Smokey the Bear said....ONLY YOU can PREVENT Forest Fires

After our relatively dry winter and spring...you would have to say that the ground in our state is "fairly" dry (yes, "that" being an understatement)...we knew it was only a matter of time before fires started to break out and the world begin to burn up.We have had many fires in our state, but only a few weeks ago did we get our first big one here. It was just up the mountain from our sweet little town. It was a scary sight to look up the canyon and see thick smoke billowing down toward our home. We could smell the smoke, see the smoke and even often TASTE the smoke! One evening several days after the fire broke out, we took a ride up the canyon to get a better look. 

 We saw ALOT of smoke, alot of black, dead and sad looking brush and trees.  

 The fire was much closer to the road that I had imagined....close enough that in some places we could see the orange flame.

I t was hard to see all the pretty lush greenery burnt to a pile of ash.

 Many cabins were lost and property damaged, but no injures or lives were lost...which is a blessing. .

 As of today, the "Church Canyon Fire" (which is what they named it) is 100% contained...we have had hoards and hoards of fire fighters camping out at the fair grounds, getting little OR no sleep and fighting to keep this fire from coming farther down the mountain where it would threaten oil rigs, homes and peoples lives. We can never repay these wonderful men and women who fought, and continue to fight, so hard to protect us.

 Fires are a wicked, wicked thing. They destroy everything in their path and are no respecter of  person or property. We appreciate all that's been done and is continuing to be done to keep our little area safe! Thank you...to you wonderful, selfless, kind hearted firefighters that are JUST DOING YOUR JOB, but do it for my benefit!

 Although the fires are an ugly, harsh, and terrible thing...the smoke they leave floating behind

can make for a very cool sunset!

BUT I have to say, I'm glad we are NOW smokeless and "orange sunset" free....!