Update below.

We’ve been keeping you abreast of the evil twins of drought and fire this late summer. Idaho and Montana have been under continuous siege. 2007 is now the second worst fire season in recorded history, led only by 2005. [“60 Minutes” took a look last night.] Now the news strikes home in California. Sunday the news began with of Malibu. [It is still 100% not controlled.] This morning 7 big Southern California counties are being affected:

Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

Meanwhile, the South East, from Virginia to Louisiana, is banning outdoor watering and water intensive businesses, like nurseries, are in trouble. See this cool mouse-roll-over map for a quick look.

Up in the Great Lakes, water level is down by 7 inches with all sorts of implications for life, commercial and environmental.

Update on Fires

The National Interagency Fire Center has updates and names for all the SoCal fires. Nursing homes are being evacuated in some areas.

Update II

[thx Ruth Friend]