Southern California Fires, October 26 Taken around I-5 Corridor and downtown My relief was short-lived. As I entered the Del Mar area heading south on the I-5, I could see ominous plumes of smoke to the West. When I got to my apartment (near downtown) the sky was so dark that I needed to turn on lights in my apartment. It wasn't the best day in the world for breathing, though I'm sure it's worse closer to the fires. By Sunday evening the nearest fires are probably about 5-7 miles northeast from me. The first two pictures were taken from my porch in August and September of 2000, and give you a better idea of what the skies typically look like.