Ring of Fire

So it HAD occured to me just what a death trap this valley could be with just the two major exits. Today a small window into that possibility. Not truely serious at this time but with a fire buring at each end of the valley one starts thinking...



Around I think 10 or so this morning it occured to me that the sun coming in my office window was remarkably red. Upon walking outside I quickly determined there was a fire IN Ashland. This is a photo "borrowed" from the Mail Tridune's web site as my office is under that cloud of smoke near the right margin of the picture. The fire is buring into the hills (away from town) but at last count was >50 acres and 6+ homes destroyed. Two helicopters and one retardant plane plus ground support fully involved. For those of you keeping track, that's the southern exit to the valley.



Then I find out that RoxyAnn is burning here in Medford. I took this picture with my cell phone on my way home. There appeared to be several spot fires south along the ridge but I couldn't get them in the shot. The planes were focusing on the larger blaze and people had just stopped in the regular lanes of traffic to watch them. Idiots!!! Anyway there is/was a substation under all that smoke and after my time at BPA I wonder if that's where it started. Hot dry air can do amazing things with high voltage lines. Add smoke particulates from the southern fire and Zappo! Man-made lightening.


Once again it's nice to be on the same grid as a major hospital...I'm one of the last to lose power. My house is about a mile away from this one, again, under the smoke *cough*. Not quite the northern exit to the valley but it does inspire images of clogged roads and fiery death.


A little levity in everything though...there are opportunistic ice cream trucks all over my neighborhood so you can grab a quick popsicle while you watch the fire! I must say it is a little unnerving to see all that smoke and hear "The Entertainer" plinking away in the distance.