Fire Season has arrived

Often God allows the starting of fires in later summer via lightning strikes in Montana. This year we are seeing the fire season start with a series of man caused fires. Monday I took our Yukon for some repair work in Hamilton. On the way home, I noticed a fire had started on a mountain side West of Victor. That fire is now partly contained. Since about 5 pm yesterday (Tuesday), we have been watching another forest fire NE of our home in the Upper Woodchuck area. It started at about 50 acres, increased to 350 acres last night due to a moderate wind and is now at 500 acres. Only a couple of homes have been burned, although 250 homes were evacuated last night. We have not been called yet. Now this evening, my friend, Janie, who lives close to Bass Creek campground and Larry Creek Canyon, called to say that a fire is raging in the Larry Creek area. Each of these fires was supposedly started by man. Everyone is hoping there is not an actual arsonist, but some careless accidents in a bone-dry environment. Esther called from Wildhorse Canyon Camp in Oregon where she & the Chidwicks are spending a week. It's 112 degrees F. there. They may see some similar fires if the weather continues to super-dry the forests and brush. We are praying & watering our acreage day & night. P.S. Thursday - the Woodchuck fire we are watching from our home has now burned over 700 acres. By the week-end, around 1000 acres was burned.

P.S. It's now August 16th, the Woodchuck fire is long over, PTL! The fire West of Victor still fills the sky with smoke. It's burned about 6000 acres now & is 60% contained. Many new fires in Montana have been started in the last couple of weeks by lightning. Most are now under control. Our weather remains hot & dry most days.