Forest Fires...

Shortly after I moved back to Montana, I had realized that forest fires were a pretty big danger. Because I don't live directly in any urban area (actually about 35 minutes from a little town called Seeley). I got a call about 4 hours ago from the Forest Service, letting me know that a fire had broken out near Holland Lake, which wasn't a big deal earlier this morning, but todays wind and dry heat had exacerbated it to the point that it has exploded. I just got lucky enough for my home to be in the "Danger Zone", I got rather rudely evacuated from home. So I packed the twins, the wife, and just a little bit of clothes into the car and was headed towards Seeley so I could get a hotel. The National Guard Checkpointed the Road, apparently the fire moved a good 15 miles in under eight hours, and blocked me off from getting them somewhere safe quickly. So I had to turn around, and drive them to Kalispell, under both the vale of night, and smoke and embers so thick that you couldn't see more than twenty feet in front of you. So I couldn't drive faster than 25-30 mph. It was one of the most surreal, and frightening experiences I've ever had. I've finally made it to Kalispell, just a good 20 minutes ago, (usually the drive is less than an hour and fifteen minutes, I spent nearly 3 white knuckled hours getting us there.)

I bought my home less than a year ago, but I had wizened up enough to know that getting Fire Insurance was necessary, it still doesn't take away from the fact that this is the first home I've ever owned, and I've put a lot of time and money into it, so I'm praying nothing happens to it. The Army Checkpoint Officer said a couple of Fire Retardant Bombers were scheduled to hit all the homes within the Zone, but couldn't comment on when that was to take place, apparently a couple of houses had already burned, so they were going to do their best to save the homes instead of directly containing the fire. I'm just worried... and exhausted. Anyways, thought I'd share my woes with you guys.

g'night.

Ouch. Glad you guys got out fine, that's by far the most important thing. Hopefully things will work out fine, our thoughts are with ya'll.

Sounds pretty bad, I hope your house will be fine.

Good that you and your family are out of harms way. Hope your house was spared.

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couple of Fire Retardant Bombers were scheduled to hit all the homes

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I have to say that sounds pretty humorous.

Otherwise, it's so serious, and I'm sorry about having to evacuate. I went to Idaho once and a lawnmower struck a rock, the blades creating a spark, and it started a brush fire.

Last year (August), it was so dry here in Northern Florida, the brush caught fire. Burned for weeks and weeks, the pall of smoke, ash, and the smell. Augh, terrible. You couldn't go outside, the smoke would choke up your lungs. The only benefit was that the pine trees around here need fire to crack open the cones and allow the seeds to grow. So out of fire comes rebirth. :shame:

Best of Luck Wakizashi to you and yours. :bow:

Been there, done that, last October here, with the brushfires and evacuations. The toughest part, after the actual hurried packing and moving, was lack of good, up-to-date info on the status of our home and neighborhood. We went days not knowing.

So, chin up, mate. Good job buying adequate insurance! :2thumbsup:

Glad to hear you got out OK. Hopefully the blaze keeps it's mitts off your house and you can go home soon.

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Originally Posted by KukriKhan

The toughest part, after the actual hurried packing and moving, was lack of good, up-to-date info on the status of our home and neighborhood. We went days not knowing.

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Webcams. :yes:

I hope your house is okay Waki. Good luck sticking out the waiting and lack of info, and make sure to remember your escape was far more important than your house.

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Originally Posted by Uesugi Kenshin

I hope your house is okay Waki. Good luck sticking out the waiting and lack of info, and make sure to remember your escape was far more important than your house.

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You made the point there.

Thanks for the support guys :bow:, I'm really thankful it didn't take us by surprise and that our state's Forest Service is really good about notifying people about evacuations.

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Originally Posted by KukriKhan

Best of Luck WakizashiBeen there, done that, last October here, with the brushfires and evacuations. The toughest part, after the actual hurried packing and moving, was lack of good, up-to-date info on the status of our home and neighborhood. We went days not knowing.

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Yeah. I moved to Montana from Santa Barbra last spring, and when the California wildfires started to descend into the Valleys I was like "Thank god I moved out in time". I guess my card got picked in this year's go-around :sweatdrop:.

But I got a hold of someone at the Forest Service today about the Status of my home, she looked it up in the roster and said the fire had been fully contained about four miles south of where I live but the evacuation is still on order, and the National Guard isn't allowing anyone on the main route to where I live. Not a big deal, better safer than sorry.

Eh...just move here to good 'ole California! We have no fire problems...and not to mention no need for forest fires~;)

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Originally Posted by Wakizashi

Thanks for the support guys :bow:, I'm really thankful it didn't take us by surprise and that our state's Forest Service is really good about notifying people about evacuations.




Yeah. I moved to Montana from Santa Barbra last spring, and when the California wildfires started to descend into the Valleys I was like "Thank god I moved out in time". I guess my card got picked in this year's go-around :sweatdrop:.

But I got a hold of someone at the Forest Service today about the Status of my home, she looked it up in the roster and said the fire had been fully contained about four miles south of where I live but the evacuation is still on order, and the National Guard isn't allowing anyone on the main route to where I live. Not a big deal, better safer than sorry.

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Great news all around, Wakizashi. It's good the Forest Service has a handle on status.

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Originally Posted by drone

Webcams.

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Why didn't I think of that?

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Originally Posted by KukriKhan

Why didn't I think of that?

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It's not foolproof, it requires power and internet access to remain available. So if powerlines or the ISP's lines cook you won't know the cause of the failure. But it's better than nothing (or relying on news reports).

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Originally Posted by Wakizashi

I'm really thankful it didn't take us by surprise and that our state's Forest Service is really good about notifying people about evacuations.

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Califoria has a state Forest Service?

I was reading an interesting National Geographic article recently, which said that the recent upsurge in forest fires is due to an ill-advised policy for most of the 20th C. of trying to put out all of the forest fires when in fact most of them should have been left to burn, resulting in huge tracts of forest which are just waiting to go up in smoke. Pretty ironic.

Yes, that was very green for the day, and it has directly resulted in more and much larger fires with greater loss.

Good to hear you made it through alright Waki.

CR

So far the evacuation is still in place, mostly at this point because of air quality rather than the danger of the fire itself. 24-72hrs is the expected wait time, but supposedly it's gonna get rainy with a little bit of western wind, so I should be clear to go home in a day or two. I don't like staying at Motels, but at least my Cousin lives here, so wifey and I got a little date by ourselves, the first one since February. :2thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by cmacq

Califoria has a state Forest Service?

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Yes, the so-called CAL-FIRE. But I think Wakizashi was referring to his new home in Montana, and their version of a forestry department.

Thanks,

I work for the USFS in Arizona and I somehow didn't know that. Very interesting.


CmacQ