Texas Wildfires

Good morning friends!

The weather has finally broken in my part of the world, and it's cooled considerably, but not soon enough. It's been months without any real rain, here in Texas...which is bizarre for us, here in the Houston area. We spent the last month living in triple digit temperatures almost every day. The result of all of this is...we're burning up. Literally!

The photos above are of the Riley Road fire...about 30 miles north of my house. Most reports are saying that about 11,000 acres have been destroyed by this fire and about 75 homes, so far. Here's what one resident said:

“We got our photos, important documents ready, some jewelry. … We were more prepared than most,” Toler said. “All the sudden, there were police officers shouting, almost chanting like a mantra, telling us to get out. There were sirens, dogs barking and horses screaming. … It was very much like a scene from a disaster movie.” (excerpted from this article)

Can you even imagine what this would feel like? Having to grab the little bits of your life that you can fit into your car, and make a mad dash for a safer place, knowing full and well that the home and possessions you spent a lifetime gathering and caring for may burn up? It reminds me of when we evacuated for hurricane Rita. It was awful.

This is a photo of the Bastrop fire. It's burned more than 34,000 acres and destroyed over 1300 homes. It's only 30% contained.

 

Bastrop State Park has been almost completely burned. We've camped there and heard the toads at night.

At my house, we've been in the path of the smoke plume. Ash has been falling out of the sky. 

And so....we're coveting your prayers, here in Texas. Rain would be good....

Comments

[jenni connolly]

Deryn...I hope the fire does not come any closer and that rain will come or that it can be contained very soon...you are in my thoughts..
jenni

[Lori Broesamle]

This is the first pictures I have seen of the fires in Texas. What a year we are having! Floods on my side of the country and draught in yours. I hope that all of your are doing well and are safe, as far as I have been able to contact, my dear ones are safe. And here is a strange one: In Detroit a wind came through so hard that people grabbed poles to stay standing and some were knocked down and scratched up rom flying debris! Came and was gone in a couple of minutes in just one small area. People were shaken and vendors at the jazziest lost some of their merchandise, but all were well. As I keep thinking when I hear of all this destruction what strange weather patterns we have now and I wonder what creative things we will see coming from this into the calm. My best to you and yours!

[Renate]

I've been thinking of you... and will join in your prayers for rain - seems there is always too much or too little. Hope you don't have to evacuate. Stay safe.

[Marie]

Yes, it's a scary thing getting ready to run from a bushfire. Sadly a thing we see in Australia fairly often.
Stay safe.

[Francy]

I pray the Great state of Texas receives rain soon and those hateful fires are totally put out.

I can not even wrap my mind around the sadness felt there.....the loss of trees and wild life and hope no more human life.

Stay safe....

[Serena]

I cannot imagine this. What a nightmare! I'm sending up my prayers for Texas.

[Georgene Lockwood]

Prayers going out to you. So sad. Living in Arizona we've had our share so I know how this feels. Let's just pray for rain and cooler temperatures and lots of help!

Georgene

[deanna7trees]

kind of amazing that there hasn't been any rain. i'm just about 30 miles from that Bastrop fire and life has been scarey lately. wish the rains on the east coast would move over to help us out. stay safe.

[Polly Barker]

OMG that is awful... it always makes it real when you hear about what someone else is going through! I will continue to pray for the Texans!

[Laura Twiford]

You have been in my thoughts with these fires when I see them on the news. I hope and pray they stay far from you. Be safe.

[Kay]

We've been through some of the Florida fires but nothing like this, I am so sorry! I hope you and yours will be safe and we'll be sending prayers!

[Leigh]

Yikes! I have been following the story on the news, but your stories and quotes tells more of the emotional side to the fire. Many prayers coming your way.

[Monica]

I live in the Jersey Village area of Houston and we have seen ash falling, too. It is such a sad situation...Pray for Rain..

[susanc]

Deryn,

I have been hoping and praying that the fires are contained soon. We went through a horrendous wildfire two years ago; the Station Fire burned more than 336,020 acres (525 sq mi.). It was a very scary experience. We lost so much of our forest in the mountains behind us. It was way too close for comfort. Stay safe and thank goodness the heat has broken. :)

[Danee Kaplan]

When I first saw your blog as part of my daily blog check I thought it was pictures from 9/11. Everyone is running stories on TV so my mind was there. When I realized it was Texas I thought my initial impression is probably not far from how the residents involved must feel Both situations were/are a living hell and out of control of everything involved. I hope things turn around for Texas. Ironic that Vermont and New York are flooding and Texas is drying up.