Sunday Evening - UPDATED 10:30 pm

Updated 10:30 p.m.

Its back. Just as I started to lay down and try to sleep, and thought it did too. Walked up to the top of the upper canyon. The ridge above the dam is full of flames again. The helicopters can be heard, but its media as NO water dropping is going on. Whats most ditressing is all the engines and crews that were all park in the canyon seemed to have left. Why?

UPDATED 4:30 p.m.


The ridge fire looks completely out, and there are now hand crews dealing with hot spots. It's pretty amazing to see these guys strung along a line on the ridge helping to save our homes from further danger. The fire up there was a big concern for this canyon.

It's like a ghost town up here with a few of us who decided to "wait" a bit longer before leaving. Just took a short walk around and spoke to one of the engines. They were all waiting it out, and seemed hopeful that the worst was over. But we still ahve to be watchful if the winds shift tonight.


Schools closed tomorrow, and there is a possibility of the evacuations being lifted by 6 a.m. if the weather and fire conditions continue to improve.


UPDATE 1:00 pm

Lots of trucks with hand crews arriving. Apparently laying hose for structure protection. I spoke to one of the guys on the engines, he said they have lots of resources. My only concern is that once night falls no air assault, so the ridge will burn where it wants. Wind is picking up slightly.

Update 10:30am:

Watching them hold the ridge above Skyland (upper canyon)as it trys to burn over. Earlier this a.m. I saw crews on foot in the lower canyon, it looked like they were protecting a home as the fire was getting quiet close. About 5 engines staged in the upper canyon. No one is allowed back in once they leave. Oddly enough no one knocked on my door to evacuate last night. I also ran into a guy on Idlehour lane. He and his family found out this morning that there was a mandatory evacuation.

No property loss. They are being very cautious. All the fire crews I spoke to on my walk said that the fire had spread alond the ridge, we can't see it really but it is there. That is why they are now doing more evacuations.

Earlier:
Just a morning update. Last night they evacuated the upper and lower canyon. I am still here until the fires pose an imminent danger. This morning it looks better, although there are still flames visible, and they are evacuating more homes today.

Last night the fire burned down the hillside towards the lower canyon. Watching the flames hourly, through the night that was unnerving.

There seems to be more of a threat to homes in the lower canyon, and it is raining ash. The air assault started at daybreak. Fire is only 5% contained.

The biggest problem last night was looky loos in the canyon, prior to the evacuation it was a traffic jam here. We started stopping cars and asking if they were local, if they were not, we told them to leave.

Now with the evacuation, its very quiet other than the helicopters.