Forgive my delay in writing, life does seem to fill up my days at times.
Yesterday, smoke reappeared in the sky, only this time it was to the north. The familiar sounds of sirens and helicopters and airplanes filled our world once again and the word Fire was on everyone's lips.
When I heard the word Fire, I was at work. It came to me from a student, panicked and needing to leave as they were evacuating his home. I found myself struggling to remain calm, wanting to leave just as desperately as the student.
The Fire remained to the north and the gentle southerly breeze kept it from My Town all of yesterday and today. The real test begins tomorrow and Friday when the winds shift and the game changes. That shift will bring the Fire our direction.
I'm beginning my Thursday, relishing the onset of the close of another work week. One eye to the sky and an ear to the ground for word of Fire. Living with this threat is exhausting but in it's own peculiar way, it is becoming a constant and normal. Does one really exist daily always prepared to evacuate and to lose everything and in the cases of so many, lose everything again? How unfair would that be.
So, today, I will say my prayers, ask for mercy and we shall see what the day brings. I'm sure I will be able to repeat this process for many many days to come.
Showing posts with label smoke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smoke. Show all posts
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
The Sound Of Sirens
The risk of fires rose yesterday and today. Humidity levels dropped into the teens and the south winds off the mountains of Mexico heated us up to over 102 degrees. And its Fall or so its suppose to be.
All afternoon, we have heard sirens and firetrucks moving and responding to hot spot flare ups. Helicopters moved into the area dropping water on some of the same locations that were already decimated by the wildfire of Labor Day weekend.
At one point today, resources were already beginning to strain as the amount of calls coming in reporting small fires grew.
We see no smoke in the sky and while that is comforting, the fact that the land is still dry and primed for any spark that may come its way, is not. The risk remains very high and that doesn't seem to end.
A cold front will blow in this evening, winds will pick and and shift. There is no doubt that as long as we have no rain, we had better get used to the smell of smoke and the sound of sirens.
And here I was just getting used to clouds in the sky again.
All afternoon, we have heard sirens and firetrucks moving and responding to hot spot flare ups. Helicopters moved into the area dropping water on some of the same locations that were already decimated by the wildfire of Labor Day weekend.
At one point today, resources were already beginning to strain as the amount of calls coming in reporting small fires grew.
We see no smoke in the sky and while that is comforting, the fact that the land is still dry and primed for any spark that may come its way, is not. The risk remains very high and that doesn't seem to end.
A cold front will blow in this evening, winds will pick and and shift. There is no doubt that as long as we have no rain, we had better get used to the smell of smoke and the sound of sirens.
And here I was just getting used to clouds in the sky again.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Seeking Normal
The school doors opened again this past Monday. The children came and we managed to keep things as Normal as possible. There were plenty of tears as the fire took so much from so many. When 1500 homes are gone, it affects a large population of this small town. So many are displaced, not able to go home either because their home is now gone or its simply not safe to return to the areas where homes remain intact.
The fire was the topic on everyone's mind Monday and Tuesday. Today, Wednesday, it was less and less.
People really are trying to get back to the Normal, whatever that is now. There are plenty of needs and they are a constant. From shelter, to clothing to food to health care, there is a large population of people that are having to find their way back to Normal.
Its impossible to be Normal right now. The fires changed too much for that to be the case but we are trying.
People here are having a hard time sleeping and our dreams are filled with smoke and fear and sirens. People are finding it difficult to concentrate and focus on things that need to be done. Details elude them. Time will need to heal the wounds, however, it will take rains to put out the fears completely.
Rain seems to be the elusive fix for us. It remains absent from our skies and the forecast is only the most slim of chances. How long will this go on? I see brown dead lawns, dying trees and a landscape that is primed for another fire. Until the rains return, the threat will be constant and real. Constant and real just like the need left in the wake of the fire.
Just so you know how things are going here in My Town, it seems to be a guarded OK. We still wince when we hear a siren, we still look to the sky for signs of smoke and clouds must be verified. Meanwhile we are working and going to school and grocery shopping and going ahead with our lives. And that's just the ones that were unaffected. Those that lost everything are in a daily battle to rebuild and to find something Normal in every day. Temporary shelter, temporary lives waiting for a semblance of routine.
Maybe, with some luck and no more fires, next week will seem a little better. That is my sincerest wish.
The fire was the topic on everyone's mind Monday and Tuesday. Today, Wednesday, it was less and less.
People really are trying to get back to the Normal, whatever that is now. There are plenty of needs and they are a constant. From shelter, to clothing to food to health care, there is a large population of people that are having to find their way back to Normal.
Its impossible to be Normal right now. The fires changed too much for that to be the case but we are trying.
People here are having a hard time sleeping and our dreams are filled with smoke and fear and sirens. People are finding it difficult to concentrate and focus on things that need to be done. Details elude them. Time will need to heal the wounds, however, it will take rains to put out the fears completely.
Rain seems to be the elusive fix for us. It remains absent from our skies and the forecast is only the most slim of chances. How long will this go on? I see brown dead lawns, dying trees and a landscape that is primed for another fire. Until the rains return, the threat will be constant and real. Constant and real just like the need left in the wake of the fire.
Just so you know how things are going here in My Town, it seems to be a guarded OK. We still wince when we hear a siren, we still look to the sky for signs of smoke and clouds must be verified. Meanwhile we are working and going to school and grocery shopping and going ahead with our lives. And that's just the ones that were unaffected. Those that lost everything are in a daily battle to rebuild and to find something Normal in every day. Temporary shelter, temporary lives waiting for a semblance of routine.
Maybe, with some luck and no more fires, next week will seem a little better. That is my sincerest wish.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
One Picture, One Moment
Yet another aspect of this horrible fire is the plight of the animals. Both domestic and wild, its been a survival game for them. Many did not and we now see buzzards flying low, a sign that there is death in the fields and woods.
Many people were able to get their pets out in time, many were not as fortunate. So many stories of cats and dogs dying in the houses that burned, their owners away from home and unable to reach them in time.
On the land surrounding downtown are many farms and ranches. Cattle, horses and other livestock have had a home very close to My Town and their owners had struggled all summer long, enduring the drought to keep them fed and watered. When the fire appeared last Saturday and people immediately knew this was going to be bad, most had time to get horses and livestock moved and secured. Unfortunately that was not always the case. The same with pets that couldn't be caught by owners. Frightened by the smoke and fire, they did what instinct told them to do, they ran.
People are now finding lost dogs and cats, cattle are roaming as are horses. With no time to secure them, they were released from fences and allowed to flee the fire as best they could.
I looked through a friend's FB pictures from yesterday and found one that just said it all. It speaks to many things. The fire, the fear, the displacement, the desperation, the separation, the kindness, the compassion and the single moment of thousands of moments that make up the memories of this fire.
To this officer, I say thank you for taking a moment to just be there with this horse (might be a donkey). Lost, confused, injured, yet alive. Somehow alive. Somehow through that roaring fire and thick smoke, this animal managed to live. It just looks so tired and lost. Just like so many of the people of My Town. The fire affected everyone and everything.
This morning, Day 4, the smoke had settled again on the downtown area. I still hear helicopters and planes but reports from the air support team indicate that things are looking much much better. We desperately need much much better.
Do we dare to exhale?
Many people were able to get their pets out in time, many were not as fortunate. So many stories of cats and dogs dying in the houses that burned, their owners away from home and unable to reach them in time.
On the land surrounding downtown are many farms and ranches. Cattle, horses and other livestock have had a home very close to My Town and their owners had struggled all summer long, enduring the drought to keep them fed and watered. When the fire appeared last Saturday and people immediately knew this was going to be bad, most had time to get horses and livestock moved and secured. Unfortunately that was not always the case. The same with pets that couldn't be caught by owners. Frightened by the smoke and fire, they did what instinct told them to do, they ran.
People are now finding lost dogs and cats, cattle are roaming as are horses. With no time to secure them, they were released from fences and allowed to flee the fire as best they could.
I looked through a friend's FB pictures from yesterday and found one that just said it all. It speaks to many things. The fire, the fear, the displacement, the desperation, the separation, the kindness, the compassion and the single moment of thousands of moments that make up the memories of this fire.
To this officer, I say thank you for taking a moment to just be there with this horse (might be a donkey). Lost, confused, injured, yet alive. Somehow alive. Somehow through that roaring fire and thick smoke, this animal managed to live. It just looks so tired and lost. Just like so many of the people of My Town. The fire affected everyone and everything.
This morning, Day 4, the smoke had settled again on the downtown area. I still hear helicopters and planes but reports from the air support team indicate that things are looking much much better. We desperately need much much better.
Do we dare to exhale?
Monday, September 5, 2011
The Fire Claims A Second Day
As we awoke to clearer skies and cooler temps, we imagined a better day. It was not long before the smoke began to rise and it seemed like yesterday all over again. In lieu of dramatic words, I thought I would simply let pictures tell the story of this fire that has held us hostage for now 48 hours. Giving credit where credit is due, many of these pictures were taken by my daughter, some were taken by others and posted on FB. I am deeply grateful to all those that shared pictures of what its like here in my little town. The different perspectives help give a deeper understanding to what is happening here. Thank you to all who shared your photos and to my daughter for getting out there and recording what will certainly be memories we will never forget.
The fire is not contained and with humidity levels extremely low, the battle will continue another day. Over 5,000 residents of my town have been evacuated and nearly 500 homes destroyed. No matter what tomorrow brings, my town is changed forever. As are the lives of so many of it's people.
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| An amazing picture - kudos to the photographer |
The fire is not contained and with humidity levels extremely low, the battle will continue another day. Over 5,000 residents of my town have been evacuated and nearly 500 homes destroyed. No matter what tomorrow brings, my town is changed forever. As are the lives of so many of it's people.
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