UPDATE!
We are safe. It was pretty hairy over the weekend, but today, they’ve classified the two fires on this side of the lake as being held. The closest evacuation alert to us was about 2 1/2 miles, but seeing how far fire can move in no time flat when blown by high wind, we were packed and ready to go. The bigger fire is still burning out of control, but thankfully, it’s moving away from populated areas. Almost 200 properties are partially or totally destroyed. Rebuilding will take years. I’ve learned so much about the science of firefighting, logistics of mass evacuation and disaster recovery than I ever wanted to know. But I’ll say this: The people on the front lines of these fires are heroes. And they don’t get nearly enough recognition for the work they do. We all know about firefighters, police officers and paramedics, but we don’t know much about the people who keep them going: mechanics, pilots, food services, utilities management, emergency support personnel and so many others. We need to stop taking them for granted!!
Thank you all for your kind words and concern. We GingerScrappers in the fire zones appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.
Jan
This isn’t what I had planned for today. I have no tutorial written and to be honest, I haven’t given it much thought. Some of you will have seen stories on the news without knowing you knew anybody in peril… I live close to Okanagan Lake – on a clear day, I see it from my favourite chair without even turning my head. On Thursday a wildfire burning some distance west of the lake, blown by high winds, very quickly became a real threat. More than 30,000 people were evacuated via the few arterial roads we have here, within only a dozen hours or so. Then the fire jumped the lake in two spots and started consuming fuel on this side. We watched in horror as the evacuation orders crept closer and closer to our neighbourhood. Ash and embers were blowing around like leaves in the fall. We’re still packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice but we are safe and the threat is gradually diminishing. I know you’ll all understand that I’ve had other things on my mind… Thank you!
