We have a HUGE dangerous wildfire burning at the very edges of town ... this is the third day. 500+ fire engines from all over the tri-state area, 2500 firefighters, huge planes, helicoptors, 9,000 people from my small town already evacuated.

Our power's been cut off several times for a few hours. Last nite we were all out watching the big planes flying over, our ears glued to a neighbor who had a battery op. radio ... and a police car came by and said we MIGHT be evacuated ... we were not, and so far the fire is being kept at bay. Needless to say it was a sleepless night, wondering if we would be drug from our beds to evacuate!!

Keeping fingers crossed, looks like the winds are finally dying down and the threat of evac. is lessening. But that could change. Very stressful!

We had the lowest rainfall on record this winter, 1/3 less than normal, so everything is very dry to begin with. Plus temps in the 90's with winds 20-35 mph the last few days.

The winds whipped the fire onto the Butte College campus last night, but the firefighters managed to put out that fire, despite the winds. Crazy, and very scary.

Churches and fitness centers are open in nearby communities as evacuation shelters, as well as a few in town. Most are taking pets (dogs & cats) too inside so they can stay with their people :-) One guy brought his bird in a cage and the church let the bird come in too :-)

Anyway, it's surreal seeing this play out in my little town in real life ... usually it's something that happens somewhere else, and you just see it on TV.

http://www.paradisepost.com/

Hope you will be okay and your property also

keeping you and your friends and neighbors in my thoughts.

That's scarey Terri so please do take care.

Yikes! That has to be terrifying!! Take care!!

That's scary!!
Hopefully you dont have to evacuate and nothing happens to your home!

Keeping you in my thoughts. We went through this a few years back with the fires here in Florida. It is very scary. :hug:

That's so scary! :omg: Teri :hug: I'm praying for you and everyone there.

That is scary.
Keeping everyone in my thoughts

I heard about this on the weather channel this morning. When I heard the town, I thought....Oh No....that's where ladiibbug lives. (Surprised me that I was coherent enough to realize that at 5 something in the morning.)

I will be keeping you and the furbabies in my prayers, Teri. :hug:

aargh this is soo bad.
Crossing fingers. :erm:

I wish I could send you some of our rain. We have floods all around here.

I'll be thinking about you! Stay safe!

Take care of yourself!!! :hug:

Oh, so scary! I'm crossing my fingers for you and everybody out there too!! :o
It's so nice that the shelters are allowing pets.
:hug: :hug:

Thanks for all your kind words! The fire is 100% contained, maybe even out by now due to the huge influx of fire resources. We didn't have to evacuate.

Life is back to normal ... and it is such a blessing to have life "be normal"!

That is the best news Teri! :hug: I'm glad all is well.

Me too! :grouphug: I was worried about you.

So glad to hear things are good :hug:

We've been evacuated due to the ongoing wildfires! :o A couple of nights ago we got the reverse 911 automated phone message "Immediate Threat" - mandatory evacuation. Then the police came with sirens and loud speakers telling us to leave immediately.

So far the fire has not crossed a river - if it does it could burn up the canyon tht is very close to where I live. So far firefighters are keeping it away, but it's 105* plus, and windy in the canyon. Those poor firefighters, working under those conditions!

So my friend Barb and I are at her friend's house (her friend is away). My dogs were welcomed too. I popped home for a second to water my flowers outside and get an RX from the pharmacy.

Hope to be back home ... soon!

Eek! So sorry to hear this Teri. I do hope they can get it under control and put out. And you can get back home. :hug:

ETA: I hope your house doesn't burn down either! :nono:

Hope they get things under control soon!!! It must be awful!

Look after yourself and do lots of reading!!! :hug:

I think after the news coverage during Katrina of all the people who refused to evacuate because they couldn't take their pets, and all the pets who died or lost their families because of people being forced to leave, that most shelters take them now. People were REALLY pissed about that.

Laddi, I hope that your house stays safe. I'm glad you have somewhere you can go!

All evacuees came home yesterday (Sat.) :whee: It is *sooooo* nice to be home, sleep in my own bed, even tho the house where we were staying was just fine.

The fire thankfully didn't jump the river, so all homes are a-ok in Paradise - but 40 or so homes burned down in a tiny nearby town. :blush:

Didn't read more than 20 pages in those 4 days - no concentration. :cry: Last night the dogs and I went to bed at 6pm and read till midnight!