Yesterday got weird real fast as I was driving from one barn to the next. From over 20 miles away, I could see smoke on the horizon as I drove down one of the main roads I take to get to the barn where I board Eli. It was enough smoke that I thought it was much closer than it was. As I crossed the highway and took up another road heading east, I started to wonder how close the smoke was to the barn. I got closer to the barn and at this point I started genuinely to wonder if the barn was on fire. Fortunately the fire was on the other side of the county road where the barn’s road ends in a T intersection. But still … within walking distance.
I now know how fast my heart can race while standing still.
We haven’t really had much rain for a few months now. The wind was blowing south to north so I couldn’t even smell the smoke but it was very visible and very close — close enough that Star Flight was pulling water from a stock tank across the street to dump on the fire. If that’s not a reality-check …
ACTUAL ANGELS.
Luckily, emergency responders had the fire contained by 7pm. This could have been a nightmare scenario but it wasn’t, at least not for me or Eli or anyone connected to the barn. It was probably someone’s nightmare, though, and is sickening to think about.
Initially, I thought I wouldn’t be riding under the circumstances. But once the fire was contained, I thought I better carpe the f out of this diem and get on. Riding consistently and reliably clears my head of any real or imagined nonsense and I knew I’d regret it all night through insomnia if I didn’t ride.
No more big smoke. Yay.
So I rode, and Eli is definitely feeling good! He seems to think he’s 100%. His new shoes make a big difference for him.
If I ever meet the nice Star Flight people in person, I will probably give them an awkwardly long hug of gratitude. Same for all the people with their emergency vehicles, stationed along the county road, saving humans and animals and property and keeping an eye on hot spots overnight.
Those would be lights of emergency vehicles.
Also, PLEASE no one cook out around here until we get rain!
OMG how terrifying! Glad they got the fire contained but I would also be having a complete meltdown!
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It was! I was trying to keep it together in case we had to move horses fast. Luckily it did not come to that.
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That is very scary! I about had a heart attack after I’d first gotten Amber and FoCo had a fire so close to Amber that she had ash in her bucket. The worst part was that it was winter break and I had traveled home, so my roommate was the actual MVP for clearing out her bucket and being amazing and letting me know Amber was safe.
I am so glad you and Eli are safe, and that those Star Flight people were on top of it and awesome. I would definitely hug them for too long as well lol. Those people really are amazing, and I’m glad they were able to get it contained.
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Oh lord, ash in her bucket? That is terrifying. Star Flight was definitely the most visible help in the area, but firefighters came from a lot of different fire departments. So we are lucky to have those resources in this area!
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It is definitely something I don’t want to experience again. And that’s great there were others that ended up coming to help!
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I would have had all the same fears as you driving! I’m glad that it was all under control and you were safe.
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I am very glad for the horses’ safety — I feel bad for the people who did have to evacuate but the story is no homes were damaged, just a greenhouse.
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yikes! I have been there. So scary.
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It was terrifying! My mind was racing but local emergency responders acted quickly. I feel like we got lucky.
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Bravo to you! You carped the eff out of the diem! that is what you do when something like that fire happens and you realize how fragile life is and how we must NOT ever take it for granted.
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Exactly! I *had* to ride once everyone was safe. 🙂
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So scary! My barn that I boarded at as a kid burned to the ground and it was awful as you’d expect. Do not recommend.
So glad you’re all safe!
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Ugh, yeah, I can’t think of much worse than barn fires. Always heartbreaking.
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