A Bastrop Fire Update

The fire in Bastrop is 95% contained. The very day I went swimming with Smokey (and locked myself out of the truck and trailer, and had that weird moment where suddenly everything was... right) there was another fire at the lake, near our barn. Fortunately it was put out quickly. I've never heard of so many fires in our area starting for no rhyme or reason.

This post by Sarah at Halt Near X does a great job of summing up the situation in Texas. As does the word dire.

This video by Raymond Schlogel,a camera man who shoots for Larry Gaitlan, was so compelling, I had to post it here. There is a scene, about midway through, of horses who are running on the road, loose, running from the fire or its remains. Or maybe they have no where to go home to.

Texas Fires/Alpha Rev - Black Sky from Underground Planet on Vimeo.

If you get a chance, read his description of filming that day.


Texas sure could use a hurricane.

Fire and Hay

Imagine that it's been the worst drought in recent memory. That hay is hard to find, but somehow you managed to get enough hay into your barn to tide you through. It's not quite enough, but you are hopeful you'll be able to make it last.

Then imagine the worst fire in Texas history.

The horse folk in Bastrop are going to have a tough time of it for a thousand reasons, and while hay isn't the biggest one, it's certainly one we all know about.

The Heart of Texas Morgan Horse Club here is raising donations for hay. I know these folks and every dime will go to getting those affected hay to feed horses that have been evacuated. If you would like to make a donation, they are accepting paypal (and checks) contributions here.

Any little bit you might be able to spare will help. Thanks for considering...

Quick Update - Fire still burning - and a mixed blessing

image from KUT News - shot at a livestock auction

At last report 1554 houses have been lost. People are living in hotels, kids are getting back to school today with school buses picking them up at the grocery store. Last I heard, everyone I know has evacuated their animals. But here's a story about a woman who lost one horse, but her mare survived somehow, with burns over half her body (click here, but warning, the video shows the mare, "hell bitch", recovering and is tough to see).

image from KCENTV

The fire is 60% contained, 34,000 acres have been burned and two people lost their lives. The drought is refusing to let up and the only chance for rain is Sunday. Hopefully the wind will stay quiet and they can stop this fire - the worst we've ever had in Texas.

image from the Austin American Statesman

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Life around here has undergone another change, a mixed blessing. My husband found a good job and it looks like we'll be on the road to recovery from our own kind of drought.

Here's the mixed part. The job is in Ft. Worth. Fortunately the company I work for is based in Dallas, and they would likely welcome me there. In six months we'll be assessing whether or not it makes sense to move, at least temporarily. I don't want to move, but I don't want my kids to have a weekend Dad either.

Still, this IS a great blessing, he's very happy and feeling so much better about himself. Not working is harder on men, IMHO, because so much of their self worth is tied to being "a provider." I'm so glad he found what is, for him, a dream job.

But this is really going to limit my horse time since I've lost 50% of my support system here at home. Somehow we'll get through, but if you have any tips, I'd love to hear them. And if you know anyone who might rent a horse property in the area around May 2012, I may be in the market...

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Smokey and Lily are doing well, and send their regards to all of the e-herd out there.

Fire update - a bit of good news

Our friend got her horse out - the horses headed out to a different area where they were able to access the herd from another road in time. I've heard from others that they aren't doing so well. Evacuations continue.

The big fire still rages out of control. Firefighters are working, now more than 50 hours straight.

Here at the lake, we are safe. But here's a video showing how quick it can change (this was a beautiful park, a real jewel in this area that has been a goal of mine to ride at. Now, it's 90% gone.).





Interactive map of the fires is available here.

I was hoping without the big winds it would be out by now. But after watching that video I realize that we are just one giant tinderbox.

I find myself even missing the mosquitoes which have been non existent this summer. Because there is no standing water anywhere.

This would be a good time for a miracle.

The Hill Country is on fire

The view from our barn - our barn owner snapped this picture

We are safe, as are our horses. But several members of our extended herd are not. Our friends in Bastrop have successfully evacuated their horses and those of a neighboring ranch and when I last checked in they were working on moving the residents of the Bastrop Zoo/Rescue. A bear and a tiger are part of that zoo.

A friend in another area couldn't get to her five year old horse at a boarding facility before they closed the roads down. The barn owner there said they just opened the gates, hoping the horses will out run the flames. I can't imagine how horrible both the barn owner and the horse owner must feel right now.

Of course it's not all about horses. At this point 500 homes are lost and the fire is not contained in Bastrop. We had two flare ups at the lake where we live but they were put down quickly.

It's bone dry, and while it's cooling, it's still a crazy tinderbox.


I wish it would rain.