zRants

(Thanks for all your kind comments. Here is the latest from Maria who is up around Ukiah…)

Dear Maude and All,

Thank you for your notes! It is scary at times - BUT we all can do much good here because so much is what they call “hand work”. Also they want us to get each of our homesteads fire safe. The fire so far has been slow moving. Coming closer but not that fast. I just inspected the new fire break that was cut today by CalFire and two convict crews - can you imagine that, “con-crews”. It is right below and slightly to the east of our house which is disappointing, was hoping they would take a stand closer to the fire and further away from our houses. We ended up just outside the border where they are hoping to take yet another stand if the fire breaches the fire break again.

Also, amazingly, we had “resources” here for the first time today. It was just like in Artaud during rush hour - three helicopters passing over us at the rate of one every two minutes, dipping their buckets into private ponds around us and dropping it on the fire. We can see the helicopter flying toward the ridge getting into position, hovering and then those beautiful small waterfalls come crashing down from the bucket. Tomorrow they are hoping to set a series of back fires in Redwood Canyon to cut off the approach of the Jack Smith fire from that direction.

As far as your question is concerned, yes. With the help of a neighbor and his mowing truck I actually created a helicopter landing place very close to Jeff’s and my place. We have one of the few flat spots without trees right outside out houses and just needed to cut the knee deep grass. We will be able to cal in the medical evacuation helicopter to pick up injured people. The mowed area is large enough to be a fire safe zone and if things all of a sudden change, the wind kicks up or lightning strikes again, as predicted for tomorrow, we can take shelter there and the fire will burn around us.

Are Ken and Laurie back? They were over here for a fire dinner when the sheriff arrived and gave all of us the evacuation orders. So we refilled our wine glasses for a toast - and later found out that only the west part of the ranch was supposed to go. Everything here is so convoluted - no wonder that they got lost.

Hoping to come back soon to do badly needed work for TUC Radio. Am just afraid that the CHP won’t let me back in if things take a turn for the worse - as they did yesterday for an afternoon.

- Maria