Last night before we went to sleep the wind was calm, but we could see red glowing all along the horizon. (The genius husband informs me that I am an idiot to think that Santa Ana comes from the ocean when it’s a desert wind. But it still smells like ocean to me, how weird is that?) We woke this morning to a smoky haze and ash raining down on us.
A neighbor who works at the nearby fire station called to inform us that we were about 1-2 hours away from an evacuation notice. Beema started loading the cars, the men pulled out chainsaws and started cutting back everything growing near the house, and I made chocolate icing.
The freeway heading north was closed yesterday. We joked that the Boy’s great grandparent’s would have a great excuse to miss his party, what with a brush fire between us and all. But this morning the freeway was open once more, the fire had burned out during the night. The air grew thicker and thicker as the guys cut back more trees and shrubs. Such pretty vines too, but it’s better them than the house. So past the fire and over the bridge, to grandmother’s house we go…
We took the party to them. Scorched earth lined the freeway as our caravan headed north. In some places we could see the fires still burning, others were eerily untouched, side by side with blackened trees. It’s this kind of thing that makes my father in law cut away trees and stand outside with the hose. On the news you can see houses that are flattened, with green shrubs beside them, He watches for a little while, and then goes outside to water some more, and fire up the chainsaw.
The men stayed behind to keep working. They say they can see the fire coming up along the creek when they stand on the carport. There is a police man on a motorbike monitoring traffic from the bridge, but they aren’t under mandatory evacuation yet. They’ve done all they can until the fire draws nearer, and then there’s more they can do before they have to leave. They also say they have some good scotch and cigars to occupy the time. (MEN)
The boy had his party and it was sweet. I hope to show pictures soon.
I don’t know what, if anything, has happened to our house. All of our city was under mandatory evacuation by late last evening. The only things I regret leaving behind are the quilts that Beema made for the Boy and Girl when they were born. Each square has a blessing or prayer written by friends and family at their baby showers, and I will miss them if they are gone. I think they will too.
As I sit here, in a comfortable house once more, installed in one of the ample spare rooms, I can’t help thinking about all of those people who didn’t have family to go to outside the danger zone, and are holed up in school gyms and stadiums and sleeping in crowds and eating in crowds and who knows when they’ll get a shower. The GH’s cousin has been at an evacuation center since yesterday morning with her baby girl.
I am feeling pretty blessed right now, and grateful to be were we are, looking out an upstairs window and watching the smoke from a distance while my children swim in GG’s pool, instead of trying to entertain them in a cramped gym that is full to capacity with strangers.
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts. Please keep the people who have lost their homes and are staying at evacuation centers in your prayers as well, and pray for rain, and wind from the sea.
4 thoughts on “From One Haven to Another”
Hey C. So glad you are safe. Crazy to watch the fires and the devastation and yet interesting at the same time since my job of distaster mgmt and emergency planning. I tracked the witch fire on the us forest service site (activefiremaps.fs.fed.us) and if you have google earth installed you can open the map right over top of goggle earth images. I checked your house, and according to them the fire didnt reach it, and has shifted away north. So far so good. (but they are humans who can err so dont put all your hope in my words! But its looking good at least!) If you have accesss there, what are Beema’s coordinates? The fire got within 2.5 km of your house last night. Thankfully moved.
Love you all
Chantelle (see..arent you glad im a technie 😉 )
I’m still thinking of you…..they reported on our news here in NZ this morning that 800,000 homes have been evacuated! I have been praying for rain. I hope you and your loved ones are OK.
Carrien,
Thanks so much for the cape. Sophia loves it (so does her younger brother). We are so thankful for your talent- I couldn’t make something like that for her.
Atta girl, Chantelle!
I’m so glad to hear that you are safe! I love GGs…I bet your kids are having a blast at their house.
Praying for you and your people…
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