all is well
"are you calling to report a forest fire?" the voice over the telephone said.
"no, i am wondering if we are being emergency evacuated" i replied
*****************************
since saturday evening, smoke replaced rain as the clouds causing us most concern. we have had perfect weather since our arrival to canada, and the kids have been perfect. we had a great week with penny, doug, karen, grant and lita. and now, saturday night, there was a report of a fire. in westbank. the glenrosa area. (at left, map of the fire in relation to our fintry location prior to evacuation on july 23)
it didn't really affect us, although we did feel guilty. and received many wonderful phone calls from concerned friends.
and then, we heard rumours of another, closer fire.
by tuesday night, ash was drifting down and we knew this fire was spreading. there was little in the news about it due to the fact it wasn't in a populated area. the focus was still on the glenrosa fire. the skies were cloudy and you could smell smoke in the air. we started packing. small bags. (at left, map of the fire in relation to our fintry location the morning after evacuation on july 24)
Maureen in the news…
and wednesday morning we were placed on evacuation alert. and the kids learned for the first time that there were forest fires nearby. they were concerned and wanted to leave RIGHTTHENTHATMINUTE but we convinced them we would leave in plenty of time. last night as the sun was a red bloody globe in the sky and smoke and haze and ash and char floated down sebastian observed, "this looks like hell does." i did a lot of remining the kids of jeremiah and God's promise to us that He has a plan for us, a plan NOT to harm us, but a plan that we should grow. repeated that one a lot.
i talked to my dad and we agreed that we should pack up the car that night. so we did. and last night i slept downstairs in case emergency services came by. the kids slept with me. no ess. but at 9.50am, we got the alert. and in 15 minutes, we were on the road.
i had to leave behind a lot of stuff. carseats, even. we did not drive incredibly safely to vernon, but i was so proud of the kids. they were so impressive.
the fire, after five days, is only 20 per cent contained and has burned up over 4000 hectares. there was some rain today, but not enough to make a difference. there is smoke in vernon, and we are safe and we are so grateful. (left, terrace mountain fire on july 22 from Kelly Hayes – Castanet)
i cannot say enough for the salvation army and how welcome they and the other volunteers in vernon made us feel. the SA had free tim hortons donuts and they were offering them so generously along with CHEETOS that the kids must have thought they came into town for a party. almost.
i found us hotel rooms, and we are here for the next couple of days. we can;t stay in limbo forever, the kids will get bored very soon of hotel life. who knows what we will do. be grateful for our safety, that's for sure. my dad was brilliant.
night. i am exhausted but can't sleep. just woke up from a dream where someone was hurting the kids. going to channel surf.
