Forest fire a few miles from my house!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Yesterday my neighbors drove over to tell me we might get evacuated... there is a 300 acre fire just over the ridge to the west... smells smoky today but I can't see a smoke plume... I've got the sprinkler going up on the roof, I want to have a wet, soggy house....


http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/news/2003/fire-release-080903.htm (Fish Creek Fire)

[sasquatch]

1. A sprikler?

you think a god damned yard sprinkler is going to protect your house from a raging inferno.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. Many of the structures that are lost

Many of the structures that are lost are ignited when sparks and burning debris land on the house. The wetter your roof is if you have standard roofing shingles like me, the better off you are.
Bear in mind that when the forest fires get close to structures like homes the crews work really hard to protect them. Of course it there was a bad run down my canyon my house would probably be lost. But every bit helps. Also running sprinklers to wet down the surrounding vegetation. I have 'defensible space' but even grass will burn and can ignite the house so if it's wetter it's better.
Me running sprinklers is no different from someone in the path of a hurricane boarding their windows. You can't stop a natural disaster from happening but you do your best to prepare anyway.

[sasquatch]

3. You're right you got to try

Beats sitting around doing nothing

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. Oddball would say

Oddball would say 'Positive vibes, man!'

[sasquatch]

6. Good point

I'm hitting them with those negative waves. Not a good thing.

[disgruntella]

5. you've got the right idea

Hi from a fellow Montanan. Sounds like you're doing the right thing. There's another big fire threatening homes near Big Timber (closer to my town) but I had thought the NW fires were slowing down -- I guess not!

Stay safe.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. Second fire, bigger, closer

There is a second fire (North Howard Complex, bigger (1200 acres) and closer. They came by earlier today to warn me to prepare for possible evacuation. Very smoky.