Arizona Fire Near JohnP

[weedwalker]

You all might want to say a little prayer for our good friend JohnP. I've been trying to call him to check on him but the call won't go thru. I heard on the news today that 2000 people in his area had been evacuated and so far 44 homes have been destroyed. I hope he and his family are safe. I'll keep trying to get thru to him.

Ed

[KySongDog]

    Hope he and his family are OK.

[iahntr]

We'll do. Thanks for keepin us posted Ed.

[HaMeR]

Thanks Ed!! Thoughts & Prayers are being sent out!!

[KySongDog]

I read somewhere that John McCain is saying he thinks illegals are setting fires now.   

[HaMeR]

Heard that on the radio news this AM Semp. Some liberal then said McCain was "just trying to make the illegals situation worse than it really is." 

[possumal]

Prayers on the way from the Possumal clan. 

[FinsnFur]

Anyone heard anything new, or seen John elsewhere?

[weedwalker]

I've been trying to reach him. The call still won't go thru. It's been a constant busy signal for 3-4 days now. The last count I heard was 58 homes destroyed in his area. I hope he wasn't one of those.

[shaddragger]

  Prayers goin out from NC! Keep us posted!

[JohnP]

Dang it!  I had to go back for more inpatient physical therapy, just got back and a few days later the whole dang mountain is ablaze.  Fire started Sunday, on the border, by Monday the whole southern tip of the mountain was engulfed in flames.  It started our way late Monday and Tuesday morning we could see smoke billowing over our ridge line.  Mandy and her husband came over and packed up the trailer, took it to their house, came back and they and Marge packed up the blazer and the car.  Seeing how I'm not getting around to well they suggested I stay the hell out of the way - I didn't argue.  Sheriff came by late evening and said the whole area was under mandatory evacuation orders, told him I had no intentions of leaving my house.  He pointed up the mountain and all I could see was a wall of fire headed to our place, I'm not sure but I think I got to the blazer before he got to his truck.  Been here at Mandy's every since.  Yesterday was the first we were allowed back into the area, but only under police escort, as there was still some hotspots.  I knew our place was going to be nothing but rubble.  As we crested the highway, I'll be darn, sitting in a field of burnt scrub oak, burnt mesquite and burnt grass was our house.  Not a shingle was even singed and no smoke smudges on the house - no damage what-so-ever.  We still can't believe why the Lord has chosen us to be spared when there is so much damage and destruction all around us.  We still can't stay at the house as there is no power and no water.  Talked to the power company today and they said most of the poles are down in our area, but they are working around the clock to get everything up and running.  I have posted a link to some pictures, most are within shouting distance of our place.  I'll also post some pictures of our property when things get back to normal, your not going to believe it.
http://www.azcentral.com/photo/News/Breaking/19237#phototop

Thank you all for your concerns and prayers - this been a rough year guys, not sure I can take to much more, once I get to walking again I ain't never going to stop hunting until I drop over dead.  Now you all need to say a pray for the firefighters, we ain't stopped praying for them since this mess started.

[bigben]

its good to hear that your ok and your house was spared john. 

[FinsnFur]

  It's a big relief knowing you made it through John. Sounds like you guys got real lucky with a lil bit of the big guys help I'm so glad to hear it.

It's pretty clear there was an angel watching over your house. Maybe it was nor-cal yote
Thanks for checking bud. I sure hope things get better out there.

[KySongDog]

Very glad to hear you and your family are OK, John.   Your house survived too and that is an extra bonus.

This illegal immigrant problem is sickening and just getting worse.   

[iahntr]

Real glad to hear you're OK John,
and that your house was spared !
You've definitely had your challenges,
hang tough and take care ! 

[weedwalker]

John,
I'm so relived to hear that you, your family, and belongings were all spared by the fire. You had told me about the fires down there 3-4 weeks ago. But when the big fire up north took off, the news kinda shifted to it and I didn't hear any more about your area. Then the other day I heard on the news that 60 mph winds were blowing a fire straight towards you and I started worrying about you. I'd been trying to call for several days up to last night with no success and was beginning to think that it might have gone very bad for you. I was so happy to see your post on here today. The man upstairs musta been looking out for you. I hope you can get settled back in soon. Thanks for letting us know you made it thru OK.

Ed

[JohnP]

Just a quickie as we are on our way out the door.  Going out to check to see if we have power and water - hope so!  I have a bunch of pictures and a few stories of the true hero's who saved our place.  Can't wait to get our lives back in order, living through this ordeal and seeing what others have suffered sure makes my physical problems small in comparison.  I'll post again later tonight hopefully from home.

Let's all keep nor-cal in our thoughts and prayers as he fights the Wallow fire in northeastern Arizona.

[possumal]

Good news, John P.  Keep us posted.

[HaMeR]

Great news Mr John!!    I'm glad you're doing well & that your house was spared. I'm thinking the reasoning behind that is one of the flames loked over the hill & said "OH NO!!!!!! NOT ME!!!!!!! I AINT TOUCHIN THAT HOUSE!!!!"   

[HuntnCarve]

John,

So glad to hear that you are all okay, and that your property was miraculously spared.  We never stopped keeping you all in our prayers.  Hope the coming days are easier for you and yours.

Dave