Well, gang, the sheriff just came by and said "it's about time, folks, to evacuate." We are still hosing off the house with a foam product and putting water on the creekside of our property, knowing that, at the moment, we most likely are fully safe with the fire that rushed down the hill accross the Creek from us now "laying down" for the night. Thus, we will stay for the moment; the road above us is (literally) filled with emergency vehicles--over 100 firefighters are spending their Friday night on the scene with us--and the moment that I feel that we might in their way we will evacuate--the cars are packed and ready to roll.
Having a brief moment for reflection, we are universally thankful for all of those who have weathered this now mid-storm with us, especially the men and women that are now our first line of defense/offense on this Sawmill Gulch portion of the Sawmill Complex fire--and, yes indeed, it is complex, as you just don't know what the fire is going to do next--winds have been whipping around here sporatically in all directions for the past several hours.
My worst fear during the past few days has been to look up and see flames on the ridge across the Creek and above us. Well, that fear has been both realized and overcome and is now matched with a smoke overlay that created an amazing visual effect (for me at least, tending the fire hose) with the sun peering though behind it--the pictures that our (excellent) blogmaster Dave Stallard will post here are what Kathy saw through the lens of the camera, as Tyler and I were spreading foam and water to and fro during the spectacle. You will see them before I do; I am just glad that each of you didn't have to be here to inhale the now increasing smoke in order to do so.
It is now after 6:30 this Friday evening, and what a day it has been, starting with a radio interview, them meeting with the Incident Commander and his wonderful staff and now comingling with the most important folk of all, the "front-liners"--I truly like them the best and thank them all.
Blessings to all; frankly, it is amazing to still have internet capacity though all of the flame, smoke and flurry...ah, this modern age that we live in.
Rock Creek Ron
p.s. I wonder how our pie plate is holding up on the mailbox!!
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