Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency as dozens of wildfires sweep across seven counties of California. The ground has been left tinder-dry following a record-breaking heat wave in July, and the flames are being fanned by strong winds. At least one person has died and dozens have been injured as a result of the fires, and thousands more are being evacuated from their homes. The fires have destroyed around 35,000 acres of land, and 1500 fire-fighters have been called in to tackle the blaze.

Quote: "All 36,000 residents of Ramona, north-east of San Diego, were ordered to leave their homes as another blaze razed more than 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares), said San Diego sheriff's office spokesman Phillip Brust. "I can't ever remember doing this," Mr Brust said. "This fire is crazy." In seaside Malibu, several buildings were destroyed and thousands of local residents evacuated as flames swept across the hills overlooking the ocean.

My dear friend in California had a close brush with wildfires near her home not so long ago. Praise God that she was preserved, although this recent news concerns me. Only a few months ago Greece declared a national emergency as wildfires spread across the country. Help had to be brought in from Europe and further afield. The cause of many of the Greek fires might have been arson, but the drought conditions resulted in the situation getting out of hand. Revelation 8:7 states that during the tribulation period, around one third of the earth's vegetation will be burned up, and the cause will be hail and fire mingled with blood cast upon the earth. The record heatwaves across Europe and the US in the earlier part of this year have proven that this apocalyptic scenario is entirely possible.

Exodus 9:23-25
And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that [was] in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. 

This from my friend Kathie...

Source BBC