UPDATE: As of today (Wednesday evening) the fire is about 80% contained. We've been warned it can only take a small breeze to get it going again though. People have been allowed back into their homes. No lives were lost and neither were their any "deaths of horses" as Bethany put it. Only one structure caught fire and burned.
Bethany has been checking on this constantly morning and night to see what was going on and what new pictures there were. I'm sure as soon as we are able we'll head up to see the damage.
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Today we watched the sky fill with smoke as a fire started on our favorite mountain. The one nearby where we hike and camp and explore as a family.
This is the view from the overpass, which is walking distance from our house. This is when it had burned 400 acres and had 175 firefighters trying to stop it. It was estimated at 20% contained at the time (about 7 pm).
I just checked the website at 9:30 pm, and it's now at 800 acres with over 250 firefighters battling it. It's already doubled in size and is estimated at 10% contained. People have been evacuated, but thankfully no homes destroyed.
Please pray, the mountain is really only a stone's throw away. We know people in that area, we know of a ministry in that area, our family loves to visit this area and take our children's friends along for the adventure.
I know it's not much compared to the fires over the summer, especially the one that burned out of control in Colorado. But it's so close to home. We were just up there for a family trip over Labor Day Weekend and it is very, very dry up there.
When I took these pictures, Bethany wanted to know why I would want a photo of the "horror" as she put it. Yes, she's a little bit worried herself. Although I think she was more worried about the horses, as there are many horse ranches at the foot of the mountain, until I explained to her how the fireman were in danger and people may lose their homes. Then she really began to realize how bad this could be. It wasn't just about our favorite little spot getting "ruined". It was about people.
Pray for wisdom and safety for the firefighters. Pray for those operating the helicopters. Pray for the people evacuating. Pray for the police officers guiding and directing the people evacuating. Pray for those that open homes and those that minister to the evacuees.
Thank you.
2 comments:
How awful (and scary)! Sending prayers up now.
What a bummer. I'm glad how you were able to teach your children to put it in perspective, though. You're doing a great job raising them!
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