Praying for a Miracle
Plans have changed…..there is a fire.
Click this image for the gallery of the progression of the Squaw Mountain Fire.
I wanted to bring you images and commentary on the Master Garden Tour that took place early last week but as we all know, life happens. Yesterday, Patrick spotted smoke on Squaw Mountain and made a frantic call to the fire chief. He geared up and headed over. It was contained after about an hour, then suddenly a tree went up in flames and fell to the ground. With the August dry conditions out here, there was no time to prevent it from spreading. As of noon yesterday, Squaw Mountain is burning from a lightning strike the night before. We have an amazing volunteer fire department and trucks from all around have come to help. Today, the big guns have arrived and it is still a continuous battle. It has spread throughout the mountain and has destroyed cabins, pastures, and a lot of timber. No one lives in the cabins and no one has been hurt. Except out hearts ache when we look at this beautiful land screaming with smoke and red flames. I’ve started a website of images with descriptions and times. Click the image above to view them and I will continue to update this image site daily, God willing. You will notice the quick progression of this thing as I have put times in most of the captions. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
PS: We are not in the path of this thing nor are any residences, as far as I know.
Uprooted Magnolia 
Holy smokes, Leah – no pun intended. The folks and animals in and around Squaw Mountain are in my thoughts and prayers. Though I must add – your photos make the fire look incredibly beautiful.
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Thanks Lenore. Keep the prayers a’comin’!
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Thanks for posting these Leah. It’s been frustrating seeing the huge columns of smoke and not really being to
tell what was going on. We live on the opposite side of Squaw Mountain by the Shamrock, and at times, looking out my kitchen window, it looked like the fire was just over the ridge, My husband, Ray, is up fighting it
as well. God bless all our brave men and women who protect us so well and faithfully!
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Amen Michelle, very well put!
Welcome to the blog, so glad you found me. I’ve had so many calls asking questions and I’ve not been able to find any actual news on this fire. I’m not a reporter but I’m going to do my best to get a report out to the people via Uprooted Magnolia. I feel so sick for the landowners. My heart is breaking for them and the land. I’ll try to post an update tomorrow. I hope Ray gets home soon and I’m sure he keeps you updated as well.
All the best ~ Leah
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Leah –
I have to run over to Laramie today. Is there anything you need or any help I can give you?
You’re much closer to this than our ranch is. My younger son and I drove down 34 last night
to try and get an idea of the magnitude. Couldn’t believe all the “looky loos” standing on the side
of the road. Of course, I guess we were LL’s too! It was a relief to realize it was much farther away
from us than it appeared. Ray got home late last night and went back out around 6 am this morning.
Our sons are planning on heading up as soon as the older one gets over here from Guernsey. Both
have had fire fighting experience, so should be able to help rather than hinder.
Please, don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything!
God bless,
Michelle
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Thank you Michelle. Patrick is so congested from the smoke, he’s put in two 12 or 13 hour days straight in the smoke and flames so he is taking today off out of there. We are going to the South Ranch to stack hay. We got our cows out of Squaw last night and have to search for a few more over there. So today is playing catch up for 2 days lost on chores. Thanks for the offer but we’re doing good so far. Glad your boys can come and help. I’ve never seen anything like this. I’m sure we’ll meet soon.
Best~Leah
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I thank God that you are safe and pray that it remains so..
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You and the area will be in my thoughts.
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Thanks for the great photos of the fire and your husband’s work at the fire. I’m a partner of the Flying X ranch which is west of the fire.
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Been thinking about you and Patrick the past few days. Hope everything is going well Leah! So scary….
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Thanks Melissa. I saw your comment and realized I hadn’t updated on my blog. Been focused on Facebook spreading the info to folks that I’m connected with locally. But my blog world friends need to know too! Patrick has chest congestion from the smoke and yelling for two days. Fortunately he’s been off the mountain for two days and we’re catching up on ranch work. Thanks for thinking of us!
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