Our neighborhood of 4,000 homes was evacuated Sunday. We were thankfully able to return home Tuesday afternoon. Dozens of homes were burned to the ground. Our communal heart aches for those who have suffered losses in this fire. As I type the burning smell lingers in the air, helicopters still fly overhead searching for hot spots, fire fighters douse them, churches, local businesses and community members rally to provide support, encouragement and basic necessities to those in need and prayers are being lifted up.
But mostly what I sense in the community is an immense swell of gratitude and disbelief that more homes were not taken by the blaze. Of the 4,000 homes, 24 were destroyed and 30 were damaged.
Our community is so thankful to the fire personnel and emergency workers who risked their lives to come into our neighborhood and fight the fires. The high winds threatened to bring the fire right up the greenbelt toward our home. When we evacuated Sunday, the greenbelt behind our home was filled with smoke and the smoke was beginning to enter the house. I honestly thought I would never see our home again and I said goodbye as I pulled out of the drive way. We had our people and our dog and that was all that mattered.
And it is still all that matters. We return home to a community that is stronger and closer than ever. We will help our friends and neighbors rebuild what they have lost. And we will move forward with hearts filled with gratitude and humility.
This is a direct quote (with street name removed) from a dear, sweet friend who lost her home. How can you not feel blessed and humbled with friends like these?
