Wildfires: Shades of Gray

November 15, 2016

Thank you all for keeping in touch and checking in on us!  We so appreciate your concern!  We'll keep you updated as often as we are able!  

Early a.m.:  

Well, I don't like to be the bearer of glum news, but things are pretty freaking serious here this morning in WNC, with many thousands of acres of forest are already burned/burning around our neck of the woods. The closest wildfire is several miles away, but we're ready to bolt if need be.  According to the news on tv, there are more forest fires starting in the Appalachians surrounding us.   This is the worst rash of wildfires seen in decades.

later .... 9 a.m.:

Wildfires are still sizzling in the crispy woods of  the Appalachians; the smoky haze of the fire surrounds us here at the Park and in the distance.  Billows of smoke cascading down the nearby mountains are visible this morning, waves of gray.  Photos don't show how it really is, so I have no photos right now.  From here, it's just a gray fog out there. I don't dare get any closer, the roads up closer to the mountains and are mostly shut off anyway. They have work to do. They don't need tourists.

Due to the smoke, air quality alerts are frequently announced on the news;  people here are complaining of problems with sore throats, burning eyes, sneezing, coughing.  I can't imagine what the fire fighters are going through.  I just cannot imagine.  They are total heroes, ya'll.  I pray they all get out safely.  We're holed up inside the ole dependable Spam Can (Hula Girl) and staying safe. My eyes have been burning for days.  I'll get over it.  

Over 5,000 crews from across the US, along with multiple aircraft, are here to assist the 1,000 fire fighters already battling the blazes, but the brittle, blowing leaves and lack of rain are hampering their war on the flames in the bone dry forests.  New, smaller fires ignite daily.  The tv news says some of these fires in The Appalachians have the ability to smolder for months, they may perhaps continue until March.  Gasp.  I hope and pray the wildlife has been able to escape.

Later Still:

Several counties (a quarter of the state of NC) have declared a state of emergency.  Other states involved (TN, AB, GA, VA, SC and KY) are also in the same position, have also declared a state of emergency and saving people and structures is the main goal of the crews as evacuation orders increase.  Tens of thousands of acres are involved.  As the drought increases with warm temps and the breezes pick up, the fires multiply. But still, people here are calm, we are wrapped in a safety net of highways and city limits.  The main fires are a few miles away. 

Thankfully, we feel pretty safe here.  Sorry Zu, short walks again today, girlfriend. It's simply not a healthy idea to go for a long walk.  Good thing Zuma likes watching Dog TV and Animal Planet whilst lounging on the king size bed in our motorhome (Hula Girl) with room service provided at the snap of her paws. Personally, I'm not a big tv watcher but we keep it softly blaring in the background most of the time to keep up with news updates, emergency alerts, etc. 

Zuma is handling being  here with me in a small space really really well.  Normally, she can lay outside in the sunshine but it's not a safe place for her to be this week.  She just goes with the flow. Whatever.  Danes are known for enjoying the lazy life of lounging. Like all Danes, Zuma is masterful at this task.  Bed Lounging.  Yeh, they got that.  

Once this weather improves, we'll be back onto our regular schedule.  That's the least of our worries right now. I just hope the people battling these fires will be safe.

Sadly, three arrests have been made in KY and TN:  arsonists. WHY anyone would do such a thing, threaten this miraculous landscape, is incomprehensible to me.  We were drawn here by the mountains, the wildlife.  Now it is all at risk and it's a heartbreaker. 

It's difficult to guage the devastation:  thousands of acres are ablaze.   

The RV Park is half full now, people who planned their Fall vacation are leaving.  Nothing to see, except smoke.  I'm so incredibly thankful we've had the privilege of seeing the mountains in their splendor, and not as charred remains.  We will probably go further south on our trek to Santa Fe at the end of the month.

A Ray of Hope:

In the middle of the night I got up and peeked outside and there was the Supermoon, floating amidst a cloud of misty smog.  With al the fog, I didn't expect to see this wondrous sight.  But there it was.  I take this as a sign of hope, the fires are being conquered, the heavy cloak of smoke has subsided this morning so the mountains are now visible for the first time in several days, but it's a little further away now. The haze persists.  Last night we had our first frost.  Maybe that will help in the higher elevations.  Thank you for following our blog and thank you to everyone who has reached out to us to make sure we're safe.