Gods’ sense of humor is different than mine

[PantyFanatic]

<--- *wonders if his motto should be “Patry hearty, for tomorrow……….. who the hell knows!*
Reuters -- Aug 23 2003 5:09AM
“KELOWNA, British Columbia (Reuters) - An estimated 30,000 people found themselves exiled from their homes in Kelowna, British Columbia, on Saturday by a wildfire so hot that at times it caused houses to explode….Emergency officials ordered 20,000 people to flee with only a few minutes warning on Friday evening as the forest fire began to "crown" -- …..Residents have been warned to stay out of forests and off wilderness roads and campsites in the southern half of the province, which is Canada's third largest and roughly the size of France and Germany combined.”

This makes me feel very guilty because of a few hours inconvenience without electrical service last week.:o It will take more than the throwing of a few switches to recover from this.:(

I know we have Pixie villagers in BC (some that don’t live on the island;)), and of course they are first to mind. My genuine sympathies to all Kanuks (even the French talkers:rolleyes: ) for the loss that will outlive all of us...... and this is a long way from over.:(

[Cheyanne]

It is sad that something bad has to happen in order for us to appreciate what we do have.... and look at the positive of what is negative in many people's minds.......

Talk about a WAKE UP CALL!!!

[dicksbro]

Heart goes out to those that were forced to flee and to those that may have lost their homes and possessions. Don't know if any were hurt or killed ... certainly hope not.

I hadn't heard about this, PF. Thanks for sharing it.

[LixyChick]

Wow! Talk about the forces that be!

Sending all my hopeful thoughts and energy to all who are directly and indirectly involved in this tragedy!

*feeling embarrassed and selfish in my miniscule problems*

[PantyFanatic]

Reuters
Sep 7 2003 5:11PM
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Nearly 1,000 people in western Canada were forced from their homes in the pre-dawn dark on Sunday as wind threatened to push a wildfire into the outskirts of Kelowna, British Columbia, for the second time in less than three weeks……
The Okanagan Mountain Fire grew by 2,470 acres Saturday to 61,750 acres and the more than 900 personnel fighting the blaze .....
British Columbia has been hit by its worst forest fire season in decades, and dry conditions have allowed many blazes including those near Kelowna and Kamloops to burn out of control since mid-August…..
More than 600 fires were burning in British Columbia on Sunday. Most were small and not threatening communities, but a Forest Service spokesman said lightning passing through the southeastern portion of the province would likely spark new blazes……

Note: 61,750 acres = 25,000 hectares

While my personal philosophy of “ALL the worlds problems can be radically reduced only after we address, No. 1- Global Population; No. 2- Deforestation”, is not open for discussion here, I want to mention that WE have a Pixie citizen that I feel is due recognition. Forest Fire Fighters are not only among heroes, but the ones working for the species survival.

M45 has been a Pixies member almost from the beginning and I think we missed his two year, July, anniversary. For this I personally apologize as I hold this man as a doer of important things in a very troubled world. I thank you for doing the REAL deeds of what not only makes a difference today, but for many tomorrows after we are gone.

Being in a family of two generations of first hand Fire Fighters, I may be more mindful of their daily presence, but for you special area of choice I thank you M45.

[fzzy]

Here, here!!!! My "father" (really step-father, but I think of him more as my father) spent most of his adult life working for the forest service and going every summer to fight fires was just part of the way things were .... He loved the outdoors and the wonders of nature and I know it hurt him deep down to his soul when he would see the devastation of forest fires! My thoughts are with those who suffer from this situation! Thanks PF for being so mindful! And thanks M45 for doing a great work!!!! :)

[Lovediva]

Here are some pictures that I received from a friend in BC...

There are alot of fires in BC right at this minute..and my heart goes out to all affected.....( I have made a donation to the Local Red Cross last week to help the hundreds of family's who have lost their homes.)

And many thanks to the thousands of Fireman battling these huge fires...they are the true heros of this world!

[Lovediva]

Another ...

[Lovediva]

:(

[Lovediva]

....:(

[Lovediva]

..And the last one of the bunch....from a child's point of view.... :(

[Oldfart]

Diva,

Please tell me the winery was saved.

Pics look like the Canberra fires that burned out hundreds

of homes a few months ago. Horrible!!

[Lovediva]

Here is a news story about it Oldfart...

Although the massive forest fire that has threatened them for nearly two weeks is not completely extinguished, wineries in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley are picking up the pieces and trying to get back to business as usual.

Only one winery, St. Hubertus Estate in Kelowna, in the northern Okanagan Valley, sustained serious damage. Two neighboring wineries, Cedar Creek Estate and Summerhill Pyramid Winery lost some outbuildings.

Since Aug. 16, the fire has threatened homes and wineries in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia's major wine region. To date, the flames have consumed more than 77 square miles of land in the Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park and the surrounding area. More than 250 homes have been lost, and an estimated 30,000 people were evacuated last weekend when the fire was at its apex. Nearly 800 firefighters, 350 of them Canadian military personnel, have been battling the blaze, and they had it about 70 percent contained as of Thursday evening.

St. Hubertus winery, owned by brothers Andy and Leo Gebert, lost its wine shop and production facility last weekend, in addition to Leo's home nearby. The warehouse and wine inventory were spared, along with Andy's house.

The two wineries that flank St. Hubertus, Cedar Creek and Summerhill experienced minor damage. "The fire toasted vine leaves around the outside edges of our vineyards and took out a pump-house and storage lean-to nearby," said Cedar Creek president Gordon Fitzpatrick, but the winery and vineyards were otherwise untouched. He believed that he and his crew had "miraculously averted disaster" by digging trenches around the vineyards and irrigating heavily before the area's water and power were shut off.

Summerhill Pyramid owner Steve Cipes said a police barricade was still up in front of his winery on Thursday afternoon. According to Cipes, Cedar Creek, Summerhill Pyramid and St. Hubertus were the only wineries in the valley that were evacuated and closed down.

"The fire went right up and took out one of our buildings," said Cipes. "The little pyramid [which had been used for bottle-aging wines] burnt to the ground, but all the vineyards and other buildings on the property were saved. What saved them was that the helicopters just dumped water on the buildings and vineyards from the lake," he said. "Our organic Chardonnay is singed, but everything else seems to be OK."

The fire seemed to snake through the area doing damage at random, said Jim Wyse, owner of Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in the south Okanagan Valley, which had not been in immediate danger from the fire. He speculated that vineyard damage in the arid valley was minimal because producers irrigated the vines heavily this summer, so they didn't burn as readily as the tinder-dry forests.

The fire and smoke should have little effect on this year's grapes and wines, according to Ian Cowell, an Australian viticulturist who now works for Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, in the middle of Okanagan Valley. Its Paradise Ranch vineyard, in close proximity to the fire, was saved by the efforts of winery staff who dug firebreaks and irrigated the vineyards as the flames approached. A veteran of last summer's bushfires in New South Wales, Cowell explained that "crush is the crucial moment in winemaking. Berries themselves will not pick up smokiness, but the juice will pick up smoky nuances during crush."

Now the area's vintners must turn their thoughts toward economic recovery, said Harry McWatters, president of Sumac Ridge Estate Winery and Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards, which are owned by Vincor International. "The biggest toll for us has been on the tourist business," he said, noting that visitors were frightened away by the news, the heavy smoke and the power outages. "We've all lost two weeks worth of cash register receipts."

McWatters stressed that the whole valley was not on fire and that he was "amazed at how much green is still visible on the mountains. Clearly, there are spots that have been absolutely missed by the fire." He added, "I've had calls from all over the U.S. and Canada asking if we are OK, but Cedar Creek, St. Hubertus and Summerhill are the only wineries evacuated. The rest of us will rally to help St. Hubertus get back in business as soon as possible. The best thing people can do to help is just to come here and buy our wine."

[PantyFanatic]

I can't imagine! :(

Thanks for the pics Diva.

[Oldfart]

Thanks Diva.

Damaged but not out.

[Steph]

I just read a letter to the editor of Maclean's (a Canadian news magazine like Time) from a reader in British Columbia. He made a good point when he wrote how foolish the editors were to put the blackout on the cover and congratulated Ontarians for their bravery while houses are burning in BC.

[PantyFanatic]

But two of us won't make a difference.:(

"A thousand sabers is a revolution while a single dagger is treason!":eek:









;)

[dicksbro]

LoveDiva ...

Thank you for those pictures. It's so hard to imagine anything like that.

My heart really goes out to all who suffered.

<<< Hugs >>>

[jennaflower]

The wrath of fire is amazing.. and altho fire is dangerous and in large scale, tragic... the beauty of it is just as amazing... such sarrow for those who have lost soooo much... material things can be replaced.. but sentimental momentos and lives cannot... how sad....