Fire Sky

There has been a wildfire burning near our area (approximately 15-20 miles away as the crow flies) for about one week now.

The fire is being fanned by the spring winds and spreading.  We are safe; but others, close by, may not be.  

Glenn, long retired from fighting forest fires, is relaxed.  The days of hiking the rough, steep terrain with a back pack of gear to reach a fire, working grueling hours day and night, breathing smoke 24-7, sleeping in a paper sleeping bag on the cold ground are over.

A spring fire mostly burns the dried duff and fall leaves on the forest floor.  The greening vegetation of the spring season impedes the spread.

Unfortunately, the spring rains are absent.  We have not had rain in over one month.  The ground is dry.  The forest floor is dry. Thus, the fire continues to burn/smolder.

blue sky behind the smoky veil

Even though we live many miles away, every so often we are reminded of that fire by the changing aura of the sky.  The brilliant blue obscured by the smoke clouds drifting in our direction; tinted orange and pink.  The sun, masked by the smoky haze, has an ominous appearance.

Ethereal, eerie…yet, sedative.