This morning my family happened to be on I-5 heading north through the city to the I-80 Westbound. I looked over my shoulder into the left lane, and there was a classic-style fire engine, ornate and gleaming, leading a convoy that stretched at least half a mile down the highway. All the vehicles in the convoy were different sizes of firefighting trucks and vehicles. My daughter called out Arizona plates on one of the vehicles. They appeared to be traveling north—to either the Butte or the Shasta-Trinity county fires.

I couldn’t help but feel some sort of relief in seeing these folks. Based on the air quality and the fire-marathons we’ve been observing, their help is much needed. I hope this convoy and the international groups coming in can make some headway. It has been a long, smoggy summer so far.

I’m crossing my fingers for containment.