are staying with, and we need to take care of things at home.

Doug thank you so much for your prayers, and please thank your mom and your church for me. So far, the prayers seemed to have worked because the fires have come close to both of our houses and then stopped. Houses that were just two or so streets down from Hannah's house burned, and I heard that the fire circled the back ridgeof the hill by our house. Still, there is a lot of praying to be done as a lot of people have lost their homes and the fire is still burning in Ramona and the rest of San Diego County. It was estimated yesterday that 1/4 of San Diego County had been evacuated. That is all of the news I can think of so far that is important. Thanks so much for your concern, and know that Hannah and I (and our families) are both safe.

Love,
Jessica