The winds have picked up today and I cannot even imagine what it must be like for those battling this fire. Accuweather says it’s 108 but our weather station says 111. It really takes my breath way just walking from the house to the shop.
This morning at some point, the fire had burned 800 acres and was 40% contained. Then it had burned 1,200 acres and was 60% contained. Now they’re reporting that it’s burned 2,500 acres and is 30% contained.
This is the site where we seem to get the best, most up to date information. We’re the Buffalo Creek Fire.
The good news (for us . . no doubt bad news for others) is that it looks to be moving away from us. All morning we didn’t see smoke but then when Addie and I went to get the mail, there was a lot of what appeared to be smoke. I kept hoping it was fluffy white clouds. My friend sent me pictures and it was definitely smoke, but off to our east and not right over us like it was last night.
For those not familiar with rural Texas, 2,500 sounds like a huge amount of land, and it is, but there are huge ranches out here – 5,000 acres, or 10,000 acres, or more. (We’re not one of those places!)
2,500 acres is 2,500 acres whether it’s in town or out in the country but houses are very sparse out here. I haven’t heard of structures burning but I may not have heard about it.
Just sitting here typing (5:01 p.m.) and I told Vince “I smell smoke”. He agreed so . . time to go outside and see what’s happening.
How many days til we move? What if I can’t wait that long??
Rita Waldock says
Thinking of you all and praying the fire stays far away from your home.
Judy Laquidara says
Thank you. I think we’re safe but it all depends on the wind.
Kathleen R Robin says
Maybe pack up and move to your apartment with what ever you can take with you and be happy with that I guess. A scary time with wild fires.
Judy Laquidara says
I think we can wait for the house to close. 🙂
Nelle Coursey says
Don’t even think those thoughts. I hope and pray you will all be safe. I can’t imagine what Addie must be going through. Not to mention you and Vince.
Judy Laquidara says
It hasn’t been bad. We know everything can be replaced so long as we get ourselves out safely. Tonight I’m much more confident that we’re ok.
Susan Nixon says
Wild fires can happen anywhere there is something to burn. 2500 acres is a lot, and it sounds like they are having a hard time stopping it. I’m sure they are using everything at their disposal, but I hope it is out soon.
Judy Laquidara says
There are at least half a dozen fires burning in our area now. Just so hard to knock them down with the lack of water and the wind, everything is so dry.
Donna Williams says
So sorry y’all have to deal with this. It can be a bit scary, all depending on the wind. One kind of good thing I was thinking, maybe not, but I was thinking that it is good for Addie to see and learn about calm preparedness. Not everyone gets a chance to learn those lessons and I think from the folks I know anyway, when a crisis of any size occurs, panic ensues. They didn’t have good role models for that. For all I know she may have experienced something like that already, and her parents know how to go about things rationally. As scary as things can be for a child, you and Vince plan carefully and make calm, good decisions. If she’s not learned it before, she has now and will have that to lean on for her whole life. It seems she’s learning lots with this wonderful time with y’all, she’ll never forget that. I used to spend some summer weeks with my precious granddaddy, and I’ll never forget that time. You’re an awesome pair of grandparents.
Laura Haynes says
I wholeheartedly agree!
Christi says
My thoughts are with everyone. Fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes it is all scary.