We are in the path of the wildfire named “Nelson Creek Fire, in Elk WA”. It started downhill from us about 2 miles away on Friday afternoon burning down our neighbor’s home and garage across from the Inland Grange on Nelson road. Their propane tank blew up and the fire traveled uphill rapidly coming right at us on Casey Lane Evacuation notices type 2, were issued.
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better than crop dusters -
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On Friday even though the fire department went into immediate action to contain it by using multiple county crews, trucks, water trucks, helicopters, prop planes, and even a jet plane. It got right up to our next door neighbors property perimeter requiring retardant on the west and northwest adjoining neighbors properties. Friday was thick smoke and lots of air traffic directly over our home. Check out how close to the trees those pilots fly WOW!
We got a surprise visit from Jake at State Farm, really, Jim and John I think because we have State Farm house insurance. They drove in working with the fire crews to assess fire preparedness. We evidently passed and they advised us to start sprinkling water around the house to deter embers from igniting. Then, immediately the electricity goes out, so we run generators to put water around.
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State Farm Wildfire Response -
Retired sheriff works for State Farm wildfire team now
Saturday some of the smoke was clearing, There are still crews working the fire and hot spots still being put out. The air and ground teams were still hard at it. These pilots carrying water drops and retardent drops are so very gutsy and professional.
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the top ridge of our property -
the garden
The jet, prop plane and multiple helicopters just barely cleared our hilltop coming over the top of our house and on to the neighbors next door.
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see how close to our rooftop
Sunday less crews trucks planes and helicopters. Pete drove out to get our mail and saw our neighbors had their yards burnt and one even lost a truck that was parked in his yard.
We were all lucky that none of us were hurt and we didn’t loose our homes. We are going to have a lot of cleanup to do.
Fun with dogs & sprinklers. We have discovered an entertaining sprinkler fascination for one of our dogs. Max goes crazy playing with any sprinkler as he takes off running, jumping, and trying to snatch droplets out of the sky. Here is his serious face as he notices that I have the sprinkler ready to spray in my hand.
Of our two children in retirement, “Max” is our tri-color guy who is a running child, and the more sedentary redhead is “Hurley” who is more elderly. Hurley likes to sit in pools of water or mud instead of chasing a sprinkler around. Hurley sits in the background watching as Max sprints to catch the water.
Hot dogs and smores at 8º Fahrenheit. We bundled up and went outside to enjoy hot dogs and smores by the fire. Brrrr! Grandparents and Grandkids were on a mission to enjoy this country day together even though we may turn into icicles ourselves.
Notice our handy dandy extendible camping forks. Only Grandparents have stuff like this! First, we brown our hotdogs in the fire, then eat them with ketchup. Grandpa was our ketchup dispenser boss. Yummm. The dogs stood on the side watching. They were certain that we were doing it wrong because they were not getting any. Especially, the hot dogs but honestly they wanted the marshmellows too.
Next, we switch to the fine art of making smores. Putting perfectly browned marshmallows between graham crackers with chocolate is so yummy. Smores! So, now we have sticky cold fingers, but we continue to make more marshmallows.
Unfortunately, with the temp so doggone cold our fun time is cut-short. Which, is probably a good thing. It saved us from a terrible sugar overdose, well not really. It is just a fact of life that you gotta stop when your fingertips go totally numb. Right? Or maybe it is when your brain is in a constant state of confusion from an overload of sugar and you can’t find your way back to the house. Dorothy, we are not in Kansas anymore.
