The other night Mary and I were awakened to what sounded like gunfire, and a lot of it. I jumped out of bed and flung open the front door. This was the sight that hit us in the face. Our neighbor’s house was fully involved on fire.
Mary called 911, while I headed over to render assistance. Our neighbors had gotten out safely, but saved very little of their belongings. They have no insurance.
The fire department arrived quickly, but it was still too late to save the house.
Fortunately, they have family nearby. 
It was a surreal experience and so tragic for our neighbors.
It started when embers from a burn pile blew into the house. They started the burn pile earlier that day, then the wind came up.
THE FORESTER ARTIST 
How sad, and even sadder they don’t have insurance. Thankfully they are unhurt.
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Sad indeed and they have never had insurance, but they still have each other.
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Hopefully now, during the holidays people around may be more generous than usual.
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That’s right and they are all okay. They are back and working on the site now.
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Your neighbours must be truly devastated but thankfully they got out alive
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I know they were thankful that they got out because it went up so fast. They were also pretty shocked. I haven’t talked to them since the fire.
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Thankfully everyone is safe. As so many families have found out here, people are the most important.
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I totally agree. Things can be replaced, but not people.
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They are very dramatic pictures Tim, quite beautiful if you didn’t know the tragedy that lies behind them. I do hope your neighbours find a way to re-build
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In know what you mean Mike. I don’t know if they will rebuild. The are part of a local tribe and the tribe has helped them out in the past.
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Oh how sad. Sad because they didn’t put out the other fire and sad that the consequences were so dramatic and sad that they don’t have insurance.
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You’re right about that Shawna. This could have been avoided, but I guess they didn’t realize the risk of lighting and leaving the burn pile on such a windy day.
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So sad!
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It is indeed.
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Very scary especially when country houses are made of wood. Bonfires should always be manned. Glad your neighbours are okay Tim.
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We are too Ralph. Everything burns well here in Northern California. We had a rain the day before and they must have thought it was safe to burn, but then the winds came up and were very strong. I countered the effect of the rain.
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What a nightmare. Very glad to hear they got out safely.
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Yes, that was the most important thing. It could have easily been a much bigger tragedy.
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So sad and so tragic. Unfortunately it will happen many more times this year and the next. And some will not be lucky to escape the flames. We are so very fragile and at the mercy of nature and the unexpected.
Your pictures as always capture beautiful colors and designs, but I am sure it was painful to post them.
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I considered not posting them, but I thought it might be a good reminder of the danger. This is the time of year when folks here start burning yard debris and have fires in their wood stoves. There were three house fires last week around here, which is a lot.
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I think you did the right thing by sharing the pictures. If it makes a few of us more wary and careful, the painful pictorial reminder is worthwhile.
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A sobering thought, we burn wood for heat, I’ll be moving my ash pile further from the shed after reading this post. Best wishes to your neighbors, thankfully they escaped. Russell.
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I know exactly what you mean Russel. They’ve been burning like this for years and never expected this to happen.
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So glad everyone got out ok. Such a tragedy. This economy has everyone cutting corners to survive. My husband hasn’t had health insurance for years (but he’s healthy) but soon we’ll have an additional $400. a month to pay… Not sure where this $ will come from…
I send good karma to your neighbors.
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Unfortunately, their house was so ram-shackled that it was un-insureable. Fortunately, they have a lot of family in the area. They could use the karma and prayers. It is so hard when you have to choose one necessity over another. We’re sending good karma your way too Ilex.
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Thanks!
‘ram-shackled’… Haven’t heard that one in awhile!!
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I kind of hate to use it, but it best described the place.
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those images are eye openers – wow. they remind us hof how fast our lives can change from warm and cozy to tragic moments. i’m glad that no one was hurt, and glad that you two are there being good neighbors.
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Our little neighborhood has been pretty quick to step up and help each other. I’m hopeful it will turn out okay. They might end up with a better place to live.
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That is so sad to hear.
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It was indeed. I haven’t heard anything from them since.
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This looks more like an inferno than a house fire…as if the house was made with dynamite. Our house burned down years ago. I was there watching and it didn’t look explosive like this one.
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There was so much old dry wood in and around this house and the winds were whipping. It absolutely went ups so fast that they were lucky to get out. I’m sorry to hear about your house. I hate to imagine all the precious memories lost.
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Great pictures of a terrible event. Awful. Life can change is a second.
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So true and it did for them.
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Sorry for that! But the most important is they are safe and unhurt !!!!!!
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Absolutely Mirna, because all their things can be replaced. They cannot.
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Oh my! Your images certainly lend the power and shock to the event. How very frightening. My very best to all.
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It wasn’t what I expected out my front door, but that was nothing compared to their experience. Our prayers are definitely with them.
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In our country people save their entire lives to buy a home they can call their own. Its a terrible loss. Hope they manage to come out of it some way.
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I think they will manage it. They didn’t have a lot of resources, but they do have a lot of family support.
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What a sad situation for those folks, life-changing in a matter of minutes. Feel badly for them – it’s a devastating time. Your photographs tell the story in a very direct way.
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Very sad indeed Mary. I guess none of us should take things for granted.
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Brings it all home this week in particular doesn’t it? Scenes like this really shake me up – because there is nothing you can do. I’m very grateful not to have experienced tragedy like this.
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Indeed, when I went over during the fire there was really nothing that I could do.
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What shocking photos! Thank god nobody was hurt and the lucky the fire didnt spread further. Heartwarming to hear that the community is caring enough to help them out
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Yes, they were lucky just to get out and if we had not just had rain, then we would have been fighting fire in our front yard. Before the rain it was extremely dry here and now it is drying out again.
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Very dramatic. But as I noted someone else say, things can be replaced, people can’t. So glad everyone is all right.
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I totally agree Susan.
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How terrible!!!!! I’m so glad that they were able to escape!!!!
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Yes, they saved the most important things, themselves. We were all relieved to find them okay.
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I can’t even imagine!
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Oh my, that is so sad. I really feel for your neighbors… Gosh, and from embers… that’s heartbreaking. I’ll make sure to send a prayer up for them today. Take care out there.
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I’m certain all prayers are appreciated.
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What a horrifying experience for them! That fire seems to eat the house with rage, hungry for whatever comes in its way. Good to hear they managed to escape and have family support around. For what it’s worth (and when you see them again), do let them know that people far away wish them strength to build up again.
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I will do so Gunilla.
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How very terrible and such a sad situation, especially with holidays right around corner. They will be in my prayers too.
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Yes, the more prayers the better.
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I’m so sorry for your neighbor’s loss. Hope they can get some help to rebuild.
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I’m sure they will get help, but we’ll have to wait and see if they rebuild.
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How horrible – losing the house and not having insurance. I’m happy to hear they are alright and have family nearby.
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It’s a tough situation for sure. They do have a support network.
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Prayers be with them
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Indeed
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So, sorry to hear this sad news but glad everyone is okay.
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Yes, it could have been much worse.
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That is so sad!
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It really is and right before the holiday season.
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Sending prayers to your neighbors… dramatic pictures.
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I know prayers the are appreciated.
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How very terrible. Fire can be friend or monster… glad that no one was hurt.
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So true. It was a monster that night, but everyone is safe and that is a blessing.
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So sorry to see this and glad to see that they survived as it could have been so much worse.
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Yes, we all are so glad it wasn’t worse considering how quickly it went up.
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We liked the story and photos! Just not the tragedy behind it! This is sad indeed! Hope they fair ok!
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They are a resilient bunch and I think they be okay. I haven’t seen them since the fire.
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Dreadful Tim – so frightening for everyone . So glad they are safe .
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We too are glad they made it out safely. It isn’t a sight one wants to find out their front door. I’m still wondering what they are going to do. Haven’t heard anything.
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I’d like to send some money – I know it won’t be much but could it help:) I can send via Paypal if you have that?
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Oh Alison, that is incredibly kind of you. We would not he appropriate people to send money to, but I’ll have to see if a fund has been set up. The family is part of the local Indian tribe. They may have set something up. Right now I don’t have a way to get ahold of them. The local tribe has a very successful casino and have been very supportive of our neighbors in the past.
By the way I love your blog and your watercolors. They are just beautiful.
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I understand that and am glad to hear that they have a strong network – good news! I just hate to hear of people in trouble like that. Home is our only sacred place. Thanks for your thoughts about my art…:)
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too too close
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Close for us, but way to close for them.
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Wind born embers can go any direction. Incredible pictures. I’m glad the people escaped, and sorry their home was destroyed. I’m sorry the situation existed, at all, to take the photographs. 😦
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I couldn’t agree more.
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😦
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So sorry to hear of this terrible loss. Sending prayers for your neighbors!
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It was so unfortunate, but I know the prayers are very appreciated.
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My son is a firefighter. Always a sad and dangerous time.
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Indeed
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Oh my, it’s really sad that their house could not be savec; But still, they are lucky to be alive.. Your photos are beautiful Tim and show that terrible surreal experience!
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Thank you. It was very surreal indeed to see that out our front door. We are so sad for our neighbors.
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I am so happy that everyone is alive!
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We are to. We saw them over working on the place yesterday, but they left before we could go over. Maybe we’ll get a chance to talk today.
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How dreadful – your poor neighbours. The same thing happened to some friends of mine a couple of years ago and they had no insurance because they couldn’t afford it.
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It is pretty sad. There wasn’t a lot of monetary value in what they had, but it was a lot to them, The sentimental things are the greater loss.
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How sad!
But glad to hear they are safe.
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So are we. They been over starting to clean up.
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You know, it is too bad that WordPress doesn’t have some other button besides “Like.” It seems obscene to “like” this. It is a tragedy, your poor neighbors losing their home. Sad. Oh wow, they didn’t make sure the burn pile was fully extinguished? I feel bad for them.
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Yes it was very unfortunate. They are back and have a trailer on site as the work on things. I know what you mean about liking a post about a tragic or difficult subject. Even though everyone knows the like isn’t for the event, it is still hard to press the button. I’ve had many more comments than likes on that post.
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I only just discovered your blog after you liked something on mine. I love the outdoors and have started following yours. Have you ever checked out Dipper Ranch Ranch and Nature of a Man on Blogspot? They are, I’m sure, your kind of reading. You have so much in common!
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Thank you for sharing Kay. I will check them out. I’ve enjoyed your pen and ink art.
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