The Unthinkable

Fires are burning, some uncontrollably, in Sonona, Napa, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. And the smoke is casting a strange light throughout the Bay Area. 

My Faithful Sherpa and I drove back from High Hill Ranch last Sunday. "I feel like I'm bucking a headwind" he kept saying. "Is it windy?"

It was dark by the time we drive thru the Sacramento Valley, and we really couldn't see if the bushes were moving from the wind, along the highway. Then we drove past a tree that was being blown almost completely over.

Oh yeah, it was windy!

"Why's there so much dust around," I asked. I looked out the window and realized we were driving by Cool Patch Pumpkins (https://www.coolpatchpumpkins.com/). Maybe that's why there's dust, there's cars are leaving the parking lot. 

As we drove further down the road, there still was smoke in the air. But we were tired from the fantastic weekend at High Hill Ranch, too tired to speculate. 

So we shrugged it off, and continued on our way, across Highway 37, past Sears Point, and on towards the boat. 

In the middle of the night, I woke up to my Faithful Sherpa closing our port (window). "It seems smoky." It wasn't until the next morning that we learned of the fires raging on just 50 miles north of us. 

As of this afternoon, there are 11 fires uncontrollably burning in North West California, between Sonoma, Lake, Solano, Napa and Mendocino counties. It's the most devastating firestorm in recent history. And those winds we felt while driving down the highway, they pushed the flames into developed communities. Historical buildings, homes, schools, hotels, dairies, vineyards, are either burned or under threat of burning

Sears Point Raceway

Hwy 121 and Hwy 12, the heart of Napa Valley

When I feel overwhelmed by all the news of the fires, my knitting helps. But texts, social media and the news keep reminding me. I can't help but cry each time I see a new photo of another building being burned, or receive a text from a friend that they have been evacuated and they are not sure of their home is still standing or not. 

So, how can we help?

There are many evacuation centers set up throughout the counties that need supplies, nurses, and volunteers. But the best way to help is to check the Red Cross Website
 http://rdcrss.org/2yXm6Jk

Please log onto their website, and help where you can. In the meantime, please pray for rain, fog or moisture to help the poor beleaguered fire fighters who are on the front line.