Alpine FIre

  As you drive into Alpine the top sign is what you see.

As you drive into our subdivision you will find the two bottom signs.

Everyday I see those signs a dozen or so times. I read them. I think about them.

I watch the news and hear about fires all over Utah.

I sit at my home and I watch the smoke from the fires in Saratoga Springs

and the Herriman fire. I hear about homes burning. 3 lost in Herriman.

66 down south by Fairview. 100's lost in Colorado.

I listen, I watch and I worry.

In 14 years I have never worried about having a fire here.

This year was different. I worried. I planned. 

 I talked to my kids about what we would take if we ever had to evacuate.

I asked questions about our propane tank.

Questions I never would have asked before.....but I was worried about a fire.

I felt anxious. Noah also felt this, and I wondered if I was causing this in him.

On Monday night, July 2nd, Noah was having a hard time going to sleep.

He kept telling me he was worried about a fire.

He was going on a fishing trip the next day and then leaving at the end of the week to go to Lake Powell.

He was afraid that if he left when he got home he would not have a home

because it would have burned down.

I tried to reassure him that all would be fine, but his words and thoughts stuck with me.

We both had a very sleepless night. He had nightmares about fires.

I just could not shake a feeling and could not sleep.

I was suppose to leave for Oregon on Thursday the 5th,

so on Tuesday I had my day all planned out.  I had a million errands to run and

I was going to be gone all day.  For some reason nothing seemed to go as planned. 

I was so frustrated with my complete disorganization that I just could not get out the door.

I could not even get showered and ended up not getting into the shower until about 1:30.

Noah had gone on the fishing trip, and Daniel and Hunter were home.

As I was blow drying my hair I noticed the air outside looked smokier than usual,

but with all of the fires around I just assumed that is what it was and continued to dry my hair.

I could not shake the feeling that something was not right and looked out the window

but could not really see because of the trees outside of that window.

I felt really anxious and went to the stairs so I could see out the window on the 2nd landing.

That is when I saw a massive fire on the property across from our house

known as Lambert Park and it was heading straight for our house.

It was huge. The wind was blowing. I actually could not believe what I was seeing,

or believe that all of my fears of the last few weeks were coming to life.

I yelled for Hunter.  Pretty sure I yelled that there was a fire because Daniel and his friend

Daniel Allua came running up to.  We went out on the front porch and stared for a few moments,

I called 911 because there were no fire trucks, I could hear no sirens...nothing

The Operator answered "911, is this about the fire in Alpine? Emergency is on its way".

I told the boys we needed to go and to grab a few things.

The things we had talked about. Pictures of Aspen and the computer hard drive

and anything else they thought they might need.

I grabbed a small bag for me. And put a few things in it.  Not anything well thought out,

but a few essentials. Grabbed Aspens pictures, a few baby pictures that were in my room

and the girls wedding pictures off of the piano. Took them out to the car. 

Thought it was interesting that when I opened the back of my car to place them in

there sat Hunters TV and xbox.  OK!  I guess that was important to him.

Daniel put the dog in his car and kept saying, we gotta go......

I ran in the house one more time and grabbed my camera and camera bag

and then went to Noahs room to grab something for him because he was not there.

Settled on his signed Jimmer Jersey, and autographed pictures with Jimmer and Jackson.

During all of this I called Summer who had not seen the fire yet.

It could be seen from practically everywhere. Bobby called and begged me to get out.

I told him we were on our way.  He was worried because there is only one way out

and very soon the fire would be blocking that.  My exact worry.

As I walked/ran through the house one last time, I decided there was nothing there

that I could not live with out.  Closed a couple windows and walked out of the house for what I felt 

would be the last time.  It was a very surreal feeling.

I don't remember crying, but Hunter said that I was.

Daniel left a little before Hunter and I and we agreed to meet at Bobby's house.

As I was driving out I was met by a police officer who wanted to make sure there was no one left in the house. I explained to him about the Propane tank. Which peaked his interest and he had a million questions

which for the most part I could answer.  I was so happy I was able to answer those questions.

In 14 years I could have cared less about that propane tank, but this year I was prompted to find out about it. I have learned to listen and follow through on promptings. Even more so now.

As we got to the bottom of the driveway I rolled down my window and one of the fireman

walked over and I asked him if he would "Please do everything he could to save my house".

He promised me that he would.  I took one last look at the house and then at the fire that was coming towards it and basically concluded I would never see our house again.

 It would be gone when I came back.

I do not really remember that drive out of our sub division.

I do remember noticing that Hunter had no shoes.... but at least he had his xbox! :)

Although I told everyone to meet at Bobby's, I could not go.

I had to be able to see the fire so I pulled around behind our stake center and behind the 

Orchard and crawled out through my sun roof and on to the top of my car.

This was my view.  My house was somewhere in all of that smoke.

It did not look good. I don't even know what I was thinking.  

I think I was just holding my breath.  I was also, getting texts and phone calls from everyone.

McKenzie called and said she was on her way home, but I told her she couldn't go home.

I think I had talked to James at this point, but told him not to bring Noah.

Not to even tell Noah, but I guess there was no way to hide it from him because the fire

could be seen from everywhere.  I just did not want him to know his greatest fear was happening.

James did take him to Summers though.

Although I could not see what was happening, some news station in a helicopter took

some great pictures of what was happening at my house and I stole them off of the internet.....

This picture shows that the fire is approaching the property.

You can see the smoke.

The Fire Truck was doing a good job of wetting down the road and the front of the property.

I love those firemen!!

This is a different angle of the fire approaching the house.

The plan was for the road to stop the fire.

No such luck though as it jumped the road.

At this point the firemen felt like they did what they could do and they retreated, 

going to the cudesac behind the home trying to fight it from behind.

The fire is now moving up the property line.

The house is visable through the smoke.

The thought is that when they wet down the front of the property it caused the

fire to split. Heading up the property lines on both sides.

Can not say enough about the helicopter.

Pretty sure that he did most of the work in saving the home.

The water buckets that he drops hold 600 gallons of water.

And I saw the helicopters dumping load after load.  At the time I could not see

what they were dropping it on but I was hoping it was my house.

I was correct!

After making its way past our home and jumping the ravine the fire started 

towards our neighbors, the Christiansen's home.

There were 3 homes in its path at that point.  The firemen would later tell us that they had

decided to sacrifice those 3 homes to save the rest of the neighborhood, but at the last minute

the wind changed and pushed the fire up the mountain and they then felt they

could save those homes. I cried when I heard this............

From where I was standing and watching, probably a mile or so away,

all I could see was smoke.  Bobby was at another location and kept sending texts

that he could still see the roof.  Others were sending text that they were so sorry that

our house had burned down.  I stopped answering my phone and reading my text.

After what seemed like forever..........

the smoke cleared...........

and the below picture is what I took at the very moment I realized,

and saw that our house was still there.

Miraculously, it was still standing........

seemingly untouched by the fire that had scorched the surrounding area.

It was at that moment that I began to breath again, 

and all of my emotions came to the surface and I pretty much lost it.
I don't think our house has ever looked better than it did at that moment.

Unfortunately the barn burnt. Fortunately, it was the only structure lost in the fire.

In the above picture you can see the house still standing and the barn burning.
I am glad if they chose one to save, they chose the house.
The barn is a Patterson family barn that is probably 30 years old.
Wayne kept antique farm equipment in there and just other building stuff.
I am sure it is sad for him to have lost some of the things though.
It burnt completely to the ground.

More pictures from the fire.............It was a big one.
At least it seemed big!
They have said at times the flames were over 100 ft high. Hard to imagine.

I saw this fire up close and personal.
I was not thinking how big it was and how it was being seen outside of my view.
When I saw these pictures, it scared me the magnitude of how big it actually was.
I can not imagine what it would have felt like to have not been home and to have been driving,
realizing that this was taking place where my home was.
That thought terrifies me.
This is what my older children were all seeing as they rushed to watch the fire.

Our friends Pam and Ross were flying in from Texas and had just boarded a  plane in Denver

when they heard about the fire.  Pam took this picture from the plane.

Did not leave them feeling all warm and fuzzy!

I can not say enough about the efforts of the Helicopters and Planes.

They flew constantly over the fire and our house for a good week.

I even started hearing them when they weren't flying over.

Now I know what it sounds like to be in a war zone!

I grew up with my dad being a fireman.

I spent most of my childhood in a fire station.

I have always loved firemen.

I now have a whole new respect for Firemen though.

They are miracle workers.  They may have had some help from above. In fact,

I am sure they did. But they also put it all out there to save my house.

As well, my neighbors homes.

The Fireman with Noah is the one who I talked to while leaving my house.

He kept his promise!

The Firemen with Bobby and McKenzie are Lehi Firemen and they were also

at the home working to keep the fire away from it.

The Fire captain on the far right also fed our cat for us during the few days

that we were evacuated. Truly wonderful, thoughtful men.

While we were evacuated, everyday I would get my big camera lense and look up at the house,

(it is better than binoculars)

and I would see the fire truck up parked next to the garage and seeing it there brought

me great comfort.  I felt like everything was safe.

 

Even after we were back in the house, for several days they would come up a few times a day

and spray the surrounding area.  It still surprises me with all that was burnt

how much they could keep from burning.

Watching the fire at night was amazing. Even though it was awful and horrible,

at night, it was spectacular.  And it was easier to see exactly where the fire was.

The first night of the fire I could not sleep at all.

We were at Bobbys house which is now in Alpine, so I could see the fire from his back porch,

but I actually found myself walking the streets at 4:00 in the morning,

and then later driving trying to get as close as I could.

I wanted to keep checking to see if our house was still ok.  

I knew that it was, but it was like I just had to constantly have proof.

It all was so very surreal..............

(The boys sleeping at Bobby's)

So very grateful to Bobby and Rachel for letting us camp out at their home for 4 nights.

Any of our kids would have let us, there were a few nights that some of them

slept at Summers too.  But I wanted to stay close to the fire.

One morning I ran to the store to get some groceries for Bobby's house

and Noah called me and asked me to get him something to play with because he did not have any toys.

I openly started crying in the grocery store as I realized that he did not have anything.

Not anything that we could get to. And also the thought of how close he really came to not having anything.

It was funny because when I asked him what he wanted me to get him

he asked for a matchbox car set that had a Fire Engine, a Fire airplane and Fire Helicopter and

water truck! The perfect toys for a little boy whose house almost burned down.

He has been playing Fire Fighter stuff ever since.

He even told me that if he does not make it into the NBA then he wants to be a fireman! :)

Thursday it rained.  I was so hopeful they would let us go home, but they kept saying not yet!

I did not have a lot of patience for waiting.

Finally, in the early evening they lifted all evacuations, but we could only get in

if we lived in the neighborhood and had to go through a check point and show ID.

Driving up to the house was surprising for a lot of reasons/

I was surprised how close the fire came.

Just right up the property lines on both sides. Only a couple places did it cross in.

A lot of the pine trees and other trees were burned, and many were heat damaged.

The West side of the property seemed to get the most damage.

Sport Court and play house.

Noah had to get a new basketball.  He has saved this one though and keeps it in his room!

I guess so he will never forget! AS if that were possible.

A lot of the fence is gone.  Some sections completely gone and others seemingly untouched. So weird.

The dogs kennel area is gone too, as well as the big pine tree that was in it next to the play house.

Just a bunch of pictures to show how close the fire came to the yard and home.

Right up to the property lines.

Below you can see the whole mountain side is burned and grey. It use to be very green!

Right next to the Guest house. But the guest house is untouched.

Several trees  are either burned or are severly heat damaged and will have to be replaced.

The lawn is heat damaged and yellow, but that will come back.

And I had tried so hard to keep it green this year. :( 

Oh well.  Now I can blame everything on the fire!!

The concrete in the above pictures is our driveway. All of the hedge that was there was just scorched!

My new view!!!

 The trees and grass kind of remind me of fall.

 Just checking things out. Looks like we are ready for Halloween.

In the Pink shirt is my new buddy Brian Carlson of channel 4 news.

The guy would not leave me alone.  Nice guy, but totally a reporter after a story.

I actually called him a leach! He said he was more like a bad penny!

After much prodding and convincing I finally gave in and gave him an interview, actually two.

Also did channel 2 news.  But I drew the line there. No more interviews!

I know it is a great story and all, but I just want my private life back!

All that is left of the barn!

The night we were allowed back in

this rainbow shown over the whole mountain that had burnt.

It was truly amazing........

 The firemen cut down a few of the trees.

On Friday we cut down a few more, and will end up losing a few more.

Luckily, because we have great fire insurance, they will be replacing many of our trees.

Below, Josh and Dakota are busy cutting down the burnt hedge.

 It was a dirty job working in all of the ash!
Thanks to all of the kids for their help!
So, McKenzie doesn't look so dirty but it is because she was helping inside.......

The inside of the house was not nearly as bad as I thought.

I figured there would be a lot of smoke and smoke damage.  But it was not so bad.

Kind of a musty smell like a casino or an ash tray.

I was able to air it out and turn on fans and several bottles of Febreeze to get rid of the smell.

Unfortunately the ash, no matter how much I clean just hangs around in the air.

Constantly cleaning this soot off of my window sills.

It is everywhere.  

My dusting rag is always black. No matter how many days in a row I dust the same spot.

And my mop water is hideously gross!!

Our insurance company is sending in people to power wash the outside of the house,

clean all of the ducts and furnaces,

total wipe down of windows, walls, basically everything inside,

and they are cleaning my carpets and all of the tile floors!

Too bad I had to have a fire to get all of that done....

But it will be nice and should help tons!!

Of course for the next several months we will live in the middle of basically a campfire

and everytime the wind blows and stirs up the ash we will have issues but hopefully not as bad as it has been.

I don't know why our house was saved

when so many this year in Utah and Colorado and all over have lost their homes.

I know that we are no better than they are...........

I hate to say too much about it.  I feel guilty in away.

My heart breaks for them.  I honestly thought my house was gone.

It was very traumatizing even though my home still stood.

I hope I will always remember the feelings that I felt, so I will never forget to be grateful.

I hope and pray I can teach my children to do the same.

July 3rd is a day I will not soon forget........

It wont be hard to remember because a reminder is all around me!
Every time I look out the window. Every time I walk out the door.
It's there.  My charred surroundings to remind me I have much to be grateful for.