Brush Fire

Weekend before last Mollie and L were visiting when we had another adventure-a wildfire that threatened our place and caused the Sheriff's Department to tell us to grab what we could and evacuate.

Hots had been working on the deck just after lunch when he smelled smoke. Mollie and I were inside when he asked us to come outside and confirm and then the three of us took off on foot down our driveway and down the road. We found what we thought was the starting point just in time to see an entire cedar tree engulfed in flames. The sight of it and the sound were pretty impressive.
At that point Mollie and I headed home and Hots stayed to direct the fire department who he'd called a couple of minutes prior.

The sheriff's department was there promptly and told everyone on our dead end road to grab what we could and evacuate right away; the fire would jump the road.

That brought on a strange set of emotions-mostly excitement-as we told the kids to put a few of their favorite things (& a change of clothes) into their backpacks and be ready to go.  Hots and I did the same.

Mollie was super helpful and gathered several items for us.  Then we loaded the pups and headed down the hill where we met Kaydie, some other neighbors, and Jim, who had heard about the fire and came to check on us.

Mollie and Jim chatting.

Kaydie got in with us.

L, J, & SK

I think we sat there for over an hour visiting and periodically getting updates from Hots who was helping get people evacuated and delivering water to the first responders.  Hots had wanted to be a fireman years ago and I think he was in his element.  He also made a brief appearance in a news clip.  Look for the guy in the t-shirt with the sleeves cut off.  We're all surprised he wasn't interviewed as a representative of the greater Kerrville area that would've had excellent remix potential.

Another favorite moment from this day was when Cousin Jackson (who was out of town at the time and had heard of our situation) texted me this message: 
"Dear Jack and Luke, If you want to come to our house you can. If you do come to our house you are allowed to play my X-box.  Remember to turn it on you hold down the big X on the top middle of the controller.  Also, feel free to play with my Legos, nerf guns, and books.  It's okay to leave a big mess because I will clean it all up."

J's immediate response: "Let's just assume our house burned down," to which L replied, "YEAH!"

We like to think we're raising our kids to not be all wrapped up in material things so maybe this is a sign we're on the right track?

Hots took this photo of the fire right across from our entrance where firefighters fought hard for over an hour, successfully preventing it from jumping our road.

These were taken down the road where we first discovered the fire.

Mollie had the best suggestion-That we take the kids and hit Gatti's.  Perfect since it was WAY too hot that day to be at a park.  Worked out well but this is the only photo of SK is the only I got. 

Here are some of our fab first responders.

There were several fire departments dispatched and they did an amazing job containing the fire (which is thought to have been the result of faulty wiring in an outbuilding).  We appreciate our first responders!