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Post by JR on Jul 25, 2012 19:13:17 GMT -6
Folks this is very serious and if not contained could easily be the next Colorado; .katv.com/story/19112721/wildfire-forces-evacuation-of-entire-city-of-ola?clienttype=printable" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> .katv.com/story/19112721/wildfire-forces-evacuation-of-entire-city-of-ola?clienttype=printableOla is about 40 miles west southwest of me and the wind is pushing it in my direction. Sources say it has jumped 2 major fire breaks already. The national and Arkansas Forestry Commission has pulled in hundreds of workers, dozers and equipment because Arkansas like Colorado is a lumber state. Myself I've got the water hoses I use to keep things watered and I'm on alert. Got vehicles ready to move out of harms way and I feel like with just a little fire department support and the way my land is laid out I'll be fine. I have two roads that border my property that helps me have a fire break. My main concern is the west and south side of the property and my honeybees. Don't know if I can suit up and get them moved quickly or not. I can see the smoke over to the west and drifting over Petit Jean Mountain and the State Park is on alert also and already warning campers and residents in the area. The wind is pushing this and with the state already over 8" below normal rainfall and temps hitting the 100's everyday this is burning like gasoline. Weather forecast says the wind will die down tonight and that should help. Please keep all these people and families in your prayers and the workers that are battling this for their safety. JR |
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Post by tvnacman on Jul 25, 2012 19:23:50 GMT -6
good luck JR
I'll say a prayer for you .
John
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Post by JR on Jul 25, 2012 20:22:35 GMT -6
Thanks John! So far they are calling out all troops. We are seeing helicopters flying over with water drop tanks. They can easily fill them out of the Arkansas River right by my house. This is a map of the area right now in trouble and reports say it's still only 50% contained.  I put in red letters FIRE by the little town of Ola and where I live due east by the red letters JR by Ptit Jean mt. and the little community of Ada.. Pretty close and I'm watching this. JR |
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Post by cruiser on Jul 25, 2012 20:44:26 GMT -6
My thoughts and prayers are with you and all your neighbors, JR. Maybe you guys will be blessed with a nice thunderstorm.
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Post by JR on Jul 25, 2012 21:03:14 GMT -6
Would be nice Cruiser but I'm afraid little chance of that. I think with the all out attack they are hitting this with if the wind will settle down they'll get a grip on this.
Thing is they have had two fire breaks already jumped because of the wind. They are also putting a all out assault on this because of the state park. This state park is not the typical state park. It has an educational institute, air port, political convention center, and one of the largest car musems in the country. This state park has millions invested and they'll break the bank to save it.
Word on the TV just now is the governor is in the area and the National Guard has been put on alert. There are other towns and people in this fires path Ola has been totally evacuated and there is even a huge fireworks warehouse between Ola and Birta and fire and fireworks just don't go together!
Won't be sleeping any tonight.
JR
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Post by justbuggin2 on Jul 25, 2012 22:29:17 GMT -6
wishing and praying for the best for you guys i hate for anybody to be burned out and will keep everybody in my thoughts good luck and hope that every thing works out ok
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Post by jct842 on Jul 25, 2012 23:08:12 GMT -6
I keep my grass cut good but the dry weather has it just like a wick on a molotov cocktail. As long as you have water you should be just fine. It is still hard for me to imagine a full blown forest fire, but from all I have seen on tv there isn't much that can survive if caught in the middle of one. john
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Post by wolfhound on Jul 26, 2012 4:28:55 GMT -6
JR, you are in my prayers. After daily rains for several weeks we have had a few days of dry weather.
So far no concerns for fires but we are surrounded by forrests so it is always a posibility. We are still
having days in the md 90s but are getting a few weekly showers.
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Junior
Currently Offline
Lake Meade (East Berlin) PA
Posts: 227
A+'s: 3
Joined: Jul 6, 2011 14:49:16 GMT -6
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Post by ccprof on Jul 26, 2012 5:39:46 GMT -6
I'm thinking of ya JR. We're having small brush fires around here and that's unheard of at this time of year.
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Post by JR on Jul 26, 2012 6:45:45 GMT -6
Well it's been tough getting any updated news this morning? Where's the media when you really need them?
My wife just called and shes on her way to work and the radio just reported a live update from the Forestry Commission and it's estimated at 1000 acres burned and they feel like they have it contained as long as the wind will stay low. Problem yesterday was it jumped fire breaks with the low humidity and high wind. It jumped Hwy 10 twice.
I've heard fo no casualties other than a few barns and one home but not injuries and that's the important part.
From what I can also gather they have opened hwy 7 and 10 back up and as the crow flies the fire came within 20 miles of me.
They are still out keeping a eye on this, lots of helicopters and planes still going by my house this morning which would not be unusual.
JR
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Post by JR on Jul 26, 2012 17:01:13 GMT -6
From what I've gathered all seems to be well and it's still contained. I think the last figures I saw said around 1400 acres is toast.
Sad thing to watch what took years to grow disappear in minutes.
JR
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Post by damin69 on Jul 26, 2012 17:44:10 GMT -6
Hope it stays contained and you and your family can stay out of the way. I am sure glad we have not had any wild fires around here.
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Post by JR on Jul 26, 2012 19:49:59 GMT -6
Rain! Rain! glorious RAIN!! Not only that the rain came right across the same region that just burned!
CC you did it, I know you got out there and did that RAIN DANCE!! Don't know how long it'll last but it's been raining so hard that my satellite internet service went down.
It is raining cats and dogs! Cool, wet rain!
JR
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Post by justbuggin2 on Jul 26, 2012 21:58:37 GMT -6
lad you are getting the rain you need and hopefully it will put that fire out
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Post by tvnacman on Jul 27, 2012 8:56:20 GMT -6
Rain! Rain! glorious RAIN!! Not only that the rain came right across the same region that just burned! CC you did it, I know you got out there and did that RAIN DANCE!! Don't know how long it'll last but it's been raining so hard that my satellite internet service went down. It is raining cats and dogs! Cool, wet rain! JR This upsets you, I would get in my birthday suite and dance around in it. John |
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