2024 all over again

[Brittany Chukarman]

We got home from a trip to the Washington coast Thursday at 4:00 PM. Unloaded, did a few sets of irrigation and turned in about 9:00. I got up at 2:00 AM to take a leak. I noticed strobe lights circling horizontal in the living room. Went to the door and there's a fire truck and flames coming over the ridge. We went through this 2 years ago and the fire was stopped just before it got to our place. Not so lucky this time. It was on the other side of the Powder River and the house side has irrigated fields so that was in our favor. It burned a lot of sage and range but never crossed the river. We're not out of the woods yet as it's still raging up a couple miles away where it burned in 24. It appears there were 6 separate lightning strikes to start these. Tonight will be tense.

 

[Dave N]

Stay safe.

 

[Tradewind]

good luck

 

[Pagosa]

Oh no. We had very strong winds and invaded with smoke about 11 PM last night. I hate to see all these fires. Let me know if you need any help.

 

[Elkmagnet]

Im sorry to hear it. I hate to see more sage go up in smoke.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

hope it misses you,,alot of strikes in eastern oregon taday in alot of places taking off.

 

[Nick87]

Stay safe. Hoping for the best for you guys.

 

[Salmonchaser]

We got home from a trip to the Washington coast Thursday at 4:00 PM. Unloaded, did a few sets of irrigation and turned in about 9:00. I got up at 2:00 AM to take a leak. I noticed strobe lights circling horizontal in the living room. Went to the door and there's a fire truck and flames coming over the ridge. We went through this 2 years ago and the fire was stopped just before it got to our place. Not so lucky this time. It was on the other side of the Powder River and the house side has irrigated fields so that was in our favor. It burned a lot of sage and range but never crossed the river. We're not out of the woods yet as it's still raging up a couple miles away where it burned in 24. It appears there were 6 separate lightning strikes to start these. Tonight will be tense.

I saw that fire start up on the powder and was worried about you.

 

[pabearhunter]

Hoping for the best.

 

[Potsie]

Reach out if you need a hand.

 

[elkduds]

I hope the outlook is better today. Sending wishes for safety and precip.

 

[Redmt]

Be safe and be smart. I've been there it's not any fun.

 

[deer_shooter]

Hope all is well. Praying for a good outcome

 

[Lmartin5]

Prayers!

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Update. The fire stayed across the river from the house and moved off towards the south. Towards evening the wind picked up and pushed it back on us. Smoke was heavy and it looked like it could jump the river. The sheriff said we should evacuate and with night approaching, the wind pushing the fire and the smoke it was the right call. I was all in and I knew leg cramps would be coming on and I would be useless. We spent the night in town not knowing what we would come home to. This morning all was good for us, it didn't jump. Its still going heavy to the south of us and west of us. We lost a lot of sage and range and will have fences to rebuild but were able to move our cattle and a neighbors to safe ground. All in all we were very lucky.
Thanks for the good wishes and offers of help.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I was amazed at how fast that fire took off. Glad you’re ok for now. Just went down checking my steers and water in the creek. Damn grass is so dry and brittle, a month ahead of normal. Creek is drying up, going to need to buy a water trough or try for an early kill date for skinny beef.
Can’t see Mt. Emily or Harris due to smoke.

 

[IDFireLass]

Powder river fire 20k plus and still going. Hang in there Brittany Chukarman.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Too much smoke to see but I could hear quite a bit of air support to the south and west. Help is stretched thin with so many fires going on.

 

[IDFireLass]

Planning level 5 now. Which means all fire personnel are stretched to the breaking point. Fire season has about 50 more days of bad burning.
So far in central Idaho we are quiet and dead. We are all waiting for the boot to drop. We have a light smoke drifting in from Oregon now.
One of the major reasons I refused to move into the forest or desert. We have irrigated hay fields around us. But very dry BLM land is a stone's throw away. You just never know when or if it will happen to you.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Something between 70 and 80 reported wildfires in Oregon right now, more lightning forcasted for later in the week.