We're safe!
The West fire was pretty close to us (within 10 min drive) but they never told us to evacuate.
It began about 1-ish yesterday afternoon then quickly spread. (Supposedly there was another fire but I never did hear much about it. I assume it was close to this one.) They're guessing that it's burned 40,000-50,000 acres and 15-20 structures (probably mostly businesses, I don't think there are many homes out that way).
The jr. college, the race track/casino, a nursing home, and a few other places were evacuated with the hospital on stand by. I hadn't heard that the nursing home was one of the structures burned. (I know they evacuated the people but I'm concerned about the race horses at the track; I haven't heard anything about them.)
Though they were down to hotspots by about 10pm, the 300-500 that were told to evacuate weren't allowed to return to their homes until sometime today.
We only have one pet taxi but I'd remembered a thread in which Phred suggested using backpacks, etc for the critters, so we had those ready. Luckily, we didn't have to put them into use!
But we're good! It was a little nerve-wracking but we're just fine!
{{Thanks for checkin' on us!}}
~~~Edit~~~
I was watching CNN to see if they "named" us (nope, no names, just "eastern nm" lol) and heard that there was a coal mine explosion in Upshur County WV - just south of Buckhannon (my birthplace). 19 miners were trapped but 6 have made it to safety.
None of our extended family is employed there but my mom's closest friend's husband and son are. They were, thankfully, off of work today.
There is one person, Jerry Groves, still trapped that my parents know (in the went-to-high-school with him sense).
Please say a prayer for these guys and their safety! Thanks!
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