Part I: El Fuego (The Fire)

Yesterday was one of those days that had so many events crammed into it, that it equates at least three blog posts... so this is number one, and the other two will follow relatively shortly.

Wednesday afternoon Jenna and I, the little boys, Carissa, Jenean, and Denise were all out in the backyard "swimming" in the little plastic pools and getting some sun when we smelled smoke. We dismissed it at the time only to have Marie Ricketts run up to the escuelita an hour later, say a fire was going, the police were here, and could they use our water well? Carlos and the Ricketts' kids gathered up hoses while the rest of us headed out toward the northwest edge of the CVE property line to see what we could do.

View from behind the comedor of the smoke in the distance.

This is what we saw once we arrived at the north fence. Fire was licking in a line that stretched as far as we could see. Immediately Carlos started hooking up hoses, others went to find Joe, Brian, and more helpers, and we started hosing down the flames. Let me insert here to say that most of us were in flip-flops, skirts, and attire completely unsuited to fighting a fire... but you do what you can, right??? ;) My flip-flops (and the bottom of my feet) will never be the same again... lol

Carlos and his two boys, Brian and his kids, Brian's father-in-law, Carissa, Jenna, Jenean, Joe and I worked to put out the immediate danger to our property while Denise brought water and then headed back to take care of the little boys while Jenna and I were gone. Joe got the backhoe and started building up the dirt trenches. The fire department came, but left to work on the fire from another side.

Suddenly we all heard this popping noise coming closer and closer... and coming fast. We had taken care of most of the open flames and watered down enough of the ashes to feel safe leaving and heading over in the direction the rising flames were coming. What we saw made us scramble to get the irrigation spigot started from the northernmost edge of our property with all the dried bamboo at risk for going up in smoke. After getting that set up (thanks to the quick work of Joe, Brian, and Carlos), Jenna, Jenean, Carissa, and I decided to head out along the highway to see how far the fire stretched. Clambering into the back of Jenean's pickup, we headed out.

This is the line along the highway that was burning. The road was blocked off, but Jenna and I hopped out to talk to the officers and men in control to tell them Joe was willing to bring the backhoe and work if it could help. Since we didn't know the word for "backhoe," there was a little amusement at our attempts to explain, but as we finished here came Joe - glasses covered in water and soot - driving to the rescue! He headed on in, and we headed back to campus to get cleaned up and ready for church, praying for those fighting the fire.

You can't see that well, but Joe is in the middle of the pic, almost underneath the bridge in the backhoe.

Las Bomberas de CVE!!! (The firefighters - women - from CVE)

Praise the Lord, it doesn't look like the damage has been too extensive from the fire, and the firemen were able to contain the flames before they reached the south end of town. We haven't heard of anyone being hurt or killed, but we certainly ask for prayers for those individuals who perhaps lost property or houses to the flames. And although we are admittedly a little "tuckered out" today, in some sense it was neat to see all hands working together to protect and help those we love.

P.S. (Thanks to Carissa for the pictures!!!)