Fire season started early this year with the horrible combination of 100 degree temps, high winds, no humidity and very dry brush. Matt spent most of last Tuesday evacuating residents from Rancho Santa Fe and went to work Wednesday for a normal work day. However, it turned out to be anything but normal. Fires quickly broke out in Carlsbad, Oceanside, Fallbrook and San Marcos. Within hours a third of San Marcos was being evacuated and Matt was working traffic control to get them out safely. Our friends Mark and Julie, Katie and Aaron and Jen and Carlos were all being evacuated and Matt described it as "Godzilla invading San Marcos".
By night fall, the hills behind Cal State San Marcos were ablaze and resources from across the state came to help. Matt was able to come home to sleep and then was back early to work the command post.
There were some very scary moments for Mark and Julie as the fire came quite close to their home.
They couldn't believe it when they saw their house on the local news with fire quickly approaching. 
Thanks to the amazing work of the firefighters and this drop by a DC10, their home was spared.
Matt was able to send them this text the next morning. They were so grateful for his updates and said the texts and calls kept them sane. Jen and Carlos were in close contact too and so appreciative. It was a great joint effort by the firefighters, law enforcement and volunteers.
We didn't get to see much of Matt this week, but Taylor made sure to let Matt know how proud she was too!
By this afternoon, most of San Marcos was back home and Julie and Katie got their friends and families together to make this very sweet sign. It was even the Picture of the Day on Fox news!
This one hit close to home and I'm so proud of all of the heroes involved, but especially the one I am lucky enough to call my husband!!
