September 10, 2009
The Bluff Fire
This morning as I sipped my coffee and typed away on my latest project I started to hear the sound of sirens. As the sound got closer and the sirens more numerous I paused and waited. I live on a main street that cuts through town and leads to the hills behind the neighborhood where I live. Quite a few fire trucks rushed by including City of Banning and CDF vehicles. 
As the minutes passed trucks from nearby cities also rushed by. I couldn’t see any smoke, so I gave in, grabbed my camera and heading off on foot to see what was up. 
Up the road, past the cemetary and on out past the homes we had a brush fire in the Mias Canyon. The ground crews were out of my view but the Fire Fighting planes and helicopters were doing an awesome job and I snapped a few pictures. I think they have this one under control but I am sending out my biggest hopes and wishes that our fire fighters stay safe and I hope everyone makes it though the fire season safe and sound!
Snips and Bits from Shelley's Studio 
Suzanne H. said,
September 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Hello Shelley, These are amazing photos. Good for you for capturing them. I can’t believe you actually could WALK close enough to get these. Thanks for sharing.
Suzanne in SLO
Shelley Swanland said,
September 10, 2009 at 4:57 PM
It’s not so far, maybe a mile from my house to where I was standing to take the pictures. Fortunately, there was no wind to speak of and the fire was running up a canyon and not across the fields. I used my little Sanyo camera . Not bad for a camera that fits in my pocket!