I've grumbled about our difficulty getting acclimated to our move from NC to CA. The negatives are extensive, but I will remind myself why we are here......being closer to our only child (son/family) and admittedly much better health care.
For multiple reasons, very little sewing has been undertaken this past week, but yesterday the reason was a whopping one and one that was on the top of my 'worry' list about living in CA.
Yup, we were ordered to evacuate due to a brush fire that rapidly spread. It got into the edges of our community, directly behind our clubhouse complex. This is 5 blocks from us! We'd heard lots of sirens and smelled smoke while we were picture hanging and chatting with SIL via speaker phone. So when the text came to evacuate, we never saw it......by the time I did....thankfully it was cancelled within 30 mins. due to the excellent fire fighters we have here.
Some folks lost their fences but as far as I know besides being super frightened when Sheriffs went door to door telling residents they had to leave there were no injuries. By the time they would have gotten to us, it was under control......appx. 7 1/2 acres burned. It hasn't been reported yet how it started. Oh boy, to lose our home, would have been the topper drama of our journey relocating here!
Our area is not really known for destructive wild fires so I hadn't really felt threatened, till now. And yes, we are now going to make a plan to follow if evacuation is ever ordered again!
Here are some photos.....the overhead one shows just a section of our big development and how close houses are to each other. There's lots of empty fields around us and nearly all are already slated for either business or housing. I commend the owners of the lands as most mow to keep the very, very dry grasses low.
PS.....super sad Packer fan here after their loss Friday night and the injury to our QB.......yikes....but no matter. GO PACK GO!!!!
The big building you see is our clubhouse.
3 comments:
How frightening! Doesn't make it any easier for you.
Well yeah, that's scary. Small fires like that have been popping up around Spokane and Cheney - about an hour and a half from me and with more dry open fields like in your case, but my immediate area doesn't appear prone to that. It hasn't stopped me from looking suspiciously at the narrow stand of trees that run between my row of duplex townhouses and railroad tracks next to a highway. Some of the pines mixed in with birch and bushes have died yet no one is culling them out. Have even considered if my hose would be long enough to reach back there should something light up. Not a good feeling and one I hadn't considered you be faced by. At least you now know of the rapid response!
Fires in California (and many other places too) are never fun. But always best to be safe and evacuate when advised. I'm glad your fire department had it under control so quickly. Sorry for the bad air quality and stress. I hope as cooler weather arrives California gets more rain and we don't have to worry about any more fires. My Rx recommendation is find more joy in your sewing room and also spending time with your son and gkid, with plenty of joy and hugs. More good days in your future to come.
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