Fire

Sunday afternoon we began smelling smoke.  I really didn't think much of it because I had heard the tell-tale sounds of training going on at Camp Williams on the other side of the mountain.  This would not be the first time that some of the ammo has started a fire on the range.  But it is rare thing to have it come all the way over the mountain, and to have houses in danger and be told to evacuate the area has NEVER happened (in the 6 years we have lived in our house.)  Well as darkness began to descend and the wind picked up even more than they already were, you could see the fire advancing down the mountain with the wind blowing it directly towards my neighborhood.  Well about 9:30 my neighbor (who also happens to be the elders quorum president) knocked on our door and told us we needed to evacuate.  We went to my mom for the night.  Me and the kids, Jake was already on his way back to Idaho Falls for work.  Today its been hard to know exactly what was happening out that way and when and if we were going to be allowed to go back.  In formation is spotty and changes it seems right after they announce something.  It is a miracle that only three houses were burned.  There are countless places where the fire came right up to houses only to be stopped by dedicated fire fighters risking their lives.  We, as a community, were truly blessed.  I wish that I could post all of the pictures that I have seen showing the evidence of the fire but there are too many.  My favorite is on ksl.com  's picture gallery of the fire was number #13.  (The house that had fire on every side of it but it is untouched.)   This was the view from my front yard today when I went back to have a look..

Disclaimer: This picture makes the fire look like it was  a lot closer to our house than it really was.  There are at least 3 or 4 road between us and the fire line on the hill.  But still WAY to close for comfort.