Looks like Forest Fire Season has hit our area.....

[Miniv]

Us folks in Central Oregon are currently surrounded on three sides with some major fires..... and all three have grown to 4000 or more acres burned -- EACH, not in total! The closest is about 30 miles away.

So far, only one (the closest) has forced families to evacuate with another community being put on alert. Fortunately no homes have been burned at this point.

Not sure if the two Forum members who live closer to Bend are being affected (Kathy - Minisaremighty and Deb - CAM) by the smoke.......when I drove through that part of the area today it wasn't bad because of the way the wind was blowing. But north into Redmond and in my area (Powell Butte) it is VERY smokey and brown. I had to put my headlights on as I got closer to home!

Yes, we've had to deal with this almost every year, but it's been awhile since I've had to smell this much smoke. Also, being on the flight path for all of the water carriers makes it interesting.......

MA

 

[nootka]

Oh, I hope they get these under control, soon. I've been watching the news...I love that area so much and hate to see people's homes and animals threatened.

I see some of our teams from Clatsop County went to your area to help out.

Best wishes!

Liz

 

[Vicky Texas]

How scary, please be careful. If they get close please get out.

Please keep us updated.

Vicky

 

[Miniv]

No, we aren't threatoned. Our place is directly east of the closest fire and it's burning to the north.

Just saw on the news that another community has been evacuated, though. And it's grown to 5700+ acres.

Our weather is cooling down a little today and tomorrow. Hopefully this will be helpful for the fire fighters.

MA

 

[sedeh]

I hate fires! There is nothing scarier because they happen so fast and often no warning! Our area of Oregon hasn't had much yet this year(keeping my fingers crossed). If any of you guys in your area need a place to bring your mini's let me know! I came home from a show a couple of weekends ago and one of our neighbors had had a fire caused by his hot wire sparking. Burned all along his 5 acre fence line but luckily our local fire dept and forestry jumped on it and got it out.....still scared me though! Much too close!

 

[minisaremighty]

Yes, were pretty much burning up around here. I'm not close but the smoke has been coming and going. When it's here, it's thick and heavy (last night I had to wear a scarf over my face to do my chores. Haven't been able to have the windows open in days (fortunately, the temps have dropped and were not in the high 90's and 100+ anymore, so that helps with having to keep the house closed up at night). Having to keep my asthmatic daughter inside and we have had to dust ash off the cars the last two mornings. My step sister-in-law is one of the many evacuees, but fortunately for her, she and her hubby own another house in Bend, out of the fire area. Praying for rain and a lot of it. We've had an unusually dry year. :no:

 

[Sterling]

A few years ago we had some left over remnant smoke breezes from up Canada way...it was very eerie and way too unusual. I hope all those fires out your way and in CA settle down soon...very scarey!

 

[JennyB]

[SIZE=12pt]Oh Maryann, I will keep you, your family, animals, Deb, Kathy and all the others in my prayers that cool weather and rain will help the brave fire fighters knock those fires OUT ![/SIZE]

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Fires can be so scary and with the terrible high heat we have been having-the forests are ripe for fires! :new_shocked: It has cooled off here today in the 70's with clouds, but the winds are high and we have dusty condition here today.

Many years ago we had a terrible fire storm just north of Spokane and it was very ugly with many homes burned, lost trees, lost pets and people left without anything but horrible memories :no:

We have a very wide fire break all around our 60 acres, but I know that if the condition were perfect for fires, that wouldn't help much other than getting equipment through...

Stay safe!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL,

Many {{{HUGS}}}

Jenny

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[ChrystalPaths]

My prayers will be for all human and animals to be safe.

 

[CharmedMinis]

Oh YUK!!! Fires are so nerve wracking. I live right on a treelined ditch bank, and not far from the bosque (forest on both sides of the river), and I'm constantly nervous about fires this time of year.

Hugs and good thoughts being sent your way Maryann!!!

 

[CAM]

Yeah Maryann, we are just a couple miles from you up on the butte. The smoke is just thick today and I wouldn't let the kids outside to play as we have some asthma here. All the windows are closed but I swear I can still smell it. We only have one horse here right now that I keep checking on because she is our aging pony. The rest are down in the Medford area (3 1/2) hours away getting ready for their photo shoot.

I just spoke to one of our neighbors who recently sold their home because they are building in the Sisters, OR area (where the fire is) to see exactly where their new property is. It is in the Tollgate area which is next on the list to be evacuated. Fortunately, they only have the foundation up right now but it is slowing the progress as the contractors are not allowed in to complete any jobs.

I am going to go on the news website so I can see the latest and keep updated. Hopefully the wind will shift again and blow this smoke out of here. Not a single mountain top in site right now.

 

[Miniv]

Debra, I've been watching the news reports on-line as well......Tollgate has indeed been evacuated.

Kathy, so you guys are now also getting the smoke??? That means the winds are shifting......

I'm sorry that you BOTH are dealing with kids with breathing problems! That makes it rough!!!!

These aren't the worst fires we've seen in the last few years in acres burned, but they are threatoning more people's homes. I think the last big one that hit people's neighborhoods was the "Skeleton Fire" and we took part in helping to evacuate animals for that. So far, things haven't gotten that bad with the one by Sisters.

I just do NOT like this breeze that's kicking up! Not good.

MA

 

[CAM]

I read that the fire doubled in size today to 8500 acres and also about the evacuation of Tollgate. :no: They did say that the firefighters have been working on the lines closest to homes and neighborhoods and so far, they have kept it at bay but winds were expected to pick up tonight however, with lower temperatures. Hopefully we will hear some truely favorable news soon.