Who would believe that in a small town with an over abundance of Police and the latest and best fire department coverage, that a simple fire started accidentally by a homeless man would get out of control, jump the Interstate and roar up our street demolishing 11 homes and damaging 4 others. When the firefighters finally got to our street, 3 homes were already engulfed in flames and we were running to get our car keys to get out!!! It was about 10 minutes before the first truck got there along with 3 helicopters! Within the hour there were 16 Ashland & out of town fire depts pumping water as fast as they could. As Esther and I walked back, everything was blocked so I circled back of our house thru the golf course and on the street behind our house and the smoke was so strong it appeared that our place was on fire. There were two firetrucks directly in front desperately trying to save the houses directly across from us. The only house still standing is the flat roof house across from our front door. The photo of the trucks I took at the corner where you go to the golf course. If you look thru the haze, behind the trucks are the large pine trees in our front yard. You can see the burnt spot on our front walk that nearly fired up the two pine trees that border the street and our walk to our front door. The firemen shoveled dirt from our yard to put out this spot fire. The huge pine tree back by our patio has been seared and the damaged needles are now blowing over everything. This seems so insignificant as we are reminded every time we go outside of the heartache our neighbors are experiencing. Tomorrow is trash day and I cannot make myself put our trash out in the morning amid the piles of burnt memories and debris from our neighbors losses. You realize in a hurry that material things are so unimportant when your running for your lives. Jesus said, "Don't be attached to this world" . . . I understand that better today. I'm sure Shawna, Dan & Sheila's daughter, also understands since she too lost all her possessions this year when her apartment burned while she was at work. Like our neighbors, all they had was the clothes on their backs and no bed and place to go home to. We haven't heard any whining or complaining only concerns about their temporary housing and dealing with insurance and rebuilding. Today some came back and looked again and wondered. . .as the reality sinks in. Remember the Oak Knoll folks in your prayers.
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