Last night my husband and I were sharing cocktails on our front deck and I went in to feed the dog. When I came back out there was a noticeable difference in the colors outside. Last year when this happened there was a fire and we were seeing evidence of a fire again yesterday. Today I wanted to share photos that I took from our area. We are approximately 17 air miles north of this fire.
Here is a photo taken when we first saw smoke.
Seeing smoke
Here is another shot from a different angle.
Smoke rising
As we watch the smoke thickens.
The smoke thickens
Heading inside we turn on the news. KCRA 3 in Sacramento did a fine job of covering the fire for all of us. The next series of photos is from their news broadcast.
From the air
A house starts to burn. One thing to notice about this place is that they did not create defensible space around their home, which is one of the reasons this went up so fast. The trees are too close to this house.
A house starts to burn
A few minutes later, here is the same house.
The house a few minutes later
Here is a property with the fire approaching a fruit orchard. These folks prepared and have defensible space.
Defensible space
One more shot from KCRA 3. This is of one of the airplanes dropping retardant on the fire. The shot is from their helicopter.
Plane dropping retardant
Heading back outside and looking up, what you see are not clouds but smoke.
Smoke not clouds
Here is a shot as the sun sets…
As the sun sets
As I sat outside, I thought I should take a photo that shows ash fall. It was coming down in our area like a very light snow. The first shot is when I first sat down; the second is only a few minutes later.
My pants
My pants 3 minutes later
This fire went from 30 acres to 1300 in no time. It is only, as I write, 20% contained. So far this morning we do not see any smoke as the wind is blowing from east to west. We have not yet been told about the cause of this fire.
Where ever you are, we hope that you are safe. And, as Smokey says, “Only you can prevent forest fires!”
Thank you for dropping in and be well!
I hope it doesn’t get any closer to you. Very scary stuff. We are getting lots of that smoke over on this side of the hill, too. cough cough yuck 😦
And your hillside is where? My you be safe where ever you are!
Oh. Oops. in Reno … totally safe for now
The smoke blows in our direction (north of Placerville) in the late afternoons so the colors really intensify. May you continue to be safe! ^..^
Yes, the sunsets have been interesting.
I bet they have been very colorful!
Sounds scary!
I have a friend who lives in the area where the fire is burning. The fire was started by a car driving over dried grass. It is now 4000 acres and only 35% contained.
Your photos of the fire’s smoke is hopefully a reminder to everyone to be careful no matter where one lives. I know the western US has been battling drought and now fires, even in usually moist Washington. Wildfires are a huge threat to everything in their path and don’t just affect people, poor animals are there as well. A thought goes out to all the firefighters risking their lives in the summer’s heat to get this under control, quickly and safely.
And your quote from Smokey, who turned 70 this year, is always a reminder –
“Only You…….”
Thank you for your thoughts PJ!
that is so scary and way too close (to you) for my comfort… it’s tragic how so much of the northern hemisphere is suffering from drought and wildfires… i hope that rains come through and cool everything down soon.
z
It is supposed to be a El Nino year, which hopefully will give us the much needed rains. Just last year we had two fires on our street and I will tell you there is nothing more frightening that watching a pine tree go up in flames like a matchstick!
the page isn’t loading – imagine that! – but i will be going to town later today and will be back for a peek.
thank goodness for inbox notices, which i use to reply/comment when the normal pages don’t load well.
i hope that all fires stay way way way away from you!
z
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so scary—an such a helpless situation
Prayers for protection and an end to the flames
Julie
It is scary indeed! We are hoping that this is the only fire event up here. We still have 2 1/2 months to go before the rains start. Thank you for the prayers! ^..^
It would be very scary to be that close to a forest fire. Thanks for the close up report.
Last year we had a fire right down the street. Here is my post with photos. Too Close for Comfort!