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Post by mickster on Aug 31, 2006 21:59:35 GMT -5
Had a real scare this afternoon. I just finished taking a bath and drying my hair, was about 4 p.m. I smelled smoke outside so went to the sunroom and looked out OHMYGOD, not 100 feet from my house, FLAMES 40 feet high moving in my direction. I came back into the house, had jammies on, I was dialing 911 and trying to get my jammies off at the same time, rang to 911 30 or 40 times, they didn't answer. I hung up the phone and ran to put clothes on, knock at kitchen door, kid from across the street telling me there is a fire behind my house. He said his mom called the fire dept and they are on their way out, THANK GOD! I ran out and turned the water hose on, as did my next door neighbor, pitiful water pressure but thinking every little bit helps, flames were coming closer up the hill, neighbors were coming from their houses to mine because I have a cleared area where they could stand and help spray water, dirt, whatever. The fire dept finally got there. Four trucks. THANK GOD! My area is cleared quite well but there is, was, tall cheatgrass in other areas very close to the houses. Fire went up the hill to the house two doors from me, burned his porch. The fire was started by kids setting off fire crackers. There are at least 200 houses in the immediate area, an entire community could have gone up in flames! I hope those kids are caught and their behinds whipped until they bleed............Fortunately the fire was put down before it did too much damage, fire dept is one and a half miles away, only an acre of open field, and that one porch burned. But it really came close, within 30 feet. I'd have fought to my death, but glad I didn't have to. I'm kind of sick in the stomach yet. The county own the property but they have not been out here to clear it in years. It's a matchbox! Ouuu, I'm so angry, but I need to get it off my chest.
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Post by Arrianna on Sept 1, 2006 18:42:00 GMT -5
That sounds really freaky. Any chance of them catching the kids?
Wildfires are the worst, I'm glad it was only an acre that burned.
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Post by herringchoker on Sept 1, 2006 19:55:21 GMT -5
Wow, mickster, what a scare! Glad to hear you're ok.
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Post by allezcuisine on Sept 1, 2006 20:48:45 GMT -5
Wow! I am glad you are alright! That must have been horrible.
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Post by Man Alive! on Sept 1, 2006 21:04:57 GMT -5
I'm glad you're okay and there's no property damage. I wonder if those troublemakers will be caught...
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Post by mickster on Sept 1, 2006 21:41:44 GMT -5
The fire master is doing a complete investigation, going around the neighborhood questioning people. They have a good idea who the kids were. The property that burned is owned by the county, and they have not done anything to reduce growth of cheatgrass, which has grown to three feet and very thick. I sent an e-mail to a local tv channel reporter whom I know. He came out here today with a photographer and did an interview and took pics of the area. He is doing a tv report, wants to force the county to take action to clean up the weeds. It hasn't been on yet. I didn't realize he was going to interview me, so I'm in yard clothes. Anyway, the important thing is to get the county to wakeup! It's amazing how helpless I felt when those powerful flames and all that smoke was heading to my house. It was just by the grace of God that the winds whipped around and came from the opposite direction. Well, all is well. They will find the culprits. I took a case of suckers over to the fire dept this morning to say thanks. Met the gal and guys who saved us. Got lots of hugs. AWESOME PEOPLE
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Post by Arrianna on Sept 2, 2006 11:45:05 GMT -5
Good. I hope it works. Brush during dry season is nothing to laugh at.
Good for you for recognizing them and their hard work.
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Post by allezcuisine on Sept 2, 2006 12:29:18 GMT -5
That was very nice of you to go over to them, Mick. I hope they catch these kids soon.
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Post by mickster on Sept 2, 2006 15:44:10 GMT -5
Yes, I, all of us around here, want to see that those kids are made responsible, and even have to pay the cost for what they did. The Brad man said he saw me on tv last night on the news. I didn't but he is coming over for bbq in an hour, so I'm going to pick his brain for info. I was so nervous. Probably pretty funny.
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