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Was at the hardware place a couple of miles from the ranch on Wednesday afternoon picking up a few more of the never ending supply of nuts and bolts this sport requires. Clear day, warm but not cooking, maybe a 3 mph breeze. Came out after my usual 10 or 15 minute stop, glanced toward home and the canyon between the store and home was burning. Maybe an acre or so but in drought ridden California you take that seriously, especially with all the huge fires already going. Called my son and daughter-in-law at their respective jobs about 9 miles in the other direction and told them to get back to the ranch.
Within ten minutes we were all there and a few of the smaller air tankers based in Grass Valley were there hitting it. Fire was already up to 10 acres and a few minutes later half the United States' fleet of C 130's based at the old McClellan Air Force Base 45 miles down the road in Sacramento were there dropping the largest loads of retardant I've ever seen. Fire was up over 100 acres by then and the total of 13 tankers and several helicopters looked like maybe they'd be able to contain it. That wish vanished when the fire jumped the river in the canyon and headed up towards us and it already had a name, the River Fire.
Had a horse trailer belonging to friends on the way and another livestock one for the sheep and goats as we and one grandson starting grabbing a few necessities and preparing to evacuate. I'd just unloaded our older car from last weekend's adventures the night before and was pounding out a few bumps and bruises and the hauler/trailer was right in front of the shop so we loaded that up. Horse trailer arrived and our old thoroughbred didn't like it and wouldn't get in it so the other thoroughbred, an 8 year old retired race horse, wouldn't either. Daughter-in-law and her girl friend jumped on them and rode bareback about 6 miles until they got them tired enough to load. Fire was at the back of our property and the propane tanks were blowing up at a couple of houses 1/2 mile down our back road. Grabbed the 3 dogs, opened up the gates for the goats and sheep and had to leave them, heart breaking as it was.
Made it to the county fairgrounds and the number of volunteers there was already in the hundreds and checking animals in. Fire was up to 2,400 acres and we were pretty sure our entire little community was gone. Sort of camped at my boy's construction company office that night and in the morning got word that our place was still there although almost all of our neighbors lost everything. Was worried sick about the rest of our animals and my cat, who would rather die than ride in a truck. Got word later in the morning that an Animal Evac volunteer group had managed to get in and haul our goats to the fairgrounds too. Little later a neighbor who snuck back in called and said the sheep were calmly eating grass in a field that didn't burn. Cat got locked in the house by firefighters and was in my recliner and ready for some grub after 3 days and she gave me a good talking to.
We were allowed back in late Saturday night and got all the animals home Sunday. Damage was limited to a couple of scorched fields, a few hundred feet of fence to rebuild and my old '80s yard art Late Model, parked about 12 feet behind my shop housing another new car, several engines and about 60 years accumulation of parts. Old Blue will probably never get restored now.
Don't know if it was pure luck, Karma or what that saved our place but friends who questioned why I rescue unwanted sheep, goats, and about anything that needs a home have at least a partial answer; that they keep the entire property eaten down so there's little fuel for fires. I'm also proud to be a small part of a place like Nevada County, that immediately has volunteers that jump in during these disasters. I love this area and can't imagine ever living elsewhere.
Sorry this is so lengthy but there's really not a way to condense it. Hope your week was less stressful.
Within ten minutes we were all there and a few of the smaller air tankers based in Grass Valley were there hitting it. Fire was already up to 10 acres and a few minutes later half the United States' fleet of C 130's based at the old McClellan Air Force Base 45 miles down the road in Sacramento were there dropping the largest loads of retardant I've ever seen. Fire was up over 100 acres by then and the total of 13 tankers and several helicopters looked like maybe they'd be able to contain it. That wish vanished when the fire jumped the river in the canyon and headed up towards us and it already had a name, the River Fire.
Had a horse trailer belonging to friends on the way and another livestock one for the sheep and goats as we and one grandson starting grabbing a few necessities and preparing to evacuate. I'd just unloaded our older car from last weekend's adventures the night before and was pounding out a few bumps and bruises and the hauler/trailer was right in front of the shop so we loaded that up. Horse trailer arrived and our old thoroughbred didn't like it and wouldn't get in it so the other thoroughbred, an 8 year old retired race horse, wouldn't either. Daughter-in-law and her girl friend jumped on them and rode bareback about 6 miles until they got them tired enough to load. Fire was at the back of our property and the propane tanks were blowing up at a couple of houses 1/2 mile down our back road. Grabbed the 3 dogs, opened up the gates for the goats and sheep and had to leave them, heart breaking as it was.
Made it to the county fairgrounds and the number of volunteers there was already in the hundreds and checking animals in. Fire was up to 2,400 acres and we were pretty sure our entire little community was gone. Sort of camped at my boy's construction company office that night and in the morning got word that our place was still there although almost all of our neighbors lost everything. Was worried sick about the rest of our animals and my cat, who would rather die than ride in a truck. Got word later in the morning that an Animal Evac volunteer group had managed to get in and haul our goats to the fairgrounds too. Little later a neighbor who snuck back in called and said the sheep were calmly eating grass in a field that didn't burn. Cat got locked in the house by firefighters and was in my recliner and ready for some grub after 3 days and she gave me a good talking to.
We were allowed back in late Saturday night and got all the animals home Sunday. Damage was limited to a couple of scorched fields, a few hundred feet of fence to rebuild and my old '80s yard art Late Model, parked about 12 feet behind my shop housing another new car, several engines and about 60 years accumulation of parts. Old Blue will probably never get restored now.
Don't know if it was pure luck, Karma or what that saved our place but friends who questioned why I rescue unwanted sheep, goats, and about anything that needs a home have at least a partial answer; that they keep the entire property eaten down so there's little fuel for fires. I'm also proud to be a small part of a place like Nevada County, that immediately has volunteers that jump in during these disasters. I love this area and can't imagine ever living elsewhere.
Sorry this is so lengthy but there's really not a way to condense it. Hope your week was less stressful.
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