In the fire zone

I’m sitting here quietly, listening to the rain and thanking whoever did the rain dance for this very welcome rain in this very dry fire zone I seem to be living in.  I’m sure the poor fire fighters are all dancing in the rain right now. 

 It might not completely put out the fires, but  it is a help – as much of a help as the hard working helicopters and water bombers who are grounded.  I hope it lasts a long time.  But here – unlike the coast – it probably will move on.  We need to stall the rain clouds and put a hold on the wind.

Blue sky is in short supply at the moment.  Once the wind came back up this afternoon, the valley is once more socked in with dirty brown smoke.

 I’m crocheting my lovely sweater.  It’s a big project but I have time to complete it and I love the colour – a pale sage green.

The air smells like burning materials.  The smog is being washed down through the rain.  This is not a nice smelling rain which is wrong, but we have been under the smog cloud for over a week now.  It’s going to take time.  

It’s interesting living in a fire zone.  Up here at the north end, our evacuation alert has been lifted, but last night at the south end of town, people were evacuated, and the alert stands.  I met a woman in the grocery store yesterday who is living on the edge- not sleeping well, wondering if she is going to have to make a run for it.

What would you take? If you had 5 minutes to get out?    What is important?  Well, records and files, my computer and camera I guess.  Obviously the first being into the car is the dog, and her food, tucked in and safe so we can make a get away together.  Do you take art?, Pictures?  Enough yarn to keep the fingers busy while you wait it out, wondering if your house will stand or fall? 

 Memories – do you take memories?  What is a memory anyway.  A passport?  Put the passport in my purse so I won’t have to worry about that I guess.

26 homes to the south of town are evacuated – the but forest service is thrilled with the rain

Well, they should be – it all helps.  But it won’t be enough of course – the fight goes on here against the fires.  Apparently the Tesalindan fire – our fire – is 60% contained but that is small comfort to the people in the fire path.  When the stats are read they say some 3700 hectares burning.  Good grief!

These are from my garden - Sunflowers are so happy aren't they?