Wildfire

[Dave]

There is a wild fire raging in south central Washington in Klickitat county. It started on Friday and was 20,000 acres by Saturday morning. It is now reported at 52,000 acres and 0% contained. The communities of Cleveland and Bickleton are under Level 3 go now evacuation. My wife graduated from school in Bickleton. Her family ranch would be between where the fire was yesterday and the town of Bickleton. She has lots of friends and family in that area. We spent the better part of a year living just west of there between when we sold out on the coast and moved here. The rancher who I helped during that time would have his cows in the area being over run by this fire. The wife's son call yesterday afternoon. He was going to run cat pushing fire line on the flanks of the fire. He said they were calling everyone out to fight this one.

The old Dot Road school and Dot Road grange are both gone now. They were caught up in the fire on Friday afternoon. These old structures aren't very far from the family ranch as the crow flies.

 

[Dave]

Fire is still growing, it is at 56,000 acres and 0% contained. But with winds out of the west the family ranch is getting missed. The wife saw a picture of the old Grange hall. Just the old heating stove sitting in the middle of a pile of ashes. Sad for her as she went to many Christmas parties there as a kid growing up. I guess that is what she remembers most of the old place.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Fire is so indiscriminate. Sorry to hear all that.

 

[Dave]

I heard that they thought they had it stopped. But then it broke out in the northeast corner with 35 mph west wind and gusts to 50 mph. Where it is headed there is a big nasty canyon. So no stopping it now until it gets to the other side of that canyon. Only way to fight it now is from the air. With a front as big as it is, there most likely isn't enoough air support to get the job done.