Saturday Noon Report

Greetings from the War Zone:

 

It is now noon Montana time and things are starting to heat up here at ground zero of the Sawmill Gulch fire.  We are pleased to welcome the 14 members of Ft. Belknap Forest Service Unit # 9 who are doing final preparations for the grand entrance of the fire, which has now worked its way half way down the hillside across the Creek.  I can't tell you how upset I am that we are not able to give you pictures to accompany these reports today and tomorrow--Der Blogmaster has gone amissing and I don't know how to post them from here...no matter, for the moment we are safe and are gladdened to have a new vehicle in our driveway, a pumper truck from our own Clinton Fire Department--no one was more excited that Kathy when they put the back wheel chock behind "Ol' Yeller".

 

Smoke is our constant companion and the fires are heating up as the (expected) afternoon winds now begin to arrive.  And that will be the precursor to much excitement before the day is over.  Overhead one lonely helicopter is ferrying 200 gallon buckets of water from our great friend and neighbor's Robert and Suzy Peraino pond (built for just such purpose) and the hope is that the winds will be minimal and the water plentiful so that the fire is able to continue its (excellent) slow creep down the mountainside towards Rock Creek and its planned demise.

 

I am glad that Tyler and I purchased that emergency water pump 10 days ago, as, right now all 500' of the hose we bought is in use and all four nozzles a pumping water just as fast as it can go.  Water is being drawn in from the nearby drainage ditch in our back yard and used to wet down everything from that ditch to the main house.  Our worst enemy of the day will be if the fire gets into the treetops and hops over the creek to their companions here; the second worst is flying embers that can set fires up to one mile away.  Right now the Fr. Belknap crew is combing the banks and adjacent land to the creek looking for any sign of an unwanted hot-mouthed intruder.  So far, so good on all fronts.

 

As things (literally) heat up here, I am not sure how long we will stay or whether our (blessed-to-moment) internet access will be available.  Thanks to all of you who have extended their thoughts and prayers for the preservation of this beautiful valley--Kathy has even (most successfully to date) called to the heavens for the assistance of her mother, asking her to help out, as she always was want to and did, her passing two years ago not withstanding.  Thank you Catherine, we dedicate this battle in your honor and we fully intend not to let you down.

 

That's it from here folks; again my apologies for the lack of photographic evidence that, indeed, as always, I speak the truth.

 

Best from Zero,

 

RCR