Escaping the Fire

Run, run is a silent warning. Smoke is spiraling from over a distant ridge, not really a high collection of rock and spruce, which allows the scene to be easily visible; terror setting in – a fire in the woods! This is not a TV Reality show -- Fire Season has arrived. Fire is coming; run.

Charlie and Vanessa joined their parents watching from afar. Surely it posed no danger to the foursome out for a weekend of tenting. It seemed so far away. Unknown to them fire had spread into an adjacent ravine just low enough to be unseen.

Earlier this morning another family was celebrating a wedding anniversary. Camping was their treat, inexpensive and just right for two adults and their grandson. A promised treat for the little fellow who reached ten. While they were sleeping the boy piled on more wood atop a small campfire; too much in fact.     

The day was warming, hot became hotter and the little out of control fire began to grow dangerously. Grandparents and grandson quickly packed up and escaped to safety after their closed down family adventure was reported by cell phone.

Suddenly, Charlie and his sister smelled smoke, and soon turned into a suffocating force. And both parents were scrambling to escape the serious discomfort. Should they head for the river about a mile in front of them, or drive through the pungent smoke now seemingly cutting off their roadway? Decisions had to be made -- quickly. Think, then get going. A decision was tardy.

The circle of fire danced and leaped forward. This menace rushed rapidly to the trio.

Charlie and Vanessa fell to their knees and joined their parents in prayer.