I am so sorry to hear that. In some ways, I know how you feel, though. My hometown has been totally destroyed by crime. It's not even safe to drive through anymore. It's hard for me because I'll always love that place, but I can never go back there.
I had the displeasure of seeing a forest fire up close about 2 years ago, when one almost took out my aunt's house. Her neighbors (fire departments here are voluntary, and for the most part, useless) were doing everything they could to keep her place from catching fire, and keep it from spreading to their homes. They succeeded, but the fire still did a lot of damage to the mountains (which is bad since this area is known for floods and mudslides.) It may have been a small fire, but it was still incredibly scary.
Even though I am nowhere near being in danger of losing property myself, being across the lake on the westside, it's hard to describe what is happening here.
Yesterday the whole valley was in dense smoke all day, and it was only last night after dark that the winds lifted and moved the smoke so we could see how much the fire had spread and how active it was. In the dark it was like watching hell... trees exploding in flames, burning embers, the leading edge of the fire continuously moving around and towards subdivisions with nothing but a hastily bulldozed fireguard to stop it. A 14km line of fire directly threatening the city.
15 homes lost so far (a miracle it's so few), 10,000 people evacuated, another 3000 on evacuation standby. Everyone is worried and tense, whether they're personally in danger or not. It's still a small enough town that everyone knows at least a few people that have been evacuated or worse.
Which probably leads to the one positive thing that seems to be coming out: the incredible sense of community and support that is happening here. Volunteers are everywhere, companies are donating services and goods and money for the evacuees; this whole horrible ordeal is really bringing the city together like I've never seen before.
[Rue] on 01/24/07 11:09 : With bated breath I await your return to blogging. [go]
[Rue] on 01/24/07 11:09 : With bated breath I await your return to blogging. [go]
[Rue] on 01/24/07 11:09 : With bated breath I await your return to blogging. [go]
[Rue] on 01/24/07 11:09 : With bated breath I await your return to blogging. [go]
[Rue] on 01/24/07 11:09 : With bated breath I await your return to blogging. [go]
Gross Display of Most Naked Capitalism
Blogroll
Red Ensign Blogs for Victory!
-- One of the Original Red Ensigns carried by the Penticton 1st Volunteers. It was present at Vimy Ridge when our little Dominion stood up and became a nation worth fighting for...
What a disaster... It's terrifying.
I had the displeasure of seeing a forest fire up close about 2 years ago, when one almost took out my aunt's house. Her neighbors (fire departments here are voluntary, and for the most part, useless) were doing everything they could to keep her place from catching fire, and keep it from spreading to their homes. They succeeded, but the fire still did a lot of damage to the mountains (which is bad since this area is known for floods and mudslides.) It may have been a small fire, but it was still incredibly scary.
Yesterday the whole valley was in dense smoke all day, and it was only last night after dark that the winds lifted and moved the smoke so we could see how much the fire had spread and how active it was. In the dark it was like watching hell... trees exploding in flames, burning embers, the leading edge of the fire continuously moving around and towards subdivisions with nothing but a hastily bulldozed fireguard to stop it. A 14km line of fire directly threatening the city.
15 homes lost so far (a miracle it's so few), 10,000 people evacuated, another 3000 on evacuation standby. Everyone is worried and tense, whether they're personally in danger or not. It's still a small enough town that everyone knows at least a few people that have been evacuated or worse.
Which probably leads to the one positive thing that seems to be coming out: the incredible sense of community and support that is happening here. Volunteers are everywhere, companies are donating services and goods and money for the evacuees; this whole horrible ordeal is really bringing the city together like I've never seen before.
Our little city will never be the same.