Lake County Fires / How Are We Doing?

 Smoke creates

a beautiful sunset. It also makes the moon glow red in the night, and Mars shine like a crimson space jewel. But there is nothing lovely about fires in California. I for one, am pretty much fed up with them. But it’s become the new norm.

What I’ve noticed for sure is our preparedness in Lake County has become quite perfected. From all emergency service departments, to volunteers, stores, and even everyday citizens, we all seem to know the drill now. We know how to get information, we utilize the Nixel alerts on our phones, we listen to local radio stations, and log into fire.ca.gov for the most up to date reports on conditions. Our social media accounts are always helping out with posts on shelters, where it’s safe to drive, or whether or not a friend has room for more at their home to take in evacuees. It’s a sad state of affairs when we’ve got the whole, how to evacuate with the most efficiency, down pat.

The Mendocino Complex is two fires that are being referenced as one. They are the River Fire and the Ranch Fire. The information line to call is (707)574-8261, but that information is also found on the fire.ca.gov website. At the time of this post, the River Fire has burned more than 41,000 acres and is at 50% contained. It’s destroyed 41 residents and 47 other structures, with still 9,200 being threatened.  The Ranch Fire has burned more than 112,000 acres and gives the same stats on residents and other structures burned, because it’s all under the totals for the Mendocino Complex. We are all praying no other homes are lost.

A few days ago, I was looking to find a family to help. This is what I do when I get anxious and feel helpless during these fires. I started to lose my mind, called my husband crying and yelling about how sick and tired I am that every freaking year our fire season has something devastating happen, and how it’s earlier in the season every year. My nerves were toast, so to speak. When I collected myself and apologized to my man for becoming momentarily hysterical, I decided to channel my emotions into being productive.

My wonderful hairdresser, and often psychotherapist, Angie, had said a friend that has a family of four had lost everything. They have two beautiful children and they were in need of help to start over. I started to focus on them. These wonderful people who certainly didn’t ever expect this to happen, needed help. I asked for their sizes and ages of the children and put that into motion for what I could do to make a difference.

It’s hard, at least for me when I’m scared, to get out of my head with the crazy hamster wheel that’s going and going, to see what’s right in front of me. When I’m stressed I have trouble focusing unless I have a specific task. I made this family a priority and got my focus back. Although I don’t know them, I hope these special people know how very sorry I am for their loss and I pray they find the strength and fortitude to push forward and know that an entire community is behind them.

 For those of you

who are fed up and so over it, with these fires, I hear you. What I’m here to tell you is you are STILL not alone in this. We are a good community with fantastic people who are here to support you. Hang in there. We feel your pain.

One last word on the book. I’m still waiting to hear from my editor about her final notes. She is extremely busy, as we’ve all been, but she said the beginning of the month so, I’d imagine I will hear any day now. Don’t worry, I will post about it as soon as I hear.

Take care my friends. Stay safe, be alert, and don’t be a hero. Leave that stuff to the professionals. Even when the danger is over, stay prepared. We’ve all learned that fire season in California can last a long time.

Peace and love to you all.

*Sunset picture by Patti Diener / Lake County Sign on Google Images