LOS ANGELES CA, Oct 27, 2003/ FW/ --- The Mercedes Benz Shows L.A. has not even started yet, but real life drama has begun.

Forest fires in Southern California had left 12 people dead, over 500 homes and structures destroyed, and razed almost 300,000 acres of forestland.

Airports in the Southern California area were closed, and flights were cancelled.

As a result, I was not able to leave Dallas yesterday, as scheduled. Thanks to my very able assistant David, he was able to find an alternate route – fly in to Phoenix, then catch a connecting flight to Palm Springs, CA, 82 miles west of Los Angeles.

Heide Winkenwerder, our L.A. Correspondent volunteered to pick me up. She said, “It’s better for me to drive 170 miles round trip and have my editor with me, than have you miss the first day of the shows.”

As I write this, the California forest fires are still raging. The news on TV does not sound promising. Firefighters have only controlled 25% of the fire in one area, while the other areas were only 5% contained.

Watching the land-based and air-based firefighters at work, their professionalism and dedication to duty is very apparent even on the small TV screen. They risk their lives to save lives, property and the forests of California.

And though some would say that they are just doing their jobs, it is a fact that everyone who are involved in trying to control the fires have gone beyond their call of duty.

As I admire the firefighters for their dedication, I also admired my staff for their professionalism and going beyond the call of duty.

Both David and Heide did not have to do what they did. Because of their efforts, I’m now here in Los Angeles, waiting for 6:00 PM to attend the Mercedes Benz SLR presentation at The Standard Downtown.

Covering fashion might look and sound frivolous to other people. But we all take our jobs seriously. As David put it, “We signed up for this. Giving less than 100% on the job is totally unacceptable.”

When David told me that, I remembered what Javier Mateo, our London Bureau Chief and photographer told me a week ago in Paris. “I give 200% on the job. Michelle (our Milan Bureau Chief) gives 200% on the job. You give 200% on the job. Why should you expect anything less from anyone else on your staff?”

I knew Javier was right. And as I sit here in Los Angeles, saddened by the devastation brought on by the forest fires, I found a silver lining on this sad state of affairs, albeit on a personal level. FashionWindows is part of the fashion press and all the members of our staff is dedicated to bring the best fashion coverage to our readers as humanly possible. As an Editor, I cannot ask for anything more.