Harrowing Day with the Water Tower Fire

We woke up this morning (with only 3 1/2 hours sleep) to find our friend Brock, of the Lone Peak Police department, still standing guard to keep people from driving up our street. The smoke was thick and the fire had skipped over another ridge and was up to 300 acres.

We spent a good part of the day watching firefighters fight the blaze from the air. The planes got right down into the crease of the canyon and placed the retardant exactly where they wanted it. This picture was taken from the front of our street.

We also had a close-up view from our backyard. At one point the winds whipped up a bit and brought fire over the ridge right behind our house. The planes and helicopters doubled up on that spot and put it out quickly!

We were very grateful to see the fire crews working so hard!

On the way to church I took this picture from another angle. Our house is to the left of the first fire.

There were four or five helicopters fighting the blaze. They filled their water buckets at the pond right behind the church, as well as the pressurized irrigation pond on the north side of Lambert Park.

By the time Sacrament Meeting was over the blaze was in a better condition. The one on the left was almost gone!

We've had helicopters and planes circling our house all day, but they seem to have got a handle on the fire. The people who were evacuated have been allowed back home. It looks like about 500 acres have burned.

This is the view at about 5:30 p.m. It looks like the fire is still smoldering, but I think we might be able to sleep easier tonight! We're glad our home was saved, but dread going for  a walk next week to survey the damage!