ithildin | It there was ever any doubt my father is an idiot....

This was the scene from my house a bit ago:

Before the fire department arrived, the fire was moving down the hill towards our house (we're next to the roofs in the photo), and the wind was picking up, so I was outside, dragging hoses out, getting them hooked up, just in case. It's 100+ outside, and I'm running around, and my father? He's hanging out the window whining at me because he wants to take a picture and can't get mum's camera to work?!?!?! The hell! He's an idiot.

The fire is now under control, but it eventually engulfed the house (it seemed to start under the car port/deck area at the edge of the property, and they're currently spraying foam on it. I thank God today was not really windy (80mph gusts last week) (there's a reason they call this the Hurricane Valley) and that it didn't catch more homes on fire, and that we have a tile roof and stucco siding. I hate fire. My most vivid memory as a child was the first Oakland/Berkeley Hills fire when I was 7. I remember several kids in my school, one in my class, lost everything. Now I need to calm down a bit. I'm still feeling a little freaked.

Later: oh, yeah, how could I forget. The idiots who all came to watch the fire, talking up limited road space so the fire trucks couldn't get up the cul-de-sacs below the fire to fight the fire from below. I swear, the stupidity of some people!

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yikes!

so very glad you're okay!

Thanks :)

This is horrible!! Glad you're all right! (You might want to clarify that it isn't your house! LOL!)

It was really awful. If my house had burned down, I'm pretty sure I woulnd't be doing an LJ post while it happened LOL

Oh no! This wasn't your house, was it? {biting nails} Y'all are ok?

Yeesh, there's nowhere in the U.S. that's really safe to live, is there? Hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms, mudslides, floods, wildfires or earthquakes - take your pick. Oh, and I musn't forget the volcanos. Yeah, don't forget those. {eye roll}

Oh, and I musn't forget the volcanos. Yeah, don't forget those. {eye roll}

Heeee I can relate to that! *Eyes St. Helen's in back yard...*

There's always something.

*hugshugshugs*

I am so glad everyone is alright!

Thanks :)

OMG - I'm glad you're all ok *HUGS*

[HUGS]

(((HUG)))

Sending a virtual glass of vine...

Thank you :)

{{{Ithy}}}

So glad you're okay!

[HUGS]

Hope you are OK. I was disturbed when you wrote "the scene AT MY HOUSE", not the scene by/near my house.

Those people clogging the cul-de-sac should know that fire trucks have the right of way and can displace/move those cars using their heavy cold rolled steel bumpers.
Insurance does not cover and the fire department is not liable for destruction of autos placed in the way of the fire trucks.

As you said, the stupidity of some people.

Yeah, they're stupid.

That is incredibly bad. Glad your house wasn't harmed.

Back in 2000 when I was sick, Jerry and I had gone to Memphis for a doctor's appt. A family across the street had a 14 year old son who was setting fires. Now, we're surrounded by woods. We have 45 acres surrounding my house. When we got home, we found out the fire had almost gotten to our house. But the volunteer fire team got there. Before they arrived my sister and her blind father-in-law was out there trying to help put out the fire.

We were closer to losing our house in CA due to wildfire, but this was close enough!

Eeep!! I'm really glad that this wasn't your house and that everyone is all right. I have no real experience with fire (Mom set the oven on fire once, but that was it), and it still scares the crap out of me.

{{{hugs}}} You are fully justified in feeling freaked.

Thanks, I went from freaked to weepy. Looking out the window it's *there*, can't avoid it.

OMG are you OK sweetie!

We're fine :)

Good Lord on a matchstick! I am so glad that the wind was down.

[nods] We were extremely fortunate. Scares me to think of what would have happened if it had been a windy day.

Wow! I'm glad you and your family and your house are all right.

Thank you.

Oooo scary, glad you're ok!

Thanks.

Oh my God, I totally freaked out when I saw this, thinking it was your house, but was glad to find out it wasn't and that your family was OK. Then I thought, what about those poor people who lived there, what's gonna happen to them? :(

Nope, I wouldn't be posting about it on LJ quite so casually :) People from their church are taking care of them currently.

Oh, man,that sucks. Fires are awful. I'm glad you guys are okay and were not harmed. Your dad cracked me up, that is so typical American idiot, heh. And those rubber neckers totally deserve to have the firetrucks smash the hell out of their cars.