Last year, Carlsbad Magazine featured an eight-page pictorial in the January/February 2007 issue on “The Santa Effect.” The layout showed photographs of the dramatic sunsets and offshore conditions brought on by the powerful, heated winds that channel through local mountain passes, including the Santa Ana Canyon, where the winds get their name.

This year, our pictorial shows the effects in Carlsbad of unparalleled and relentless Santa Ana winds that ripped through San Diego County, causing the wildfires of October 2007—the worst in California’s history. We learned new terminology, such as Reverse 911—phone calls sent out to a half million county residents, alerting them of potential danger or the need to immediately evacuate. The smoke and ash fell like snow flurries; coating lawns, cars and homes with a tangible reminder that California was up in flames. Although Carlsbad acted as a refuge to many displaced by the fires, these images of smoke and crimson skies help us pay tribute and remember those who lost their lives and homes in Firestorm 2007. •

Photographer • Lorenzo Menendez		Photographer • David Haninger

Photographer • Sam Wells		Photographer • Lorenzo Menendez

Photographer • Sam Wells		Photographer • David Haninger

Photographer • David Haninger		Photographer • David Haninger