A View from the Deck

When we were out on the deck barbecuing on Sunday afternoon we spotted this fire probably about 20 miles away. It totally looked like a volcano had erupted. We were concerned for the people who might live in that area- which apparently is a summer cabin community. We were also in awe of this huge event transpiring before our eyes. So, what does a family who lives with a fire fighter do? I turn on the scanner on the computer to listen to dispatch- I've never done that before. Chris is calling his friends at the station to give them a heads up, even though this is mostly a forest service fire. C has put on all his fire gear and is pretending to put it out. S says cool and goes back to her dolls. You should have seen us. We looked like fire geeks! The fire is in the Stanislaus River Canyon and has grown to about 133o acres, maybe more. Cal Fire will also be on the fire lines as well as the National Guard.

So far we've had to close up the house all day and open up at night. But, in the morning we all smell of smoke. I'm just glad we aren't in the same bad smoke like last June and July. Here's a local article about the current fire.