Fire and Ice

I was going to write about the ice storm this part of the country got back in January, but time got away from me and I didn't get to it.  So when wildfires sparked and raced across this land, I thought a blog post using the title, Fire and Ice, would be neat.  However, the ice storm was kind of insignificant compared to the recent fires so I have little to say about it.  : ) 
 
Back in January, this area was hit hard by an ice storm.  Towns and homes lost power from anywhere to an hour to two weeks.  Trees and limbs were badly broken, power lines and highline poles snapped.  It was very pretty, but so destructive. 

~~~

 
Mid-March I wrote...
Have you heard about all of the fires in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas? 

My family and I are okay.  Thankfully, all of the fires were east, north, or south of us, but we were still somewhat affected. 

Over 1,000,000 acres burned

We have some friends/neighbors who were hit hard by the hot flames.  Their houses were spared and saved (praise God) but the fire consumed some of their cattle, fences, out buildings, vehicles, trailers, machinery, and acres and acres of needed grass.  Still, some people weren't as fortunate and did lose their home and/or even loved ones.

With the land turned to ash and sand now, the livestock which did survive don't have any grass to graze.  However, by the kind hearts of people all across the country, they are being helped!

Hay from many different states is making its way to the needy cattle and horses.  Truck and pickup drivers are rolling in, ready and eager to help in anyway they can.  When offered a gas card or payment, they instantly refuse it.  They won't accept a dime.  And when we've said thank you to the few we've been able to talk to, they grin and say that they're just happy they can help somehow.

Everybody is coming together and working.  Whoever needs hay is invited to come to the drop off place were all of the donated hay is kept and pick up what they need.  Night and day, the people working at that location wait for any arriving trucks pulling a loaded trailer.

On the 15th of March, Mom, Little J., and I went to give some food to our friends who'd lost things to the fire, and that's when we talked to the people at the hay drop off location.  They said all of the ranchers/farmers were good on hay at the moment, but still more trucks were unloading.  Without rain, though, they'll need all the hay they can probably get until the grass grows back.

One of our friends said they had some people coming in to help build fences.  The builders had said something to the point of, "Show us where you want the fence and it'll be there when we leave."  Complete strangers have come to the aid and are giving their time, effort, and prayers to the many, many people affected by the fire.  And it has been so touching, amazing, and appreciated.

I heard hay was coming from Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, and so many more states.  In fact, I have lost count of how many states have donated hay/feed, fencing supplies, food, and time.

 

Though the fires are nearly, to completely put out, there is so much more work ahead of ranchers, farmers, and anyone else harmed.  Fences need taken down and rebuilt.  Cattle need fed and cared for.  Still other livestock had to be killed and then buried, taken to a dead pile, etc., because of their injuries.  Grass needs to grow back on the black and brown hills.  Houses need to be rebuilt.  It's not nearly over, even though the fire is.
 

 

We need rain.  As one person said, "We need a nice slow rain.  Not one that will pour and wash all of the hills away.  And I guess lightning wouldn't hurt anything."  It's at times like this a person needs to keep their humor. 

 


As I've said, it's been wonderful to see all of the hay coming through.  Facebook has been flooded with videos, pictures, and written posts about hay and all of the loving people doing something for the fire victims.  We've cried, we've smiled, we've prayed, we've helped, we've waved to countless semis and pickups hauling hay, and our family has been affected by the fire, though we didn't lose anything.  We've been emotionally affected by all of the helping hands coming to give assistance in this time of need and by what we have and can do to help others.
 
April 3rd...
Hello again from the Panhandle!  Since I hadn't posted this yet, I thought I'd add to it.
 
We have gotten RAIN!  Praise God!!!  It rained on and off all of last week and, though a lot of this area has needed it, the path of the fire really did. 
 
On the 30th, Dad, Big J., and I, along with our horses, went over to one of our friends' to move their cattle since the fence had burned and the cattle escaped.  I hadn't seen any of the fire area since Mom, Little J., and I took food and supplies over on the 15th, and it was great to see the progress which had happened in that little time.

 
The black ashes covering the rolling hills were blown away, leaving mainly bare sand dunes.  But everything was wet from the rain.  Puddles and muddy roads were all around and green sprouts of grass showed themselves. 
 
After riding, I posted to Instagram and Facebook, saying,

We had the pleasure of helping some friends (who were affected by the recent fires) move their cattle.  While riding through one of the many burned pastures, we could smell the leftover smoky fragrance and the fresh dampness after the rains we've been blessed to get.  It's amazing how the green grass is already shooting through the ash and making this present desert-like country beautiful again.  #wildfire #starbuckfire #beautyfromtheashes  

 

 

 

Hay is still coming to ranchers and farmers and people are still offering to help build fences, fix food, move cattle, do anything that needs done, etc..  Though there's a ways to go yet, things are beginning to look better. 

 

Thank you to all who have helped and prayed during this historic, tragic time.