TJ and I purchased our home October of 2011. It is our dream place. We don't own a brand new house with all the latest this and that's, but we have our home. He wanted a place to shoot his bow/guns and hunt, I wanted a place with a back porch and a place we could start a family. When we found our house we jumped on it. This house holds so many future memories. I already imagine decorating a nursery and where I will hide Christmas presents when playing Santa Claus. I think about making updates to the house and putting in new floors and painting walls various different colors based on my mood! This house is our home, a place we picked out together and that belongs to our present and future.
Friday night our home was threatened by the wildfires in Luther. We don't live in the town of Luther, we live in the country side south of the town. Friday after we realized what was going on and that the fire was two miles from our house I tried really hard to get home. All of the roads leading to our house were blocked by fire. TJ was at the command post trying to find out the situation and help where he could. He had 15 years with the fire department before he got hurt. I was trying to find a back road in to our area. Finally, I went through Jones and followed Britton Rd to Highway 102, up to Wellston to a dirt road that would take me in a back way. When I turned the corner on Route 66 this was the image I saw:
My heart was racing. All I could think was what if I couldn't get to my house? What will I do if they won't let me in? I just wanted to be home and see TJ face to face and find out a plan. TJ met me at the dirt road and I followed him in. Car after car passed us going in the opposite direction. When we finally got in the house, the news said they had extended the evacuation area to include where we live. I had a bag packed, the dog's stuff ready, our important home owners paperwork, and just a few little other things packed and ready to go. We were waiting it out. The fire had moved north to the town of Luther. Around 7 something the power went out at our house. Since we have well water this meant that not only did we not have electricity, we didn't have water. We had to leave quickly as it was getting dark and we would have no way of knowing if the fires continued to move towards our house. So we left.
We drove in to Edmond. I dropped the dogs off at my sisters house and I met up with TJ to figure out a plan. It was late and we were exhausted. My dad called us and offered to get us a hotel room on Memorial. We were so very thankful for this. In that moment we were tired and couldn't think. We needed a plan and didn't have one. Every hotel in Edmond was full and that is not an exaggeration. We literally checked EVERY hotel. I didn't want to put anyone out especially since we had two dogs with us, my moms and Elizabeth. I just wanted to lay down and go to sleep. Kaytie kept Elizabeth and Jacob took Molly (my mom's dog) home. We made it to the hotel sometime after midnight. I had kept it together for the most part, but on the way to the hotel I cried. The whole situation was stressful.
As we were driving away from our house that night, all I kept thinking was that with one shift of the wind or one ember to start the fire up again our house could be gone. I don't really care about the items in the house, it can all for the most part be replaced. I had TJ and Elizabeth and that is what mattered most, but I have strong emotional connection with our home itself. This home is so much more to me than a place with walls for a shelter. It is ours for all the reasons I mentioned above. It may sound silly and I know we could rebuild, but it would never be the same.
Around 5:30 am Saturday morning our neighbor called to let us know the power had come back on. We slept in until about 10:30 and then started to get around. TJ headed to the house and I went to get Elizabeth. When TJ got to 164th and Luther the roads were still closed and they were diverting traffic. He talked to the County officer and explained where we lived. TJ waited for me to get there and then the officer let me follow him in. We drove by charred land and firefighters were still out there watching the hotspots. It was so sad to see it all burned up and scary to see how close it was to our house. The fire stayed about two miles from us, but that is two miles too close. When we finally got to the house, I made us some sandwiches and we fell asleep for the rest of the afternoon. We were home.
It never really crossed my mind when we moved to the country that wildfires could be a threat. However, with as much wide open space that surrounds us it will always be a possibility I guess. I am thankful we are safe and that our property was not damaged, but my heart is heavy for the little town of Luther. So much was lost, but thankfully no lives were. Thank you to all the men and women who have been working non stop to try and get this fire under control. Thank you to all our friends and family who offered us a place to stay and expressed concern. It meant more than you will ever know. As for the crazy man who started this fire, I hope you get caught and go to jail for a long time.
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| This was the view from our backyard. |
Talk to you soon,
Leigha
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