We first saw the column of smoke about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon. After taking a drive to get a better look and realizing the fire was coming directly at us, we started loading the valuables in our cars. We got the reverse 911 call to leave about 7:00, we were some of the first to be evacuated. Some friends came up to help get all our cars out. The fire was moving so fast I was pretty sure the house would be gone by Sunday morning. Fortuantely, the crews were able to establish a line about 2 miles southwest of the house, and so far they have been able to hold it. I know that the house is still standing because my answering machine answers my hourly calls. We are concerned about southwest winds forecast for today and tomorrow, which would blow the fire towards us, but the various fire agencies and the National Guard are here in force and cutting a massive firebreak around the north and east of the fire.
Here's a link to a map of the fire, scroll down and click on the Ponderosa link. Our house is at the top right corner of the fire, just outside the red perimeter line (the fire has not gotten to that line). Our place is just off Long Hay Flat Rd. about a mile south of Highway 44. If you zoom in, you can even see our street (Pine Lane) and house.
http://wv.enplan.com/
We are staying with friends just west of Shingletown and are safe, comfortable and very well fed, though Otis is not happy, being confined to a small travel trailer. Hoping to be able to go home Thursday or Friday and get our lives back to normal.
Here's a link to a map of the fire, scroll down and click on the Ponderosa link. Our house is at the top right corner of the fire, just outside the red perimeter line (the fire has not gotten to that line). Our place is just off Long Hay Flat Rd. about a mile south of Highway 44. If you zoom in, you can even see our street (Pine Lane) and house.
http://wv.enplan.com/
We are staying with friends just west of Shingletown and are safe, comfortable and very well fed, though Otis is not happy, being confined to a small travel trailer. Hoping to be able to go home Thursday or Friday and get our lives back to normal.