In back was the dark line of some sort of low vegetation like salt cedar.

The so-called Kearny River Fire broke out on Wednesday and burned through a dry riverbed heavy with volatile salt cedar trees.

The funeral was a graveside service, set among the sycamores and salt cedars of the cemetery.

I drove for miles, until I was all alone along a vast stretch of empty dunes and scrub, salt cedars.

"No traffic cops lying in wait until we approach Salt Cedar."

I got out, carrying the radio, and walked through the dunes toward the line of brush and scrubby salt cedars back from the beach.