09/12/2025
September 12, 2015. TEN YEARS AGO TODAY. This is the start of the Valley Fire that took our home and nearly 1300 others, as viewed from our property.
I can remember standing next to the garage as I took this photo, and I said to Leon Ballew, "look they already have air support on this. They'll get it under control. They won't let it get to town." It seemed so far away, and yet it was closer than I dared imagine. My daughter Karin was planning to come visit us the next day and to retrieve her kitty Daisy (our house guest). I called her as I was standing there, to tell her not to come. "There's a fire and there will likely be a lot of roadblocks and equipment that will make it a challenge to get here." Little did I know how prophetic that would be.
Less than an hour later, we could see the flames had moved further down the mountain encroaching on our valley. Leon's daughter Amanda called to warn us. "We have flames at the back of our property. Get out now". Leon was in disbelief simply because he could not see any smoke, from our perspective, in the area of Anderson Springs where she lives. Amanda insisted, "don't listen to Dad, I am telling you, it is coming your way. I am sending the kids to you. Take them with you." I knew she was serious.
About 5 minutes later, we received a "robo call" from the Lake County Sheriff. It was an evacuation order. In retrospect, it seems like we were one of the few households that got such a call, as we still had a landline phone and power. "Leon, we have to go NOW". I was not prepared for this, and I did not have a plan. The grandkids arrived and Leon got them in the car. CJ was not wearing any shoes at the time. I can't even remember seeing Sue get in the car. Leon somehow managed to get Mom and her wheelchair in the car. I frantically threw some clothes together. I did not even know if I should take "bathroom" supplies, how long would be gone? We'll be back in a couple of days, right? Where are we even going?
I tore through the house grabbing whatever came to mind. It was a mixed bag of good thinking and not thinking. I grabbed some framed pictures from the wall, but I did not think of the box of old family photos in Mom's room. It would have been so easy to take that! I packed our laptops, some paperwork, and Leon's yearbook. I did not remember to include the external hard drive that had ALL of my important files and scanned photos on it. I packed a few days' clothes for each of us, and Mom's meds, but I did not take the most precious of our photos, still on the wall. I grabbed all of our recent county fair ribbons and my winning jar of blackberry jam, but I did not remember to grab my Bible. It was a blur that, to this day, makes no sense to me.
Leon had loaded our people and our dog Brownie, and Daisy cat into our two cars. We then had to get our two little piglets, Penny and Percy. Penny was easy. Percy had only been with us for a few days, and he was not used to us yet. He did not want to be captured! Leon said we may have to leave him behind. I stood my ground on that, NO. We would NOT be leaving any of us behind! Leon devised a plan to trap him, and we got him loaded into his kennel. Both pigs were safely in the back of the Rogue. Thank you for that, Leon! Aren't we glad we still have them both with us?
As I took one final pass through the house, I tried to run a mental checklist, but it wasn't coming easily. "Leon, what about your guitar? No, leave it", he said. Out on the deck to leave now, I locked the door. I can remember feeling the heat of the day and the extremely strong, hot wind. My mind flashed to my favorite movie, The Wizard of Oz, to the scene where Dorothy tries to get into the storm cellar as she looks toward the terrifying cyclone approaching. My thoughts: It's like I'm in a movie...but this is not a movie, this is my life, my home. I choked back my tears and got in the car.
I followed Leon down the driveway in my car. He had Mom, the kids, and the pigs. I had Brownie, Daisy, and whatever would fit in my trunk. One vehicle was left behind. I looked to the north from the driveway. The flames were on the valley floor! The flames were in the nature trail park on Hwy 175. That's walking distance for us. For the first time, I was terrified. I said, "Lord, please let our home still be here when we get back." Part of me was sure we would come home, but part of me felt the fear. What if?
That day, ten years ago today, was the last time I would ever see my sweet beloved little farmhouse. That day was the day that would change the course of our lives forever. The rest has been in God's hands ever since.
