This is what our world looked like today. Thick, acrid smoke right down to the valley floor. We have been smoky for days ... really, weeks now ... from forest fires near and far. We didn't think it could get any worse. But it did, and this was as bad as it's been. The winds came roaring in just as our visitors arrived for their tour this afternoon, driving more smoke into the valley.
It was so thick we couldn't even see Ovando Mountain, which rises more than 7,000 feet just behind the ranch to the north. The slopes of the peak start barely a mile from us. Behind those trees you should see the mountain. In a word: Awful.
For comparison's sake, here's a photo I took back on August 2nd, looking in the same direction towards Ovando Mountain. We thought it was smoky then!
Yesterday a lightning bolt started a fire on the mountain to the east of us, and from the kitchen window last night we could watch it spot out ahead of itself, with new fires popping up. All day today helicopters were in the air, picking up water in a nearby lake and dropping it on another small fire on the back side of Ovando Mountain.
So far the animals are doing okay -- we haven't seen any respiratory issues yet from the smoke -- but we're just keeping our fingers crossed.
I am so sorry to hear of sweet Tonto's death, but grateful there are such wonderful people as you who are helping these animals. May God bless you in your work.
Posted by: Kathleen Stephenson | August 26, 2007 at 12:46 AM
I'm glad you and the animals aren't experiencing any respitory problems.
We (Santa Barbara) have a 200,000 acre fire going on, won't be contained until next month. Let's all stay safe together and hope for containment and extinguishment soon.
Posted by: Boundforglory | August 20, 2007 at 10:02 AM
We saw on the news about fires in Seely Lake and were very worried. We so hope the fires STOP soon and we can put this worry behind us! We're glad to hear the animals are doing okay thus far.
Posted by: Shirley & James | August 19, 2007 at 11:37 PM