We are doing all right. Thank you to all for the prayers and good wishes. We have not had to evacuate, and the fire is 33% contained. The air quality was a bit smoky earlier today, but is fairly clear now. The total acreage burned is over 10,000 acres.
A 65-year-old man named Herbert Wayne Smith has been arrested for starting the fire. He was using some kind of equipment (a sawzall to cut metal) that caused sparks to fly all over, which started the fire. It was windy and 102 degrees, so a normal, prudent person would not have chosen to do that.
In addition, in 2018, he was cited for doing the exact same thing. He negligently started a fire back then when he used equipment carelessly and wreaked havoc. He was not punished at that time, just given probation and a slap on the wrist. He also has a criminal record for other misdeeds as long as your arm.
Today, a woman named Susan Solari died because of this terrible man’s gross negligence. A local dog breeder, she, for unknown reasons, had not yet evacuated herself and her 20 dogs when the fire overtook her and killed her and all her animals.
All I can say is that I hope this time the perpetrator of this disaster is held accountable for the loss of homes, the devastation of wildlife, and this poor woman’s death.
I will be back Monday with more cheerful content, I promise. This has just hit me kind of hard.
2 Responses
So sad for the loss of Susan and her dogs. A terrible tragedy for your area.
Oh that is so sad, poor woman and poor pupsters. Thank goodness no more people and it is almost contained now. Take a rest to relax and get the adrenalin under control, because you must have been so stressed! Big hugs to you and Eva.