Sunday, July 19, 2009

Not again...



Yesterday afternoon a fire started behind Gorman's mill on Hwy. 97, just on the other side of Westbank, or West Kelowna as it's now known as, in Glenrosa. As of right now, over 4500 homes have been evacuated, 9 lost, one fires is over 300 hectares, the other, yes, there are at least 2, is over 30 hectares.


It's been 6 years since the 'Fire Storm', and even though this fire is across the lake, so we are safe, we know a lot of people that are affected. This fire has spread so fast because of the dryness and lack of rain, and the wind, the wind just won't stop yesterday.


We went for a drive last night, it's easier to see the fire at night and Kerry kept saying that there was smoke over another area on the westside, I thought maybe the wind had blown it that way, but all the other smoke was south of us. Sure enough on the radio on the way home there was another fire, up in the Rose Valley area.


The same eerie feeling that the city had in 2003 is back again. The sun has an ominous red glow, the air smells of smoke, but not the same as when you go camping because you know this isn't a good smell, and as far away as we are, we have chunks of ash falling on us.




These pictures are not mine, they are from the news site...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow that is so scary. I was still living in Iowa when the really bad fires were here. David wasnt evacuated but my aunts 5 million dollar home was, and others I know had tons of smoke and ash. Its scary and I hope everyone you know that is affected is safe.

Shannon said...

The unpredictability of fires is so scary.. I'm glad you guys are safe. The thought of people losing their homes, or worse, is just so heartbreaking.

Linda Beeson said...

Oh man, don't you hate the destruction from fires like this? We have had a couple here in Southern California in the last few days too. Always a thing to worry about.

bcgal00 Rae said...

So terrible for the families that lost their homes...but I am glad you guys are safe.