It It's Not One Thing, It's Something Else

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

We evacuated our house last night due to a nearby forest fire and will be staying in town for a few days or until we are allowed to go back. I think the house will be ok; last time I checked the fire was burning away from it rather than towards it.

The air is thick with smoke; people are suffering from respiratory problems, headaches, stinging watery eyes and congestion. Staying inside, if possible, is the best option, but the smoke is finding it's way inside as well through vents and other small openings.

This ash is covering everything - decks, cars, plants, roofs, sidewalks - last night it was raining ashes. It's nasty stuff.

This is the view from where we are staying - believe it or not, there are mountains beyond the trees:

Sun is trying to poke through, but not having much luck which is ok anyway because at least it's cool due to the smoke cover:

The big air tankers were supposed to start dropping retardant this morning, but they can't fly when the smoke is so thick so they are grounded until it clears a bit. This leaves mainly hand crews to fight the fire for now. There are engines here from all over N. California - it always puts a lump in my throat to see them rolling into town knowing they dropped everything and drove for hours to get here and that they'll stay as long as they are needed.

It's strange how things work out. Texas has more rain than they could ever want and we would desperately and gladly take much of it off their hands if we only could.

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Comments (14)

PKponder TX Z7B
9 years ago
Oh my, how far did you have to go to escape the smoke? Too bad we can't corral the weather and send it where it's desperately needed!
Kathsgrdn
9 years ago
Glad you are safely away from the fire.
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Oh my goodness! I haven't been on here for awhile as it's been very hectic. I have at this point moved on from the kitchen cabinets. Dwelling on it is pointless and just makes me angry. Besides I've had other things on my mind (some of you may have seen my post regarding our backsplash disaster). Also, we noticed later that we didn't have any sockets on the island despite my having specified I wanted a socket on either side of my large island. KD said she didn't have anything in her notes about sockets on the island. Really??? And what do her notes say about the code for electrical outlets on a kitchen island to pass inspection????!!! Of course, there was NO room for us to add them in. Her solution: cut two of the drawer backs to shorten them, buy new shorter soft close rails for the now shortened drawers and then add sockets behind them. I. don't. think. so. We were left to sort that out on her own. Couldn't be bothered to deal with her anymore after that. Anyhows. I thought I'd give a quick update. I re-ordered the white drawer fronts and decided to leave the blue island drawers as is. The new fronts just arrived today and have yet to be installed. I still don't have any hardware on the blue island. I want it to be different but haven't really had time to properly look. I'll get there eventually. I think it's a good compromise. The drawers don't bother me as much on the island and I'm pretty certain that after a few months I won't notice it at all. Or as much ;)
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User
9 years ago
I hope your home stays safe and the fire gets put out shortly.
blfenton
9 years ago
Oh wow, I feel for you. Stay safe.
lindaohnowga
9 years ago
It sure would be great if all of that water in Texas could be dropped where needed to combat your fires. I hope you remain safe and your house too.
moonie_57 (8 NC)
9 years ago
Hope all will be well with your home.
pudgeder
9 years ago
How awful!!
Hope it dissipates soon!
User
9 years ago
Is THIS where YOU are?

Ponderosa Fire: more info...Updated: August 31, 2017 12:41 pmCounty:Butte County Location:Ponderosa way and Lumpkin road, 2 miles NW of Forbestown Acres Burned - Containment:3,507 acres - 10% contained Evacuation Info:Evacuation Order
Evacuation orders are in place for Lumpkin Road, from Forbestown Road to CAL FIRE Station 51, including the community of Feather Falls. For the communities of Berry Creek, Brush Creek and Mountain House. This includes Oro Quincy Highway from Foreman Creek, north to Mountain House and all tributaries including Bald Rock Rd.

Evacuation Order: Lumpkin Road, from Forbestown Road to CAL FIRE Station 51, including the community of Feather Falls.

Evacuation Centers:
*Church of the Nazarene, 2238 Monte Vista Ave, Oroville, 95966
*The Ponderosa Community Center, 17103 Ponderosa Way, Brownsville, 95919

Small Animal Shelter:
*The Old County Hospital, Oroville 2279 Del Oro.
*Large Animal Shelter: Camelot Equestrian Park at 1985 Clark Rd.
partst
9 years ago
That’s what it looks like from my kitchen windows we can’t
see the mountains across the river from us. The Ponderosa fire is way further
north from us but there are several fires in between. It’s been a very smoky
summer here so much so that we have left for Lake Havasu more than once.

Claudia
Rosie
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you for the good wishes everyone. There is no escaping the smoke in N. California as there are several fires burning in this part of the state so we are staying inside as much as possible.

Nicole, we are near that general area. We are also getting smoke from fires in Oregon and from the west. It's fire season in California and we are anxiously waiting for our rainy season to begin in about six weeks.
User
9 years ago
Oh my. Frightening. Stay safe.
Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
9 years ago
I am so sorry you are going through this, Dawn. What a horrible thing to see and breathe and worry about spreading! Sending my prayers for a speedy and positive resolution.
OutsidePlaying
9 years ago
I'm sorry Dawn! I'm sure the ash will be a big mess to clean up when you get home. Does this get into your home too?
Rosie
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for the encouragement; you guys are the best!

Outside Playing the ash doesn't usually get in the house but the smoke smell will linger for a while. It does get inside the vehicles though. I noticed yesterday that the dash of my car was covered in a layer of ash.

The fire was held within the lines during the night and the smoke is not as thick this morning. Hoping the air attack can begin today. The plan especially are spread thin because there are so many fires burning throughout the state, but if the visibility improves enough they should be able to send some aircraft here. They have a unique engine sound and hearing one approach is comforting.

We were at a restaurant last night and there must have been 40+ firefighters in there having dinner. Those guys can eat - the restaurant ran out of food!

There have been many structures lost, but our neighborhood is OK and should be spared as long as the fire continues to head in its current direction. The man we sometimes buy fresh eggs from lost his home the first night of the fire and is staying with friends. I don't know if he had time to turn the chickens loose or not.

We may try to go home later today to check things out just for our own peace of mind.

It It's Not One Thing, It's Something Else

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PKponder TX Z7B

Kathsgrdn

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It It's Not One Thing, It's Something Else

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