friday afternoon natalie called…

natalie: where are you?

me: at the house…

natalie: do you see a fire?

me: no, should i?

natalie: you don’t hear fire engines?

me: now that you mention it, i have heard been hearing them in the background

natalie: we can’t get the house, the fire department has blocked the road and says there is a fast moving fire down there

me: really?

natalie: yes, get your computers, kitty (logan’s favorite stuffed animal) and get out of there

me: ok, i’m leaving now

natalie: call me when you’ve gotten out and we can figure out where to meet

as i was hanging up the phone with natalie, rose, the owner of the place we’re staying called…

rose: are you at the house?

me: yes

rose: is there a fire?

me: i haven’t seen one but there are lots of fire trucks in front of the neighbor’s house and natalie just told me they’ve closed the road

rose: my friend called and said the fire is in our backyard

me: really?

rose: are you leaving the house?

me: yes, right now

rose: can you open the gate so the horse can escape and get out of there?

me: i’ll do that and go

as soon as i hung up with rose, the fire department was knocking on the door…

fireman: are you the only one home?

me: yes

fireman: you need to evacuate the premises – there is a fast moving fire heading this way

me: do i have five minutes, ten minutes, more?

fireman: ten minutes top

me: ok, i’ll get out of here

as i pulled out of the driveway i could see the fire had reached the next door neighbors but fortunately the fire department was between the woods on fire and the neighbor’s house. thirty minutes later they let us return home having brought the five acre fire under control.