So sad....

Last weekend was a devastating time for a lot of families in our old neighborhood. A small campfire (possibly a campfire as it hasn't been confirmed yet) soon got out of control and due to the high winds last Friday afternoon it spread to a forest fire 15kms by 2kms. 1000's of people were evacuated including a lot of friends of ours. Unbelievably only 2 homes were burnt to the ground and a few more were damaged. If the campfire thing is true then I hope they get the person who did this and prosecute them. Everyone in the HRM know about the burn ban through the summer, so why have an open fire???? We have a small fire pit here which we use now and again but I will seriously consider not using it again. Some are saying that with the hurricane in 2003 the downed trees weren't cleared and it was an accident waiting to happen. This is so true, we saw it ourselves first hand just in our own backyard there. The fear that must have gone through these peoples minds as they watched it quickly approach their homes. I remember having those thoughts looking out of my house in NS as we were surrounded by the forest, it was my biggest fear. Sadly a friend of mine from Hillside church lost her mother. Although her death isnt related to the fire it must have contributed to it. Thank god her family went to her house to get her out when they were evacuating or who knows what could have happened. My thoughts and prayers are definately with the family.