A light flutter of white ash is now our constant companion this mid-Monday, with the occasional "craaaack" of a burnt tree giving into gravity across Rock Creek and crashing towards the water. Smoke still fills the sky and everyone is on high alert here for any falling embers or flare ups due to their falling in an unwanted locale.
Embers are like snow, we are told; they will fall and lodge in the tiniest of places, doing the greatest of damage if left unchecked--hence, the water we have been pouring on all of our reachable property. Some of the crewmembers that we talked to this morning said that, during yesterday's (scary) afternoon flare-up, they were being bombarded with several inch long macho embers.
Concern focuses this Monday not on the light breeze that is wafting and dancing up and down the Creek (as it loves to do) but, rather, on a very large weather front that is scheduled to pay us a visit here between 8:00 p.m. and midnight this evening, accompanied by winds predicted to be as high as 50 mph. That is the bad news; the good news is that rain is also forecast to accompany the winds, bringing, hopefully, higher humidity, cooler temperatures and (hopefully) no lightning strikes.
As we collectively witnessed yesterday afternoon, things can change here in a hurry and we are fully prepared to leave on a moment's notice if I feel that we either should or need to.
This mid-day, I would like to acknowledge my close friendship with RCPA president John Menson (the very person who "uncondoned" Kathy and me earlier today)--he called me within moments of the posting of the Monday Morning Report to find out "are we still friends?" and the answer is an (equal to other answered questions) unequivocal "yes", and I am delighted to report though him that, mid-fire storm here, the Missoula County Commissioners have, apparently, denied the formal request of Michael Barnes' lawyer for the "Day of Reckoning" [sure seem to be a lot of those around here, nowadays!] hearing scheduled for August 22nd.
A tree has just torched just across the Creek from us (that was part of that loud crack that I mentioned above) and Kathy says it is time for me to fire up our fire hose to put out the flames that will erupt if the now burning tree falls across the stream.
Best to all,
RCR
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