The sheer magnitude of the fires that continue to rage across Southern California.
When I heard first a report on KCRW-FM of a fire that had broken out in Malibu Sunday morning, I had no idea that the situation would erupt into what's quickly becoming one of the worst fire disasters in California history. As my buddies and I headed out for a morning surf at El Porto, a surf break south of LAX, I began to realize the severity of the situation. The Malibu point, usually visible on a clear day from Porto, was hidden behind a wall of smoke.
But today, as I watch the nearly continuous coverage of the dozen or so fires that are burning between Santa Clarita to the north, down to San Diego -- I'm humbled by nature's fury.
CNN.com has a spectacular slide-show of photos, with many submitted by viewers who have been forced to seek higher ground as the flames continued their relentless approach.
