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.