Salute Your Fire Fighters!

There is no doubt that I am scared witless by fire. And I am so happy that Jeff was a trained and experienced fire fighter - someone in the family had to have sense in case of fire. Yesterday there were several wildfires in Colorado - besides the Indian Gulch fire, which has now scorched 2,000 acres and is pretty much contained. There was an 8-square-mile wildfire out on the plains near Karval; there was another 2,000 acre fire near Limon; and the one that really scared me was the one near Parker (south of Denver) and Franktown, that they are now calling the Burnt Tree fire. I guess I was so freaked out about the Burnt Tree fire because the 9 News helicopter was flying back and forth over the scene, showing where the fire was burning hottest, how the flames were being driven by the winds (there were 45 mph gusts yesterday), and they finally showed a wonderful rescue - that had my heart in my mouth and had me so tense that I developed a migraine headache. The flames were being blown directly at a small barn with several small fenced enclosures and one larger one. There were two black goats in one of the smaller pens and a beautiful bay horse in the larger paddock. The smoke and wind driven flames were quickly approaching, and the 9 News chopper focused in on the flames, the barn, and the three animals. The flames were less than 10 feet from the barn when two pumper fire trucks arrived, and the men were out and rolling out their hoses. The flames swept closer, and, suddenly, as a gust blew the flames up against the barn, another chopper dropped 100 gallons of water on the edge of the flames and the barn. The horse was pushed up against the fencing, as were the goats - as far away from the flames as they could get. At that same time, the pumpers started their hoses, and all the buildings and the animals were safe. Over 10,000 people were evacuated from that area yesterday, local schools were on Spring Break, kids were home alone, and so were a lot of beloved pets. Somehow the fire fighters managed to save every single building in the fires' path. It was amazing. - In the big fire near Karval, a barn and two out-buildings (sheds) were lost - but all houses were saved. I salute all the fire fighters who made yesterday possible!
The horse rescue can be viewed on-line at:
http://www.9news.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=853850770001#/News/Horse+rescued+from+Franktown+fire/49906872001/50183015001/853850770001