A Little Too Close For Comfort.

Yesterday while at Seniors

I got the word that a fire had started

in the small community that I live in.

With alert notices from the local newspaper

flashing on our phones, both Rick (at work) 

and I knew that the fire was close but

not that close.

At first I was comfortable knowing that 

it wasn't too close.

But it was very windy, 

and the wind was blowing in our direction.

Then we (at Seniors) heard that the fire

had crossed the freeway onto our side.

Then we heard that it was blowing

embers ahead of the fire starting

spot fires. 

I know from past experience that

when they evacuate neighborhoods

you are not allowed back in.

So that's when I decided to come home 

so that at least I would be able 

to get Liberty, paperwork, clothes 

and photos out ... just in case.

Meanwhile Rick was trying to get

ahold of me to find out what was 

happening.  He was on his way

home as well.

The freeway was blocked

and we both had to take the back roads 

to get home.

When I got home it was smoky.

Fire retardant planes, and helicopters

were circling overhead.

Dang we've been through this

before and it's no fun.

I worked at gathering stuff to take

while keeping an eye on the planes,

an ear to the radio, the house phone

and the cell phone in my pockets.

After some anxious time,

it was reported that the fire was

30% contained, and later 50%.

An ember did start a spot fire just

down the hill from us, but it was 

quickly put out.  Thank goodness.

Everything turned out fine.

The fire was stopped at 16 acres

and it was started in a transient camp.

That's the second camp fire that's started

a wild fire in just a couple of days.

It's dry as a bone here 

as we are in an extreme drought.

There are wildfires in the mountains

northwest of us that have been filling

the valley with smoke off and on

 for several days depending on the wind 

directions.

Those fires were caused by lightning strikes.

Other fires have been contained,

but there's one very stubborn fire that

just keeps growing.

It has been one extra long fire

season with no end in sight.

Not until the rains come...