STEVE INSKEEP, host:
At least some daily rhythms are returning to normal in Southern California.
Like the mail route of Sherry Flores in Santiago Canyon. Here's what she saw when she returned to work.
Ms. SHERRY FLORES (Mailwoman, Santiago Canyon): The Mountains were just black, just basically all burnt.
INSKEEP: Sherry Flores was off the job for about a week. But at the height of the flames, she did deliver the mail until the last possible minute.
Ms. FLORES: My last delivery was on Williams Canyon, and then I got stuck because the fire crossed the road so I couldn't go back to the post office. And so I got to come back and then report back to the, you know, the people on Williams. I'm, like, you guys, you know, you need to go. It's across the road and it's coming our way.
INSKEEP: Postal carrier Sherry Flores says her customers are also her friends.
Ms. FLORES: When I was coming out of Majestic Canyon on Monday, they were all standing on the corner. They were all cheering me. Which was funny. It's like, you know… But I just couldn't believe I was still delivering out there. You know the saying - well, they added fire to it. Nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor fire will stop the Postal Service.
INSKEEP: That's Santiago Canyon mail carrier Sherry Flores, who delivered the mail as long as she could and is now back at work, despite California's fires. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.