Oregons on FIRE!!!

[Twig]

Dear Friends,
Our state is on fire. To give you an idea of the scope of this problem, they are asking Australia and New Zealand for help. This is unheard of in our history to my knowledge. Although we have the most and best firefighters and smokejumpers in america, even with the national guard being called out it is the worst I have seen in my 30+ years of living here.

I have just found out that the best place I have ever found to fish just burnt and flames are now threatening the outskirts of The Dalles and Maupin OR. (One ember across the Columbia river from Maupin will burn the land of Americas Stonehenge! ) There are over 10,000 people battling the flames in eastern Oregon....but the weather is supposed to start getting worse after 2 days of relative cool. All this is caused by lightening strikes.

So I would ask you join with me and pray for these valiant people (in your own way) who battle the element of Fire. Pray that they may have the strength to endure this battle. For they fight the Gods themselves.

Peace,
Twig

(first word edited from My to Our TJ )

[*~*Chary*~*]

as a person with an affinity with fire i pray for them

O Mighty element of fire
please heed my call and cease you destructiom


i am sending energy and thoughts

[Semele]

Twig,
My thoughts are there. I will keep positive thoughts for the strength and endurance of the firefighters. Instead of arming them to fight against the Gods, I ask that the Gods help them and let water rain down, calm the winds for a bit, and help the earth absorb the flames.

[Xander67]

my thoughts and prayers are with you Twig!

[materra]

Oh Twig...what awful news...

May it please the Power's that be...please protect those who attempt to end the flames, please lend your healing touch. Cool the flames, water the earth and protect the old growth forests we love. So mote it be.

[Flaire-FireStar]

:(

For the families, for all the lives, I pray to the dieties that the fires will be put out soon; that the rain will fall, that the earth will not hold the flames underneath it's surface - making it harder for the firefighters to extinguish it -- that the winds will be calm as to not help the fires to spread.


(((((Twig & fellow members from Oregon))))))

[Theres]

yeah, this is as bad as i can remember too. some of the land we camped on last month is burning also. very scarey. but i have a slightly different perspective...
during our camping trip last month we noticed ALOT of sick and dying trees in the Cascades. it wasn't like this just a few years ago.
the cause? something called a 'bark beetle'. they attack in enormous numbers and can devastate a tree in a matter of hours. it is epidemic in Southern Oregon, and they've been found up north too. the dead trees then become little more than fuel. and the reason these bugs are so prevelent right now is because of years of fire suppression. the small fires that would usually burn off the undergrowth and kill the diseases haven't happened in these areas in a very long time, so the small fuel trees and bushes have gotten out of control. all it takes is a spark and the entire forest goes up, like what is happening now. 'land management' has failed, because we have decided that the natural order of things was wrong, and we knew better. and now Mother is enforcing balance on a scale that is opening our eyes big time!
so rather than see the Gods as something to be fought, i think we should be humbled by the lesson they are giving us (yet again!), and hope that we 'get it' this time. this is a healing process which just happens to work against our interests as humans.
my prayers go out to all those whose lives are being shattered by this, and i hope it is brought under control soon.
but let's not forget who is REALLY in charge here!

[SimplyStrange]

I understand Twig, my state was on fire awhile ago too... :( Sending lots of thoughts and energies.

[Twig]

It ain't pretty my friends. :( Greenman, you speak Truth, which is why I always value your words. I chose wrongly in saying we battle the Gods..or the Elements. WE couldn't win if we did eh? I just wish that Bruce Sussman would quit talking to us like we are a bunch of first graders!! :mad: :D :D Hehehehe.

We ARE in deep caca though folks. Ask the elements for mercy please. Over 250 homes are threatened now. :(

Peace,
Twig
:elf:

[Twig]

Say goodbye to this for awhile....

[Theres]

bless you Twig, your heart is good.
and i didn't mean to sound callous. alot of people's lives are being ruined by this, not to mention the uncountable toll on the wildlife!
but Gaia will heal, as She always does.

and you're right about Bruce Sussman. but he looks and speaks as if he is not long out of grade school himself.
Gods i hate sound-bite news!

[Old Witch]

I just don't know what to say! Except to agree with Greenman that Gaia will heal.........My heart goes out to those affected by the fires............I am so sad.......

[Witchy Cowgirl]

My prayers go out to all those affected by the fires. Healing prayers for the earth lifted up.

[materra]

Oh I am sad you are lossing so much, I pray for people to be safe and unharmed. It is difficult, and as SS said we really understand. Many people lost their homes and properties they loved here too. I watch with fear the area I grew up (Northern Wisconsin) ...it is very damaged by bugs too. Any lost of tourist income would be devastating to the people, as it anywhere the tourist are depended on.

[Rubi Waters]

((((Twig , Greenman & the state of Oregon)))))) you are all in my thoughts!

[Redside]

She cleans Her lands with fire and water, for after the flames will come new Life to our state. With the rains will come the new buds of Life that need the cleansing that the flames bring.

She knows what she does better than we ever will.

An aside Twig, that picture was taken about 1/2 a mile from where the fires burn at Maupin.

[Theres]

Redside, how close are you? i see your location is 'Deschutes', so you must be close!
i hope you and yours are out of harm's way.

we were planning a waterfall hunting trip to Tygh Valley next month, but i'm not sure how that will go now.

[materra]

Wait and see....if the fire ends..see if the area you wish to go to is okay? Why? Because here in AZ we are seeing folks not travel to places that need the tourist dollars...they are really hurting financially. There are areas untouched by the fires, but no visiters. *signs* It is all so hard.

[Twig]

Redside, how close are you? i see your location is 'Deschutes', so you must be close!

You want to answer that or should I !?? :eyebrow: Hmmmmm?

OH, what tangled web we weave!!! I'll tell him.

Ahem, Sir Redside actually resides about 35 yards or so from me! :razz: :razz: Don't worry about my best friend Greenman, the only thing singed on him is his butt from Ms. Redside after going home from my place so drunk last night!

Hahahaha :crazy: ;) Love ya Bro.

Peace my Brothers
Twig

[PrincessHLHofMW]

ohhhhh ((((((Twig, Greeman, Redside))))) i pray that the fires burn not much longer, that you and your families are safe, and that the people fighting the fires are unharmed

[Redside]

Yup I do live a stones throw from the Twigster.

My location on the Deschutes is where I meditate and fish.

My favorite spot is about 20 yards from where that picture was taken. Watching the Herons and river otters play can be the best thing for ones soul.

And I WAS NOT THAT DRUNK!!!!!!

Many thanks for your good thoughts and prayers for our state.

Greenman, by next week you should be able to go to the falls on the White river and the Shears Falls on the Deschutes. As of today the road was closed up to Macks Canyon, which is just down river from Shears. The White River Falls is kind of neat with the old power station at the bottom. Hope you and yours have fun .

[stormyray]

just heard on the new that there is now a server fire near the sisters. So sad we were just talking about going over that way with some friends before the kids go back to school... This drought is getting bad !!!! We need RAin !!!!!!

[Theres]

yeah, Sisters is getting it bad right now, with Hwy 20 closed until at least Wednesday. all traffic is being diverted throught the McKenzie Pass, a beautiful but very windy mountain pass that was not designed for heavy truck traffic.
the toll as of this morning was 272,000 acres burned and most of the fires still raging. one has been put out, and another is almost 80% contained. but a new one has started down south.
(sigh).
stormyray, are you in a safe place?

[stormyray]

Thankyou for asking greeman Yes I am in a safe place.
Im here in Myrtle Creek and so far we are fire free. We had a few small fires but htey were able to contain them very quickly.

[Twig]

Quoth Greenman stormyray, are you in a safe place?

THAT is is a prime example of why I LOVE this place & you people!!! :D :D

(bowing) Greenman-you are a gentleman.

Peace,
Twig
:elf: :ghost:

[SpikesPet5150]

Oh wow. What scary news! My fathers family is from Oregon. They're spread out across the state, McMinnville, Sheridan, Long Creek (just south of John Day). Coming from a person who has lived through wild fires for as long as I can remember (I'm in the desert of Colorado), I completely feel for you. Be safe.
~Bree

[SimplyStrange]

With every end, there comes a new beginning... We just have to trust that Gaia knows what she's doing :)

But my hugs and love go out to you, Twig, and the people whose homes are in jeopardy. :(

[Scarlettvixen]

I know the terrors of the fires that you guys are going thro Twig.
We have them every year behind me in the Blue Mountains (behind Sydney) yet our bush needs it to renew and regenerate, a lot of our plants wont regenerate without the heat of the fire to crack their seeds.

And Australia has frequently sent fire fighters to aid the USA in bush fires, I think last yr we sent them to California? Most of our firefighters are volunteers tho, which makes it hard for them to afford to go

[MistOfTheSea86]

Everything has been on fire lately. We almost lost the whole town of Show low. There was a large Fire down here in Tucson, I heard about One In Georgia or something and Now oregon! Jeez.

[stormyray]

Originally posted by MistOfTheSea86
Everything has been on fire lately. We almost lost the whole town of Show low. There was a large Fire down here in Tucson, I heard about One In Georgia or something and Now oregon! Jeez.

yes sadly my Aunt lost her home due to the fire in Herber / Show low

[SimplyStrange]

The people my friend and I stayed with in Green Valley lost their cabin in Chollo... or it was the White Mountains, I don't remember... But they're lucky... that's all they lost! :(

[StormCloud]

We just returned from driving to Madison WI - just saw this thread. It seems the whole state of Oregon is filled with smoke. When we left on the 15th, we drove by what was then called the Summer Lake fire near Lakeview. Huge and spread out. Coming back on the 26th we came down 97 thru Crater Lake. Another fire starting to flame up again near Lost Creek and Trail. And we've got 3 fires close to our house.

I didn't realize about any of the fires up north - we did stop at Stonehenge for 15 minutes. I had just found out it existed - pretty cool, actually. Would hate to think the fire could jump over there. http://saragossa.net/stonehenge02/Picture3.JPG

[Theres]

our annual Beltane Festival is less than 20 miles from there.

i just heard this morning that Cave Junction is on evacuation alert! but at least they were able to open a part of Hwy 20 a day early. i guess the Black Butte fire is about 60% contained.

[Desert_Shadow]

My heart aches for all of Oregon. May Mother Gaia protect and help all her children no matter their form.

[Redside]

http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
National Fire News

Good up to date info for fires across the west.

May the Rain gods show there faces very soon and leave the lightning in the sky.

[Twig]

The fire in Southern OR. was just described as a "three headed monster" by forest service officials. For you see, the wind is blowing in three directions through the canyons and valleys. :(

Peace.
Twig
:elf:

[Old Witch]

Oh.:( Goddess!!

[Twig]

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!! :D

The weather is cooling. It rained (onthis side of the cascades) for the first time in a long time. The temp on the east side of teh mountains is getting better and the firwefighters are mking the best progress yet.

We couldn't have done it without your prayers and good thoughts. Of that I am SURE!!!
Thank you again.

Peace
Twig
:elf:


ps- THANK YOU TO REDSIDE FOR THE WONDERFUL PICTURE I forgot to credit him....BAD TWIG! :mad:

[Theres]

yeah, but you called it about 'jumping the river' Twig.
at the time i thought "nah, that's to far", but it happened yesterday. embers from a burning pulp mill landed on the Washington side of the Columbia and started a 75 acre fire! not to much to burn over there though, and they got it under control pretty fast.
i don't know how close it got to 'Stonehenge' .

[Twig]

:eek: :cool: :bubbles: :bubbles: :bubbles: :eyebrow: :eyebrow: :lol: :rotfl:

wow!

[Desert_Shadow]

No? Well.....maybe just wise in the ways of the wild?

[Twig]

You may have heard of the latest. There is a fire in S. Oregon that has surpassed 300,000 acres and may yet eclipse the Tillamook Burn, which was the biggest fire in our history. You can still see the damage from that fire after over 60 years!

Keep those good thoughts coming for the firefighters.

Thanks
Twig

[Desert_Shadow]

Yes, please keep up the good thoughts and prayers for them and their families. They are bravepeople, putting forth a superhuman effort, against almost unsurmountable odds! I will also keep up prayer and thoughts for thewonderful people and wildlife of Oregon !