Rocky & Jerusalem Fires

The first day of our family reunion we heard about a wildfire back home, the Rocky fire burning east of Clear Lake and Lower Lake.  It was a little scary knowing there was such a large fire burning close to home while we were hours away.  All of us kept tabs on the fire looking and pictures, maps and reports.  It was a crazy fire burning tens of thousands of acres, displaying unprecedented fire behavior because of the extreme drought.  

As we headed home we were anxious to see the fire for ourselves and to get a feel for exactly where it was burning.  I even opted to take the longer way home to get a better look at the massive smoke column.  This was taken coming down Glasgow Grade during day 5 of the Rocky fire.

Seeing the massive smoke column showed just how wild and powerful the fire was. 

This picture is taken from Hwy 29 and Grange Rd looking NE.

Rocky Fire

July 29th - August 14th

69,438 Acres

The Rocky Fire had slowed down and fire crews were gaining containment when another massive fire, the Jerusalem Fire, broke. 

Sunday afternoon I heard sirens going down the highway and so I checked online to see what was going on.  I was surprised to see there was another fire, just south of the Rocky Fire, and nearer to my parents ranch.  The fire grew quickly and soon I could see the smoke column from my house.  

I packed up the kids and headed out to the Ranch to get a better look at the location of the fire.  I have great memories of listening to the scanner and going to to watch fires when I was a child.  It was always exciting to jump in the jeep and go find a spot to see the smoke. Fire is a part of California summers.  Fires can be very scary but I am always mesmerized by the sheer power and force of a wildfire.  

My dad took us a few ridges over from the Ranch so that we could get a better look at the area where the fire was.  Even growing up here I am still not very familiar with Jerusalem Valley, it was hard for me to picture exactly where the fire was and what lay between the ranch and the fire.  Getting a visual on the fire was not only fun but it was also reassuring to see that the ranch was not in immediate danger.  

As much as I like to watch a fire I would never think of getting in the way of fire personnel or putting myself in harms way.

Marshall on the back of the Jeep ready to take pictures.

Two helicopters with buckets, it was amazing to watch the air attack on this fire.  Helicopters were constantly flying back and forth between the helibase at Crazy Creek and the fire, and the tankers and spotter planes coming in from different air bases.

The view from my parent's hay field as the fire continued to burn without any containment.

This was the view from Middletown as the sun set.  You can see the two distinct smoke columns from the two separate heads of the fire.  One was burning NE and the other burning E. 

This picture is taken the next day, Monday, from the same location showing the "ice capped" smoke column.  Ice capping happens when the fuels are dense enough to produce enough smoke that it pushes the smoke to a high enough elevation to turn white .  Basically it is a visual indicator that firefighters use to determine when a fire is very large and active.  

The Jerusalem Fire from Hwy 29 looking N

Jerusalem Fire

August 9th - August 25th

25,118 acres

A fire map showing both the Rocky and Jerusalem Fires.

Steve was not on either the Rocky or Jerusalem Fires.  Firefighters from all over the state and different parts of the country came but he was stuck back in Nevada County.  I had mixed feelings about this.  Both fires were so large and the Rocky Fire was especially dangerous so I was glad Steve was not on them.  However if Steve had been on these fires we would have had the chance to see him on his 24hrs off. 

Monday night I was headed home from my parent's house when I saw a large rattlesnake in the road while still on the ranch.  I really don't like any snake but I particularly dislike rattlesnakes.  So I attempted to run over the snake, but it didn't seem to do anything other than make the snake change direction.  I turned around and tried one more time, remembering my dad saying it is best to slam on your brakes as you run over the snake to kill it.

That is just what I did, I slammed on my brakes and I may have screamed the second time I ran over the snake.  I could tell my second attempt was successful, I did some major damage.  I was on the phone with my mom at the time so she got to hear everything real time.  My dad and Marshall drove out to join in the fun.  I was glad they did, I had no desire to get close to the snake with my flip flops on.  

This was a big snake, 8 big fat rattles and they were broken off (not by me).  I had effectively skinned the snake and he was really mad (understandably).  My dad happily shot off his head and my brother cut off the rattles.  Quite the exciting night.

Interestingly enough my children weren't even phased by the snake incident.  Allyson had gotten scared watching Matilda at my parents house but thought nothing of a half skinned rattlesnake.  She thought it was pretty cool (unlike her feelings towards Mrs. Trunchbowl). Eva kept saying "Big one! Big One!".