The other day we were headed home from town and headed east on the interstate. Living in No. Calif. we are full into our fire season now and as we came down the on ramp we looked ahead to see a large column of dark grey smoke rising into the air about what appeared to be right over our little community where live. The interstate snakes up and down thru the foothills on its way to Reno and Lake Tahoe so it was difficult to pinpoint exactly where it was coming from. Needless to say the old BP began its upward swing and we both thought for sure we were going to get turned back at our off ramp due a raging fire. I'll make this short. By the time we did reach our off ramp we could then see just a few miles further up the interstate and see that the fire was not at our doorstep. It was also burning on the south side and not the north side of the road where we live. Currently we are into our extreme fire danger season which unfortunately lasts sometimes well into October so we aren't out of the woods by any means yet. Thankfully our local fire stations jumped into action and got it out before it grew and became really dangerous, etc. To all of you who live in fire prone areas, not only in No. Calif. and the rest of the state but also in other states out west that experience this danger, I wish for you a safe season without fires and happy travels when you are out there enjoying what we all enjoy, and that be RVing. Sure feels good to have the old BP back down in normal range again.......... Happy and safe summer travels to all, BankShot................(aka Terry)
Glad to hear you are safe and not much damage was done. We are in a very dry area, so I'd like to remind everyone to be careful with fireworks during this 4th of July holiday. The displays are beautiful, but they can easily start a fire.
We are happy to hear that your home was safe Terry, and your anxiety is understandable. As you know, we are spending the summer in Alberta's Bow Valley (Banff / Lake Louise) area. Right now we are fortunate. The Fire Hazard is only rated as Moderate but the season started out as high and a Fire Ban was imminent. We are visiting primarily Provincial Campgrounds. All come with the Firepit as standard equipment. I do wish common sense also came as standard equipment with a few campers. We have noted many pack up and leave with a hot fire burning in their pit, Children waving burning sticks in the dark to watch the sparks fly and then there is the guy that needs to have his fire loaded with enough wood that it burns outside of the pit. It seems that these folks just don't know that fire demands respect. It only takes a small spark and a little carelessness to endanger the forest and everything in it. Two of the campgrounds we have visited are rustic and only have hand pumps for water and with Fire Fighting equipment miles away, an un-watched camp fire can easily be disastrous. Lets have a safe summer people. Be careful with that campfire. Darrell & Jerry
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many of the fires out here get started by the same type of folks who simply have little to no common sense when it comes to camping and having a fire, etc. And on top of that there are countless idiots driving our roads and freeways that think nothing of tossing their used up but still burning cigarette butts (or other still burning butts a tad more potent) out the window and into the dry brush by the roadside. Takes about 45 seconds for that butt to start what can end up being a disastrous fire that burns 40,000 acres and destroys hundreds of homes and businesses, not to mention sometimes the lives of those people living and working in them. And the "butt throwers" or "campfire morons" have no clue as to what they have done. If they happen to catch the fire starter, they can be held responsible for the countless millions of dollars it cost to fight and put it out. The funny part (not really funny however) is how do they expect this idiot to pay all those millions when he only makes maybe $35,000 a year and doesn't even have insurance or a driver's license due both being cancelled for several DUI's.......... I rest my rant........ Enjoy your summer RVing Darrell. Hope Jerry is keeping you in line........ Regards, Terry...........(aka BankShot)
Hey Terry, Just checking to make sure you have your "Beast" packed and ready to go in case those California fires get any closer.to you. It sounds like they are not all that far away from you already. Stay safe, be prepared and get out quick if you have to. Darrell & Jerry
---------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for the well wishes Darrell. We are safe so far. The fire up around Paradise is about 75 miles from us as the old crow flies and thankfully the winds are not blowing the smoke in our direction...........yet. Terrible fire it is. I heard on the morning news that most of the town of Paradise has been burned to the ground and many hundreds of homes have been lost. What a horrible thing for those folks to go thru. We've had some high winds this past couple of days and everyone is praying and crossing their fingers that some "moron with a match" isn't out in our area looking for a place to start a fire. Wouldn't take much where we live to have the entire area become an inferno very quickly, especially when the winds are gusting. Been here 31 years and have gotten thru several small fires but not a big one like these are.............. You and Jerry travel safely and enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday. We are packing up the "Beast" right now and will be pulling in the anchor early in the morning on the 21st................ Take care, Terry
