Peachland Wildfire

Lon · 09-10-2012, 01:07 AM

My nerves are really on end this evening, my grandmother was evacuated from her home today because of a wildfire right underneath her home, and above. And it doesn't look good at all.

Sorry I just had to vent this to someone, she is safe and sound, but her home means so much to me and all our family (I helped my grandfather build it) and its also her Art Gallery and Studio and I know she didn't have the means to take all her artwork with her, and there is decades worth of paintings she had stored.

It is frustrating not having up to the minute information... there are some rainshowers not far to the west of the fire and I'm really praying the wind dies down and the showers drop some precipitation.

humanbecoming · 09-10-2012, 01:12 AM

Ouch.... We live in an area where wildfires are about the only natural disaster, and they can be scary. Fortunately the fire crews will do everything they can to save homes, so hang in there, and we all will be crossing our fingers for your grandma!

Lon · 09-10-2012, 01:20 AM

It is crazy how fast this thing grew. Was a couple acres at 3pm spotted by highway patrol officers, then within a couple hours evacuation orders had been issued several kms away, then by 8pm was over a hundred hectares and the rest of the town was evacuated. Winds were a constant 40km/h and gusting to 70km/h just as this started and blowing toward the lake instead of away as it usually does. Air tankers and helicopters were flying all afternoon, but they don't fly at night apparently.

A lot of livestock was threatened, and I know many people were going into restricted areas with trailers to rescue them (I figure you might appreciate that HB)

humanbecoming · 09-10-2012, 01:30 AM

We have had some close calls here too... piles of animal cages and carriers, photos boxed up, bags packed, and everything ready to leave at a moments notice....

I have never been through an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or any other natural disaster, but I think fire scares me more than what I imagine the others are like.

Lon · 09-10-2012, 01:47 AM

I got caught on the edge of a twister when I was a kid, or maybe it was a plow-wind, but it was insane never experienced anything like that since. I've felt a few minor earthquakes but nothing that bounced me around or anything, have come close to being flooded, but fire has got to be the most intense of all.

In 2003 a wildfire consumed over 25,000 hectares across the lake where my Grandma lives that was quite spectacular as it raced towards the town my parents lived in, at one point they were only 2km away, it destroyed about 240 homes (almost all of them were worth into the millions each). The whole mountain was on fire and you could see it all from grandma's.

humanbecoming · 09-10-2012, 02:36 AM

That sounds like this one a few years ago

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuit_Fire

It was in the mountain rage immediately behind our house

Lon · 09-10-2012, 08:18 AM

Well no updates available this morning, hoping to hear good news.

Lon · 09-10-2012, 08:44 PM

Update: the fires have been partially contained and fire crews were successfully able to keep the fire off of homes in the urban limits, 4 houses were destroyed a bunch of others with some damage, lots of trees burned, some incredibly close to buildings, fire fighters did an amazing job. But this fire is still burning, so hopefully can get it all contained before it gets out of hand again. Without these firefighters, thousands would most definitely be without homes right now!

humanbecoming · 09-10-2012, 11:19 PM

Good to hear Lon!