Fire is Out
Yesterday was quite a day. I left the gym around 1:30 PM and noticed black smoke in the hills near my neighborhood. I didn't like the look of it even though there wasn't much smoke. Growing up in California, the standard joke is that California's four seasons are spring, summer, fire, and flood. I've been through several California fires, the biggest one being the Oakland Hills fire, which started as a tiny fire in some brush on the hillside and ended up taking out entire neighborhoods and killing 50 people.
I decided to err on the side of caution and went home because I knew if the fire spread, they would close off access and I wanted to be home to pack up stuff if necessary to evacuate. Once home, I decided I didn't like the looks of things and noticed the wind was starting to pick up, so I hosed down the roof so it was nice and wet in case there were floating embers, soaked the lawn, put the dogs in the car, and headed over to a friend's house until things died down.
I don't live on the street that was in immediate peril, but we're not that far away. As crispy dry as everything is around here, had the winds not shifted and sent the fire back toward the open space, the outcome may very well have been different.
I have mentioned several times to my sister that people around here do not know how to prepare their yards for urban wildfires. People allow tall grasses to grow right up to their property lines, they do not trim their trees, etc. I don't think this will be the last fire we see around here this summer, especially with all the dry lightning we've had lately.
Kix
PS: Here's an article if you are interested:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/04/least-2-wildfires-burning-jeffco/
I decided to err on the side of caution and went home because I knew if the fire spread, they would close off access and I wanted to be home to pack up stuff if necessary to evacuate. Once home, I decided I didn't like the looks of things and noticed the wind was starting to pick up, so I hosed down the roof so it was nice and wet in case there were floating embers, soaked the lawn, put the dogs in the car, and headed over to a friend's house until things died down.
I don't live on the street that was in immediate peril, but we're not that far away. As crispy dry as everything is around here, had the winds not shifted and sent the fire back toward the open space, the outcome may very well have been different.
I have mentioned several times to my sister that people around here do not know how to prepare their yards for urban wildfires. People allow tall grasses to grow right up to their property lines, they do not trim their trees, etc. I don't think this will be the last fire we see around here this summer, especially with all the dry lightning we've had lately.
Kix
PS: Here's an article if you are interested:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/04/least-2-wildfires-burning-jeffco/
kathsum
Glad to hear the fire is out and all is well Kix. You are so right about our 4 seasons! That made me laugh.;)
We've been very lucky this year that we haven't had the heat like the rest of you have had. For whatever reason we've been given a reprieve for right now. It's warm in the high 90's but normal for this time of year is 100+ daily.
We've been very lucky this year that we haven't had the heat like the rest of you have had. For whatever reason we've been given a reprieve for right now. It's warm in the high 90's but normal for this time of year is 100+ daily.
Jan
I know I can, I know I can
I know I can, I know I can
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