Big fire 5 blocks up from us

Last night shortly after dinner, after watching our dog being agitated and 5 minutes of continuous sirens and firetrucks going past, I went outside to the street and looked up the hill. The site was quite frightening for one who lives in the foothills. (Thankful we live in the "lower foothills, and it wasn't windy!) My view wasn't quite as clear as this picture from the Gazette, but I could tell that there was some serious trouble. Turns out a big house being built in a gated community no more than 1/2 mile from us burned down, and threatened to take the whole Stratton Forest/Skyway Heights neighborhood with it.

They evacuated 24 homes right away, and put several more on notice up the hill from us, and around this house. They set up our local high school as the command center, and used Gold Camp Elementary, just a couple blocks away from us, as their evacuation center until people were alowed back home about midnight.

Thankfully, everyone was fine. Less than an acre was lost, and the one 10,000 sq. ft. home, which was under construction, and nearly finished.

Two of the top photos are curteousy of our local new channels KKTV and the Gazette.