The Fire Events in California
Besides being big news--the fires in California touched me in several ways.
Here in Springville we had our own fire.
At the time we had no idea that so many other fires would follow. The smoke got so bad that hubby and I sent to Porterville to stay with friends for three days. The kids remained at our house determined to battle the fire if necessary, mainly because we had so many animals that would be impossible to move.
It was scary, but we were so fortunate compared to those living in the way of the fires to come.
Though the fire came close what saved us was the fact that we didn't have the horrible winds that fanned the flames in other areas wiping out whole neighborhoods.
Ventura is a place close to my heart. We go there at least once a year, and the fire burned down so many homes. The fire began in Santa Paula and burned down a KOA we'd visited last summer.
It surrounded the town of Ojai where an old friend of mine lives, and burned into the Los Padres National Forest when I camped and backpacked with my Camp Fire Girls. My daughter is the secretary of a church in Ventura and some of the evacuees sheltered in the church. And yes, she went to work everyday.
The fire continued up the coast and surrounded Santa Barbara, relatives of my daughter had to evacuate.
Another fire in a more southern region closed the schools two of my great-grandchildren attend. And flames could be seen from my daughter's home.
The fires are mostly out now, but it is a huge reminder that the threat is always there.
And, yes, this is one of the big memories from 2017.
Marilyn
Comments
The smoke probably didn't help your husband's condition. Though we slept away from home, the smoke was still bad down in the town we were in. We kept going back up, hoping we could stay and finally did. I took our important papers and a few other things with us and kept them in the car. The younger ones decided they could handle anything--which of course they couldn't have. Far too scary.