Are you a planner? Do you make back-up plans and plans for back-up plans?
I think, no I admit, well I’m not sure, but I’m pretty certain that I …procrastinate.
On July 1, 2021 living in the east Juniper Ridge residential area of Kamloops right off of the main route of Quappelle Blvd. many of us in the area received a lesson about putting things off “till tomorrow.”
Earlier that day I had been talking to our full-time firefighter son who serves with the Township of Langley about preparing a “to go” bag and I assured him that I would do that “tomorrow.”
Like many neighbours, that warm summer’s night, we were sitting in the back yard watching the lightning storm rolling through the valley, which seemed to be quite a distance away. The sky seemed to shift with strikes coming closer as we kept watching. Suddenly, a huge crack and flash flared just below us and within what seemed like only minutes, vehicles were streaming by, honking horns, yelling and gesturing out of their windows. “Go! Fire! Get out!”
Time seemed to freeze, I remember losing my breath, heart pounding. Grabbing our keys I ran to the doorway that attaches our suite to our family upstairs and yelling as I opened the basement doorway I asked “Are you going? Everyone out?” They called back saying they were on their way and we ran for our vehicles. Just in our household we took three vehicles that night and entered the stream of traffic zipper fashion. We were the first headed down with the fire quickly eating up the sagebrush and dry grasses like a fire eating dragon as the wind changed direction fanning the flames even higher.
My thoughts were speeding as we inched our way anxiously, seeing another stream of residents beginning to head for the traffic circle on the one way in and out Highland Drive from the west side of Juniper. Soon thousands would be vying for the same route with no egress access except for one locked gate on the west side that leads to Rose Hill.
I could hear my son admonishing me earlier, “Please Mom, get a ‘to go’ bag ready by the door with so many fires around up there.”
No time now - cars, trucks, R.V.’s streaming down the hill and honking,
Just below us, as we now had nowhere else to go but down the hill, the fire could be seen looking to the right after the bike park, spreading quickly in the darkening night sky like lightning itself, glowing orange red below homes and appearing to be heading towards Valleyview and Dallas.
Sirens now blaring, heading up into the danger, firetrucks, police, beginning to set up at Juniper Park when we went by, but only a few to start and one police officer already beginning to direct vehicles at the traffic circle.
Fear, white hot fear, edged its way with us all, escaping, with many of us congregating at the Valleyview Shopping Centre. One way in, one way out. Hundreds, no thousands of families scrambling to reach loved ones on their cell phones if they remembered to grab them. We began to lend ours and make calls for others, not knowing how long we’d be gone.
Unprepared and trying not to panic. The few that brought trailers, campers and R.V.’s down were setting up as though for the night. Stores closed early seeing the onslaught arriving in the parking lots unsure of how they would handle those seeking a bathroom.
We could see the glow high upon the hill. Word of it nearing residents in Valleyview now.
Unprepared and trying not to panic.
As the story unfolded as you probably recall, we were allowed back that night but the fire wasn’t contained, not yet. Many of us stayed up through the night, my husband slept outside by the pool in the lounger to be ready.
Firefighters from outlying areas coming in to spell off firefighters, being fed by the owners of houses right above the fire.
Now we got prepared. Bags, necessities, valuables and essential documents loaded into bags, boxes suitcases by the door or in our vehicles loaded and ready.
Thieves watch and listen to the news too. Over the next days and weeks we learned it was best not to leave our cherished and valuable items in our vehicles and began unloading again as multiple break-ins occurred.
Do I now have a “to go” bag and am I prepared? You bet.
It’s a drought year again. If you gain anything from this account please hear my son’s plea, “Assemble a ‘to go’ bag and have it stationed by the door.”
With fire evacuation alerts being broadcast in the Cariboo region, it’s not too early to be ready.