The Fat Lady Ain't Even On Stage, But...

I'm proud of my neighbors here.

San Diego claims to be "America's Finest City". If you live anywhere else and take pride in where you live, you might look at that as mere bravado.

I don't.

I called my best friend Bear when I saw his house was surrounded by the mandatory evacuation areas, and he answered his cell phone from his friend's front lawn, miles from his own house. His friend is out of town, but the friend's house is located closer to the Harris Fire, so Bear was up there to break in and get the guy's belongings out if the fire got too close. Just hanging out on the front lawn with a hose.

Thousands of people spent last night at Qualcom Stadium, where there is no shortage of food, water, and bedding being brought in by voluntary donation. In fact, several local bands set up there and kept folks entertained, while dozens of area massage therapists offered free massage to evacuees. The atmosphere there has been described as "festive" by the press, and though people are worried about their homes, they're calm and well-behaved.

A local company which makes respirators and face masks donated 30,000 masks to the Office of Emergency Services, which will allow responders to work more comfortably in the hardest-hit areas, and provide an opportunity for damage assessment teams to go in earlier.

As of noon today, 513,000 people had been evacuated from their homes... Roughly one in twelve San Diegans... And there have been exactly zero reports of looting or mayhem. Zero.

We still have several days of fire and destruction ahead of us, but right now? Right now, I'm so proud of my neighbors.

This truly is America's Finest City.