Fire On The Mountain & Hurricane Jimena

I will let all the BNers from LA chime in wrt to the fire on the LA mountains, which is fast becoming a national story. captainqtp posted the google map which allows you to see how close they are to the Rose Bowl. Right now they are about 4 miles away. Here is the official statement from UCLA:

Our first concern is for the families affected by the fires and for the men and women fighting those fires.

At this time, the plan is to play Saturday's football game versus San Diego State at the Rose Bowl as scheduled. We are in constant contact with City of Pasadena authorities and will continue to monitor the situation.

Jon Gold from the Daily News also posted the following updates earlier this pm:

*UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero and SDSU AD Jeff Schemmel are in constant contact regarding the fires.
*After going through the same situation in 2007 - fires knocked the SDSU's game against BYU from Oct. 27 to Dec. 1 - the Aztecs are certainly understanding.
*As of Monday morning, both programs are far away from a point of no return.
*Wednesday will likely be the day they make the decision.
*With the two schools being located so close, with no airfare involved, makes travelling a lot easier.
*But they haven't gone down that path yet.
*Final comments: "To be honest, it's too early in the week for talk about cancellation. Today's call was to bring everyone up to speed. There will be continuous contact throughout the week."
*"Barring a really severe situation, this will go away."

There is also apparently a hurricane that is heading towards Baja that Southern Californians (from San Diego area specifically) might want to be on the look out for - Hurricane Jimena:

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA FROM BAHIA MAGDALENA SOUTHWARD ON THE WEST COAST...AND FROM SAN EVARISTO SOUTHWARD ON THE EAST COAST...INCLUDING CABO SAN LUCAS. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED
TO COMPLETION.

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA NORTH OF BAHIA MAGDALENA ON THE WEST COAST TO PUNTA ABREOJOS...AND NORTH OF SAN EVARISTO TO MULEGE ON THE EAST COAST. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE CENTRAL BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA AND IN WESTERN MAINLAND MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF JIMENA.

Yeah, I know. I should ban myself from BruinsNation for using the word "hurricane" in the context of scheduling of UCLA football games. But just passing on what I am hearing and reading because who knows that could be a potential factor for folks in San Diego.

Here is to our brave men and women from Southern California's fire department who are laying everything on the line. Of course one of them happens to be our very own - Manuel White - who graduated from Pasadena's Fire Academy last year. Wherever you are good luck and stay safe Manny.

Honestly, I think at this point we should hold tight and watch for the official word and see how it plays out in next few days. 

GO BRUINS.