A long night... wildfire threat... pics

[reuben_j_cogburn]

This summer here in the valley has been very hot and dry the past couple weeks..... With temps in the mid 80's to low 90's, and no rain, things have gotten really crispy...

There has been a ban on open fires and fireworks for over a week.... But ..... The stores in Wasilla were still selling fireworks....
And of course you know..... it had to happen....
Yesterday (July 3rd), approximately 3pm, a wild fire broke out near Montana creek road., just a few miles from where I stay in the summer. It quickly grew to 75, then almost 300 acres.
With all the beetle kill spruce tree's the whole area is prime for a fire.
Three tankers were brought in, as well as several hotshot crews and smoke jumpers....I left work (3:30), raced home and packed the guns and what I could squeeze into the suburban, and waited for info to evacuate... The smoke was black and thick, but fortunately there was no real wind.
The tankers were flying pretty low over the house. I wanted to get some good shots but I was kinda busy loading the suburban.. Plus my phone and camera.. being digital.. need to be woken up every few minutes.. and by the time they do the shot is gone.. I do have a few pics,, they aren't very good.. I'll post them soon...
The tankers moved off the the S.E. by about 7:30pm. But I set my alarm for every hour in case I fell asleep..... I did......
Right now I have to unload the truck, and wipe my guns down... :?

The lesson?? maintain my ready deployment status!! I'm gonna get my horse trailer, prepped for any future events!!

Happy 4th.....

ciao gang.....

p.s. last report.. no homes lost.. no injuries or deaths....

view from montana creek.. By this time the smoke was not as impressive..

Tanker over the house....

 

[arfmel]

Glad your place was spared. Wildfires are scary things. And they can move so fast.

 

[Mobuck]

"This summer here in the valley has been very hot and dry the past couple weeks..... With temps in the mid 80's to low 90's, and no rain, things have gotten really crispy.."

Gee, if I'd known it was getting that dry, I'd have boxed up some of the Midwest's humidity and shipped it up.

 

[mohavesam]

One got within four miles of my headboard two summers ago. My home got slurry-bombed, JIC. About a week of waking all night to woodsmoke, surroundes by 100-ft pines. 20,000 acres lost.

Heckuva feeling. All you can do is Prepare to run, before there is a fire...

 

[gramps]

Planting rice yet Mobuck? Glad things turned out good for you Rueben!
gramps

 

[blume357]

Now that I think about it, growing up, forest fires were pretty common . this was in rural S.C. The Rail Road that ran through our property was a common problem... wheel on one of the freight cars would lock up about every two years and the sparks would set the woods ton fire... then there was the time my cousin Skeet was playing with matches behind my grand mother's house down the road... and the time my other cousin who was staying with us caught the trash can on fire and my mother had me carry it outside and I just set it down in the back yard and did not put it out. And lastly was about 15 years ago I was visiting my parents and it seems someone through a cigarette out by the road... now none of these were light what Rooster described... only probably 20 or 30 acres burned.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

It is still burning, but has shifted south. Not a lot of details. But if it is going south, there are a lot of houses that way, as it will be paralleling the Parks Hiway.
So far they claim zero containment. The tankers are still flying.
I have put my stuff back in the house, but after I do some work today, I will be working on a bugout SOP.
I have a horse trailer, that I have been using for storage. I will get that road ready. In case of future events.

Funny.. It wasn't difficult to decide what to take when I loaded the first time....
Dogs, guns, clothes and my teddy bears.......
Fortunately, my camping and hunting equipment are already in duffels so it was quick to load.....

I'll keep you updated..

ciao... reuben..

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Stay safe out there. Wind shifts can come quick.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

The last report is that the fire is now mostly smouldering but could flare up at any time. The fact that it has only grown to 340+ acres is probably due to the quick response by fire crews, and the lack of any wind..or breeze even.....
We are much more fortunate, (so far), than the fire down on the Kenai, which has taken about 85,000 acres.... and no doubt many cabins.
I sure hope we get a break from the heat soon.... It is currently +88 degrees here inside the subway shop at mile 99...... yes inside.... we usually don't need air conditioning here!!.....
I this where someone chimes in with the ,"but it's a dry heat", thing??

later dudes...
reuben....

 

[BearBio]

Agree it can be scary. Had to evacuate the office twice and went on alert at home once=watched the flames come down the mountain!

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

Fer sure.... I am working this weekend to really make myself more mobile.
At least most of my stuff is stored in duffel bags so packing is pretty fast..... Funny.... Since I was in the army, I have never really, fully unpacked...
That's a good thing I guess....

 

[gramps]

Fer sure.... I am working this weekend to really make myself more mobile.
At least most of my stuff is stored in duffel bags so packing is pretty fast..... Funny.... Since I was in the army, I have never really, fully unpacked...
That's a good thing I guess....

The Army taught you how to pack for quick deployment. :shock: That never goes out of vogue! :mrgreen:
gramps

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

Well.... people were unpacking and the returning to normal, with the fire being contained, when at about 3:30 pm today.. (sunday).. another fire broke out 1 mile north of the other one.
With a light breeze to the north, this one is moving towards a populated area.
Montana creek road is being evacuated and the Jet tankers, which I learned are from Canada, have returned.
Sirens are wailing as they head down Yoder road.. (I think it is Yoder)...
There is not a lot of info yet, other than the evacuation, and that priority is being put on saving structures. I am staying in ready mode in case of a shift in the wind....
There is almost no rain in the 10 day, but we are supposed to be rid of this heat wave....

I'll keep ya updated...

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Reuben, I think it's time to head out. I hear the fire is going up Yoder Road. That's not good. I used to camp up there and ride 4 wheelers. Nice area, but if the fires there, it's time to get out. Other wise access to the highway could get cut off.
Keep us posted.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

I was mostly packed and ready..... I am south of Yoder (closer to the Parks Hiway), so was not in any immediate danger unless the wind changed.
The tankers helped a lot, and the last word I got was the the evac center, (senior center), had closed. As of right now you can't see any thick smoke, but the sun is very red. Nor is there any smell of smoke in the air. About 40 fire fighters remain on the site...
Here is a link to the fire... I think.... https://akfireinfo.com/2019/07/08/crews-working-to-get-containment-line-in-on-malaspina-and-montana-creek-fires-type-2-imt-ordered/

If not you can see it at https://akfireinfo.com the montana creek road and malaspina loop fires are the ones near by... but a lot of Alaska is burning.

I'll stay semi packed until we get some rain..... I am working, only a mile from where I stay.. so I am close by, and I do get warnings on my phone......