Author Topic: Forest Fire too close! PICS #1 Priority Fire in the US (Read 2102 times)

mattparliament · « **on:** July 27, 2007, 04:42:41 PM »

Hey guys, I realize this is odd, but honestly this is the only forum I really interact in and I feel like this is a group of my "internet" friends if there is such a thing.

We currently have a fire that started as a lightning strike in a rough part of a wilderness area so they let it go, well a day later it was up to 1000 acres, now 3 days later it is up to 4000. This wilderness area is 28,500 acres big. It has already burned 3 of my favorite areas to hunt

Worse, 90 homes around have been evacuated and mine is next in line. The last homes to be evacuated(yesterday) are 3 miles from me(as the crow flies), and I'm getting nervous. This fire is currently 0% contained, we're bone-dry, 100 degree dry heat in the forcast as far as the eye can see, and they think it will take a change in the weather, or season, to break this fire.....

Just asking for a few prayers for rain, everyone helps.....

Thank you and God bless.

Matt

Link to our local newspaper/fire updates: http://www.helenair.com/flashpoint/

the fire of concern is the "Meriwether Fire"

OR-E-Gun Bill · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2007, 04:57:30 PM »

The threat of fire is the one thing I fear most living in the woods here in Oregon. Sending my humble prayer your way for rain and favorable winds.

Bill

Mac11700 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2007, 05:00:23 PM »

May the Lord grant calm winds and a good rain to quell your imminent danger...and keep you all safe...

Mac

xhare · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2007, 05:12:16 PM »

Done. Here in KY forest fires are rare and usually small. Not something we have to worry about. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

d_hiker · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2007, 05:14:09 PM »

Matt,

Our prayers are with you. The west is really getting hammered this year and resources are spread thin.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2007, 05:38:24 PM »

Be safe Matt, our prayers are with you.

Tim

canon6 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2007, 05:41:38 PM »

Matt, prayers for you and yours, Doug

kennisondan · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2007, 05:47:46 PM »

I will put you in my prayers as well - I am sorry to hear of your loss and threat of loss.
dan

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2007, 01:26:19 AM »

Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Matt.

eskimo36 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2007, 02:22:30 AM »

take care Matt...i had that experience one time while living in Burney, CA...very scary for a flatlander such as myself..

cwlongshot · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2007, 02:38:40 AM »

Matt,
My prayers are for you and with you. Be safe and stay focused, it will work out.

CW

Dave Allen · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2007, 04:06:07 AM »

i hope the best for you...i'm in no danger...i feel bad for you & those that are...fire's here in idaho & nearby eastern oregon are crazy...a co-worker & my brother had to re-route about 150 mile's recently because of a road closure in eastern oregon...due to range fire's...as of the other day about 500,000 acre's burned in one fire in southern idaho...it's killing livestock & wildlife..& nowhere near contained..it was pretty clear yesterday & this morning look's good...but i'm sick of breathing smoke...had to "vent"...i wish you the best...

Piney · « **Reply #12 on:** July 28, 2007, 05:10:00 AM »

Prayers offered for you and yours! Stay safe!

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 28, 2007, 06:53:11 AM »

Prayers sent brother. Stay safe.

turkeyeye · « **Reply #14 on:** July 28, 2007, 09:05:05 AM »

prayers sent

dw06 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2007, 10:09:08 AM »

Wow,just read the story on the Meriwether fire.Hope that the crews they have just put on it will spare you.My prayers are sent your way!!

Wolfgang · « **Reply #16 on:** July 28, 2007, 02:52:11 PM »

Matt,

God Bless and good luck. Our prayers are with you.

Wolfgang

jwv · « **Reply #17 on:** July 28, 2007, 04:06:45 PM »

Matt, Our prayers are with you and your family. Here in Oklahoma last year we were burning up and bone dry, this year we have had flooding rain and it finally quit in the last 3 weeks . its been along time that it's this green and going into August. Hope it turns around for you real soon. Take care and hang in there. Jack

wtroger · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2007, 04:45:23 PM »

Amen. You got mine. My God Be with you and your family.

mattparliament · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2007, 05:15:46 PM »

spoke with the man in charge of the operations of this fire tonight. He said that last night a fierce wind from the north started and the fire took off, he swore it was going 30 mph and they were losing and about 10 minutes from evacuating us, we are about 6 miles south of the fire. 4 am, the wind changed and came from the south, the fire has turned around and is heading north....

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRAYERS!

the fire was mainly on a wilderness area but now it is moving to private ground and therefore it will go way up on the priority list, funny how that works. Nice to have the smoke out of the yard too...

thanks again, I'll keep you all posted.

Matt

p.s. fire status link: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/871/

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2007, 05:24:43 PM »

Good luck to you Mat. I hope everything works out for you. Dale

choctaw · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2007, 06:04:16 PM »

Prayers up. I hope that you and yours stay safe.

mattparliament · « **Reply #22 on:** July 29, 2007, 01:02:50 PM »

Update:

7500 acres, nearest point is 6 miles as the crow flies NNW. I was in town this morning and snapped some pics. The first one is the fire/smoke from the drive home, and the second is the smoke column from my front yard.

Another nice link too: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/871/

quickdtoo · « **Reply #23 on:** July 29, 2007, 01:12:40 PM »

That's scary Matt, thanks for the update.

Tim

goodwrench6710 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2007, 01:52:02 PM »

Wow! That's way too close! I see those big trees so close to your house, I can see why you're so worried. I hope that the winds stay on your side & everything works out. If it gets bad, don't be stupid & get out! Worldly possessions are not worth your life, keep your family & pets safe!

aflineman · « **Reply #25 on:** July 29, 2007, 03:00:02 PM »

My prayers are with you, not something I would like to go through again. From someone who has been through an evacuation, get your stuff together and loaded now.
DON"T FORGET THE FAMILY PHOTOS!!!. If the time comes, you may not have much time.

Dave Allen · « **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2007, 06:25:24 PM »

hello...i hope everything's still ok..for ya up there...the fire i mentioned yesterday..has now grown to 650.000 acre's of rangeland...it's in very desolate country...a fire is never good new's...ya just hope house's & human live's are not threatened...it seem's to be a hell of a summer in the west...let's pray for rain...aye...

mattparliament · « **Reply #27 on:** July 30, 2007, 04:37:13 AM »

Quote from: goodwrench6710 on July 29, 2007, 01:52:02 PM

Wow! That's way too close! I see those big trees so close to your house, I can see why you're so worried. I hope that the winds stay on your side & everything works out. If it gets bad, don't be stupid & get out! Worldly possessions are not worth your life, keep your family & pets safe!

yeah, my yard is full of those 100 ft high pines too....

revbc · « **Reply #28 on:** July 30, 2007, 05:36:47 PM »

Matt,
Will have my church praying for you and others affected by this fire. We don''t see anything like that down here in Louisiana, just hurricanes.

Be safe,
Bobby

Siskiyou · « **Reply #29 on:** July 30, 2007, 07:23:33 PM »

I was checking out the fire website and it was saying they were expecting a wind shift this afternoon(7/30) if that is correct it will put the fire head back your direction. Hopefully the big burnout created a good black-line to protect your home. Have you been doing any hazard reduction because of the fire?

I was looking at your area from Google Earth and it looks like a number of home have good fire breaks. I suspect your fire conducive climate keeps folks on their toes most years.

My thoughts are with you, your neighbors, and the fire crews. The crosses up stream from you in Mann Gulch are a good reminder of what fire can do.