In the news...

[Soggy]

Maybe some of you have noticed ( or maybe not ) but I haven't posted in the past week or so . On May 26th a large forest fire started in an area about 20 miles from where I live and quickly grew out of control, by Friday of this week (June 2nd) it was covering an area of 25,000 hectares ( the largest single fire in the history of our province) . Over half of the 17,000 population had to be evacuated and most of those are now living in the local hockey arena or with relatives and friends in the adjoining communities. Fortunately there has been no reports of loss of life, but more than 50 residences have been destroyed . My wife and I are very fortunate in that we live just outside the evacuation area and were not directly affected, although it has been a very nerve wracking week to say the least. While all this was happening another fire erupted in the suburbs of Halifax (150 miles east of here) and although much smaller in area burned, the damage was even greater . Over 150 homes were destroyed along with many businesses,... but again fortunately no loss of life.
The good news is , it started raining yesterday (June 3rd) and has continued to rain since then , so hopefully the worst is over for now. The problem with these types of fires is they tend to burn under ground and can erupt again later if conditions change.
The greatest thing about this area that I live in , is its people and how they stand together in times of need. Everyone pitches in and helps in whatever way they can, so we'll get through this ..... it'll just take a while.

Wayne

[sappy]

Thank you,Wayne, for letting us know. Yes, we have notice you haven't been posting, as neither has Brian. And some of us wondered if the fires were the cause. So thankful to hear you and your wife are safe. So sad about the loss of property. Continue to stay safe!

[Just Carving]

Glad to hear you're okay. We had smoke travel down to here in New Jersey and cross over into Pennsylvania. That alone tells me the fire was no small event.

Stay safe
BobL

[Merle Rice]

Hi, Wayne, glad to hear no life was lost and you and yours are Safe. Merle

[Rodster]

Thanks for the update, Soggy. I heard a news report from down your way, where a young woman was telling how she and her family were burnt out and were scrambling about for someplace to live. This is so sad.

I've never heard of a forest fire in Nova Scotia before, although that's probably due to my ignorance. Let us know how things develop. You're the best, Soggy.

[Rodster]

Soggy used the term, forest fires. I use it too. But recently I hear everyone talking about 'wild fires'. I find forest fires a much more descriptive term.

Just saying ...

[yolli]

Hi Soggy, have been thinking of you a lot the last few weeks. Glad to hear nobody lost hos life. But if you loose your home it must be terrible!
Stay Safe.

[pallin]

We have a lot in common, Soggy (Wayne). I spend a month in Nova Scotia a few years ago, kayaking bays and islands along the east coast, and including time in Halifax. We've had some horrendous fires here in California. The "Thomas Fire" within a mile of our house burned 200,000 acres including 700 homes.

[uvawyo]

Glad to hear you are safe and that it has begun to rain on those fires

[Morrow7x]

Fires like that are a heck of a thing.

Relatives had several close calls in the Boulder foothills over the decades, no way of knowing if "you're next."

[Eddy-Smiles]

Good to hear that you and your family are okay. We down here on the Gulf coast as well as those of us on the west coast share your feelings. Entire cities have had to evacuate for hurricanes and wild fires. I don't think there's anything as stressful as having to leave your home and never knowing it it will still be there when you return. We've had to do it multiple times, the latest last year.

[Claude]

Glad to hear you and your family are safe, Wayne!

Claude

[NoDNA]

After going through B.C. and Yukon a few years ago, a lady in a store told us that Canada has a policy to let'r run. Up there it burn 100,000s of acres and has we drove through it was a real awakening.

Chuck

[DiLeon]

Wayne.....Really glad your ok and heads up. Hawaii is having its own chaos today. Seems like no one is immune to these natural disasters....and man-made ones. Stay safe and ready. Anything can happen at any time these days.

[Randy]

Hope the rain does the job for you. Fires can be nightmare. We lost a house in 1963 to fires in the hills north the LA Calif area. Be safe.