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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Finding a fire and seeing a sunrise

Yesterday had some unexpected "excitement". After I rode on the trails with Shyla early in the morning, I headed out on my own. As I pedaled along in dense forest that is remote and unvisited by people, I suddenly smelled intense smoke. I screeched to a halt to investigate.

We've had almost daily intense lightning storms. On Saturday, we had more than 100 ground strikes in a fairly small area near our house. So, I was worried about a lightning-triggered fire that was just flaring up yesterday (Monday) morning. I explored the are a bit more, and the smoke would billow up and then disappear. It was in the densest and steepest forest area near our house so a fire there would be a disaster.

I decided to call the fire department. The first firefighter to show up and I hiked to the smoke and then searched for the fire. Based on the quantity of smoke, the authorities decided to send a chopper to help find the fire. So, as we searched, a chopper was hovering over us. Eventually, we found the fire.
The actual burning section obviously wasn't big. However, it looked to me like the fire had crept up the hill for a while burning everything on the ground in its path. I hate to think what might've happened if no one had found it before it took off.
The whole thing took a really long time. I'd started my bike ride in the morning, and I didn't get home after the fire until 3:30 in the afternoon! I was tired and hungry! But, what I did was nothing compared to what our volunteer firefighters do regularly.

Today, crews were still monitoring it, just because there is so much fuel on that steep slope. As far as I know, the fire is still quiet.

Fortunately, it rained very hard overnight, helping prevent the fire from flaring up. The forest was soaked this morning.
Shyla and I made it out in time for sunrise this morning, and her fur was wet just from running through the forest.
She and I were both happy to be out for our first sunrise of the autumn season! (Sunrise is too early for me in mid-summer).
Last year, when she first joined our family, she chose one boulder as her favorite place for sunrise. She remembered to visit her boulder this morning, and she looked noble while gazing over the meadow from it.
Then, I rode and Shyla galloped through the wet and cool pine forest. The morning sunlight is getting richer and deeper as we move toward autumn.
And, the sky looked fiery at sunset - but thank goodness that the color wasn't actually from a fire!

25 comments:

  1. WOW! Mother Nature thanks you for reporting the fire and dealing with it all day! May your ride tomorrow be 'boring'!

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  2. Thank goodness you found that fire! You saved the lives of so many woodland creatures!

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  3. That was a close call. Good for you for being so quick. Hate to think what would have happened.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  4. What a sunset! I'm glad you found the fire so early. What a scary situation! It sounds like Mother Nature was working in your favor. :)

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  5. I worry for you guys all the time, hoping and pryaing you guys escape the fires that have been happening around you. It was so lucky that you were biking where you were and spotted and did something about it.
    Thanks for keeping the forest happy.

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  6. I love the sunrise pictures of Shyla. Good thing you found that fire before it could grow.

    Cindy

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  7. It's so fortunate that you spotted that fire! Glad things are under control. Such beautiful photos of Shyla! You are great at capturing action shots. Love that sunset. :-)

    Susan and Wrigs

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  8. Smokey the Bear and his family want to give you bear hugs for finding that fire! I am so heartbroken over all the fires farther west!

    Cheers and hugs,

    Jo

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  9. Thank whatever instincts led you to the smoke; you saved not just the beauty of a sacred place but the lives of many.

    Shyla is maturing into a striking creature, lovely and filled with spirit. Thank you for nurturing her and helping develop her depth.

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  10. What a scary situation!! We saw so much devastation when we were out visiting Cloudcroft...and Alamagordo and Ruidoso. They have taken a lot of damage from fires. It is heartbreaking that people lose their homes and all of their possessions. Those firefighters put their lives on the line every single day. And it has been so very humid too! Thank God you were able to help the firefighters find that fire!! Be safe out there!! Your pictures of Shyla are truly inspiring..she is just beautiful!

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  11. Bless you for discovering that fire, KB! The animals are thanking you too!
    You are such a beauty, Shyla ♥

    Love ya lots♥
    Mitch and Molly

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  12. Thank dog you founded dat fire...it may has been small but it could has become way worse if you not find it. Dat is just skeerey! Well done K!

    I am just always amazed at Shyla's beauty, she looks so serene in thos fotos.

    Puddles

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  13. Wow. I just love the part about Shyla's fur being wet from being out so early after the overnight rain.
    Melon

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  14. Whoa!!! So glad you were where you were needed at the right moment. Four paws way up to you. Shyla looks so so happy.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  15. Like K, Shyla has a boulder, cool. Coming across a fire must be a bit unnerving since you are so far away from every buddys. A. Beautiful sunrise
    Benny & Lily

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  16. Keep an eye on the area that had the fire. It could be smoldering underneath and re-emerge later. I've seen that happen.

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  17. You did such a good deed helping locate that fire - we hate to think about what could have been.All those fires burning are so scary, both for all the destruction and for the danger to the firefighters and the residents (human and animal).

    Shyle sure is a beauty!!!

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  18. You know, I don't comment on your posts often, but I read every single one of them and love just looking at all your beeYOUtiful pictures. Thank you for sharing such grreat sights! And thank you for preserving them from being burned up today. :)

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  19. nice save.... and Shyla looks like a happy girl :)

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  20. Holy cow, good thing you found the fire, That could have been really bad. There are so many bad fires in the west this year.

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  21. What brilliant photos! Shyla, you are so beautiful! I love the sunrise reflecting in your eyes and on your fur!!!
    Play bows,
    Zim

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  22. You were God's Fire Fighting Angel! That could have spread and caused so much damage!!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  23. I remember a similar situation last year when you found a fire that had started. Maybe you should become a firewatcher or firewoman. :) So glad you saved the day.

    Beautiful sunset as well as a beauty of a dog.

    Thank goodness for the cool rain.

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  24. Thank goodness you went back out alone and discovered the fire before it could advance. I wish more wildfires could meet that fate!

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  25. Gosh- we are so thankful and so are all the animals in the forest- thankful that you found the fire too.
    love
    tweedles

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