P&PT request: Forest fire

[bubbaray]

UPDATE: http://www.stefans-reiseseite.de/?path=content&contentid=258

Link is in German, but fab pics. Pics 6, 9, 24 are not my friend's company (2 engine planes are another company). Pics 17 18 & 19 are my friend's company's planes (4 engines). There are some videos http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/bc/video/index.html Click Noon News Hour, then stories, then Kelowna wildfires. Good plane pics about 1/2 way through that video.



There are 17,000 people (probably more today) evacuated due to a forest fire: http://www.news1130.com/more.jsp?content=20090718_202002_9864

This is an urban area, like any dense suburban setting in North America.

Please pray for the residents (we know people who live in the area) and the fire fighters (our best friend is an air tanker pilot who is working this fire).

[shawnandangel]

Prayers coming their way!!! Hope your friend is okay! Keep us updated.

[BabyMine]

Sending P&PT to them.:praying:

[dcmom2b3]

Ugh, reminds me of the Oakland Hills fire that happened when I was in law school. P&PT coming their way.

[MontrealMum]

Saw this on the news - P&PT coming your way.

[amldaley]

P & PT for all involved.

[SnuggleBuggles]

I hope everyone is ok! Lots of PT coming that way!!

Beth

[EllasMum]

My BFF's family lived in this area for a number of years. I visited there just this past spring. I sincerely hope they can get things under control and the evacuations can end. So sad and frightening.

[bubbaray]

Late afternoon is when the winds pick up in that area -- that's right now. Watching the special news coverage now and all of the (three!) fires in that area have grown and are officially "out of control".

[jgenie]

P & PT headed their way!!

[bubbaray]

OK, I'm having a hard time watching this, especially the shots of my friend the airtanker pilot. I know he's chosen a very dangerous job, he's highly skilled (used to be chief pilot for his large tanker company), but still. Watching these large planes (close in size to a 737) fly 500 feet off the ground at low speeds in highly mountainous terrain -- well, its really hard to watch. Very emotional.

I don't know how my BFF (his wife) keeps her sanity 6m of the year.

[ShanaMama]

Wow. I hope they get this under control soon and no one is hurt.

[Melbel]

How stressful! Sending lots of prayers and positive thoughts your way.

[MamaMolly]

Oh dear, this is so scary! P &PT on the way.

[bubbaray]

bumping with update.

There is a late news conference right now and the one fire is 40% contained. That is great news -- at noon they were saying all of the fires in that area were out of control (0% contained), so the crews have accomplished a lot.

During the day, they have upslope winds and at night, downslope winds. So, tonight is key. The firebreaks, from heavy 'dozers and airtankers will hopefully hold. Last night, the fire jumped all the breaks and the highway (4 lane in most places in that area, some 6 lane patches -- big highway).

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

PT headed their way!!!!!1

[bubbaray]

Thank you everyone! I got an email from our friend last night. He is flying on these fires, but it sounds quite routine from him.

Keep those P&PT coming -- 2 of the 3 fires are still out of control and the 3rd fire is still 40% contained (which means the BBB mojo worked -- it didn't grow overnight). The key is the wind, which has been light overnight.

Thanks again!

[elektra]

Thanks for the update. Great news!

[bubbaray]

About 7,000 people have been allowed back into the evacuation areas yesterday.

Of course, there were at least 10 break-ins -- the baddies used ATVs and bikes to get into the subdivisions from the "range" area. I'm so sad that these people have been violated during this emotional time.

There has been some amazing footage of the air tankers. I'm just stunned -- the shots must have been taken by other aircraft.

A 4th fire broke out in the same area, but to the south. At a campground that we've stayed at in the past.

Please continue your P&PT, they are working.