Big fire near our place!

[SoCalChris]

So we were coming home from town this afternoon, watching the smoke rising from a large fire that has been burning in the wilderness area by us for the past few weeks. As we came around a hill, we noticed a small plume of smoke rising near our home. The small plume of smoke quickly spread into a large plume.

 

Currently, the community a few miles south of us is evacuated, and there are rumors that most of it has burned. So far, it doesn't look like the fire will spread to us, but we're not taking chances. I'll be up all night tonight watching it. Here's some pictures that I took of it earlier.

 

[Wingnut]

Had fun with fires earlier this year myself.

 

My backyard.

 

 

 

 

Be safe man

[Elwood 2000]

Those are amazing pictures! Hope is does not head your way!

[Black02Silverado]

Stay safe and hopefully it will be under control soon and not come near you.

[SoCalChris]

It's come a little closer, it's about 1/2 a mile from us now. We're under an evacuation standby, a shift in the wind will result in an immedeate evacuation.

 

The fire has grown quite a bit since yesterday. Last night it was around 300 acres, tonight it is estimated at around 13,000. It's mostly in the Gallatin National Forest, but it has already burned several houses in the community just to our south.

[bd_hotshot]

Chris...Don't know if you're into the fire scene or not but....try going to wildlandfire.com and signing up for the new fire post bulletin board. They have info on many new starts and big fires. It will tell you what the status on the fire is. Use it all the time down here in Cali. Even post every now and again. Let me know if you need any help or info. I work fire down in so cal and should be able to come up with something bd_hotshot@yahoo

 

 

Rich

[bd_hotshot]

Also can try http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html I believe you're fire is the South Pine fire. GL

 

Rich

[SoCalChris]

Actually, the Big Creek fire is the one that's close to us. The South Pine fire is about 10-15 miles North of us, and is burning in a wilderness area. Since it's in a protected wilderness area, they're pretty much letting that one burn.

 

The conditions are getting a lot better here though. The wind has pushed the fire into an area that burned about 5 years ago, so there isn't much fuel there. Our neighborhood is the only populated area that's threatened at all, so almost all of their efforts are on preventing the fire from coming any closer to us. Also, the temperature dropped 20-30 degrees from what it was over the weekend, and it is raining today. Last night was the first time since it started that we couldn't see any flames from our house.

 

Things are looking good with the fire