Thursday, 25 October 2007
From the time we moved to California two years ago, we have made it a point to be prepared for fires. We live in the country, a mile or so from town, so fires are a very real danger for us. We keep the brush cleared well away from the house. All of our important papers are in one spot, easy to grab and go. Decisions about what to take have been made (family pictures, the computer, etc) and everyone, children included, know what those items are and can help load them if needed. We've chosen a meeting spot and an alternate meeting spot in case we get separated. We have pet carriers available on an easy to reach shelf in the garage for the cats, the dog, and the bunny. We keep a gallon jug of water (and collapsible bowls) in each car for pets to drink.
Sounds good, but it NEVER occurred to us that we might not be home when the fires started and that we might not be allowed back in. "The best laid plans. . ."
So here is the scary story--I was on an airplane flying home from Minneapolis with our 10 year old daughter. My husband was in downtown San Diego for the day with our other daughter. They put the dog in her kennel in the garage, left home at 9:30 that morning with what they needed for a day at Sea World, shorts and tee-shirts, a bottle of water. At about noon, the Witch fire started, about six miles from our home. Hwy 78, near Magnolia, was closed by the time they got there at 3:00. The authorities wouldn't let them go back home as fire was racing down the road to our neighborhood. Tango was still at home in her kennel!
Fortunately, our neighbor checked our house as he was forced out, saw the dog, broke in through a garage window, picked her up, kennel and all, and put her in the back of his pick-up truck as he left. He also put the entire rabbit hutch in his truck! We didn't know this for several hours, so you can imagine the horror, and then the relief of knowing she was OK. She reeked of smoke and was covered in flakes of ash, but is otherwise unhurt and is now basking in the sun and playing endless rounds of tennis ball chase up here with us.
At the moment we're staying up the coast near San Luis Obispo, where my mom lives. We've heard that our house is still standing although we've not been back ourselves. There's been some damage to fences, vegetation, garage, and everything is covered in soot, but that's about it, thankfully. I'm guessing that all the important papers, family photos, etc., we couldn't grab are all fine. And I don't even care! I truly, unequivocally, honest-to-God, without any doubt, don't care. The entire place and everything in it could have been burned to the ground and I'd feel thankful that all of us and the animals are OK and together!
We've heard we may be allowed back in at the end of the week--depends on wind, whether or not the water and electricity in town is restored, etc. School won't start up again until at least Monday. Homecoming was supposed to be this week-end, but of course not now.
I tried to get the dog an appointment at several local groomers here. I thought she might like a "spa" treatment after her ordeal so she didn't smell so strongly of smoke. But without her proof of rabies, no one would take her! So poor pup got a cold "shower" in my mom's backyard with the hose and Suave shampoo and cream rinse! You should have seen her zoom-zoom around the yard after that!
This last paragraph is someone else's story to tell, but I thought I should mention that K9 Action Sports in Escondido, where Tango and I are learning to herd sheep, was evacuated. It's right across the road from the Wild Animal Park. Terry's home and animals are undamaged, but the roads in and out are still closed, although I've heard they let them in briefly to feed and water the sheep.
