Well here we go again. Doesn't it seem like just the other day I was posting about that other huge fire near Ellensburg?! Crazy to think that was 2 years ago. On Saturday we got a WONDERFUL dose of rain, but unfortunately lightning came with it. That night at about 9 I got a text from my boss, asking if we could see the fire from our house. I had no idea what was going on and quickly ran outside. I couldn't see anything and hopped in the Explorer and went around the block. I was shocked, the whole hillside was on fire. Here are some pics from the newspaper:
Lightning sparked it and for Saturday through Tuesday morning they were able to keep it at about 1,800 acres. It kept moving, but there were able to keep it about that size. There were many evacuations, including the Shabin, where we first moved into when Mike and I first moved to Ellensburg. Luckily, that area is ok, however, 10 or 12 homes have been lost and about 20 outbuildings. The fire is moving away from town, which is good, but it is moving up a canyon that I am sure is just covered in down/dead timber. Add to it the wind that we had today and the fire doubled in size this afternoon. I remember looking out my office window at 3:30 and thinking I just saw a cloud coming in. At 4:30 the entire sky in that same area was covered in smoke.
Mike has to work tonight, so Hunter and I went for a walk to check it out. I am also thinking it might be our last walk outside for a few days. The smoke is just crazy, however, we can't really smell it yet - which is good!
The view from our driveway.
At the end of our driveway.
Out on Brick Road, you turn just after that sign to go to our house.
All the fire trucks and firefighters are camped at the Fair Grounds, so we walked around the outskirts so Hunter could see the trucks. He was super excited.
Our favorite burger joint is on the main drag and right next to the fairgrounds. So (naturally) we stopped, shared a burger and fries, and sat outside on a picnic table and watched all the firetrucks go by. Hunter was loving it! We even saw some trucks from Nevada. He would wave at all of them and yell "wee-oooo wee-oooo"!!!
...when he wasn't shoving his mouth full of "Hamboogar"
On the way home on the top of the hill you can see how much more of the smoke had come in. I am on the opposite side of the street, about an hour later, from the picture taken above with the speed limit sign.
Luckily, the wind usually blows East, so hopefully we won't see an impact to our air quality. AND, more importantly, it will push the fire even further away from town. I can't imagine fighting a fire, with all that gear on, in 100-degree heat. So grateful to all those helping out!
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