Woke up to the smell of smoke yesterday....
Hopped outside to see what I could see- looked north about an hour away and could see a brushfire starting up in the hills. Pretty common sight in this area this time of year.
Pop on the tube and grab a cup of joe...veiwing the ground from the chopper-cam I notice a very familiar road, then the canyon, then.......my favorite outdoor range surrounded by flames.
It was horryfiing.
The blaze started about 2:00 a/m...they suspect arson. The news crews never failed to mention at least every 3 mins 'the blaze first started by a gun range'.....arse-hats. They also failed to mention the place is a ghost-town after 5:00 p/m. It was probably arson and if it started at/near the range at 2:00 a/m, it would be charred wreckage by 7:00 a/m, not surounded by fire. The media here is truly clue-less.
This Range is an icon for me as well as a respite from the total insanity of L.A.
For me it's an island of normalcy, decency and discipline...and mutal respect among peers. It's sort of a 'temple' for me out here during the week- I never see a squid here during that time, just regular-Joe's sighting in, chrony'ing, testing a new build or just plain enjoying the facility and the Sport.
I may or may not be able to do some sighting-in up there Friday. But that is not really a factor right now, my thoughts are with Paula and Kevin right now....I called but can't get through, I hope they are ok and so is the Range- it's an owner-opperator type of deal and the employees sacrafice a lot to keep it and the sport they love so much alive in the sea of adversity that is So. Cal.
cbs2.com/firewatch/mar...38817.html
I hope the rats get caught and get a hemp neck-tie for their trouble.
Viva Angeles Ranges.