Man versus nature...

I woke this evening to a chilly fall wind. Quite a difference from a few weeks ago when we were in the throws of 100 degree plus temperatures with fires all around us. Our emergency department, and many others around the state, kept pretty busy this summer treating the fire fighters that came from all over to battle the persistant flames. Some of the fires were closer to where I live than others but I did get a pretty close look at one.

A few weeks ago I was driving home from work at 3:00 a.m. Even at that hour it was warm outside. I noticed a strange haze hovering in the air. The lingering haze gave the moon an eary amber glow. As I continued to travel toward home I noticed a strange light in the distance. It almost looked like the lights from a line of cars traveling over a far away hill. As I traveled along the winding road that follows the Snake River and the lights disappeared I didn't think much of it. I soon began to be more curious though.

As I rounded each curve I came closer to the hill with the line of lights. I found that the strange line of lights was changing shape but pretty much staying in the same area. The thought crossed my mind that, "this must be a fire!", but just as quickly I dismissed the idea and just kept wondering what the heck was going on. Then, around the next curve, the hill looked as though it was glowing! As I went around the next curve, I could clearly see flames dancing down the hill in the distance. The moon fought through the smoke and now took on a deep reddish orange color with a slightly lighter halo. It gave off just enough light to reveal the black siloette of the hillside above the all consuming flames. What a sight!

This fire was on the Oregon side of the Snake river. The turn off to Weiser came along just short of where the fire was burning. I wanted to get closer (that is the pyro in me) but knew I would probably just get in the way. I reluctantly took the turn off toward home. Once home I sat on my front porch and watched the flames in the distance as they traveled slowly but surley across the hill. I went to bed just before dawn, long before the fire was out. I was thankful that this fire wasn't a danger to anyone. It was in an unpopulated area and and fire fighters were at the scene. The fire was moving slowly enough that no fire fighters were hurt and most of the wildlife was able to escape to safer ground.

A few days later my friend Carolyn and I took a drive up where the fire had been. It really is a wonder that the fire hadn't traveled further than it did. The bushes and grasses in the area were dry and brittle. You could still see the tire tracks left by the fire fighters in the remaining bushes and in the soot. This particular fire was very well contained. Thanks to all the good ol' boys who have been working overtime this year to protect us and our wildlife! TTFN :)