The home of the author was threatened by a wildfire that started from lightning strikes over the weekend. While the author evacuated with their dogs, their husband Tom stayed behind to help firefighters. When the author returned the next day, they found their home had been damaged by the fire but was still standing. The volunteer firefighters worked hard and were able to save the home, showing the compassion that drives them to help others in need during fires. The author feels blessed that between God and the firefighters, their home was spared.

1. The Fire
• Sunday 09-09-12
What started as some
lightening strikes Saturday
evening, ended up
with us being evacuated
Sunday.
Tom stayed behind with other
firefighters while I took off
for town with our 4 dogs.
The following is what I saw
when I returned Monday.

2. This is directly in front of our house looking at Hiway 174.

3. Looking back from our house along our entry lane
to our shop.

4. Yup…it got a little hot at the house.

5. Looking back at our house through our “little forest”.
Here is
where the
“melted
planter”
was
located.

6. You would not believe how dense the underbrush used to
be here!

7. Looking into our little forest.

8. Still small fires going when we walked through.

9. Behind our house at our pet cemetery, hard to see but
there is still a white cross standing.

10. Our little plastic mail box is still standing…

11. …our little smiley faces are not.

12. If you ever have a chance to say “thanks” to or give a hug to a
Volunteer Firefighter, please do so. It is their compassion and
hunger to help others that saved our house. There was a time
when it looked like the house would be lost because the little
forest went up in a wall of flames. The firefighters headed out
by our mailbox, including Tom, much to his chagrin. One of
the Grand Coulee trucks drove up the highway to check out
the situation better and he came back to say…”Come on
everyone. I think we can save it!” And they did. They all
went back up our lane, including Tom, much to his joy, and
literally worked with all the mettle they possessed and saved
our home.
Don’t let these pictures fool you, Tom and I are doing just fine
because between God and a handful of rural volunteer
firefighters, we are truly blessed.