First... I couldn't agree more with both statements above. It was really a shame.

Second... from where I stood, I saw the WHOLE THING. From the very beginning until the last hot spot went out late that night. Read on...

I was in cabin# 512. two cabins down from the cabin where the tree nearly fell upon. We just returned from a run to Robbinsville and I was putting something on my MCC when I heard the tree snap in the distance. Once I located the general direction of the noise, I saw the tree falling over. My first thought was the cabin was going to get nailed. Then all hell broke loose. The tree hit the line and the line came down, made a sound I'll never forget, then a huge blue spark. A couple of other lines fell and the brush started to smoke from the live wires. Next thing you know, the lines start to arc, moving away from the general store. I run for cover because you never know with power lines. When I come back out, the hillside is starting to smolder.

With my cabrio top still down, we quickly throw all of our belongings into the back-seat and I drive toward the ball fields. I start to run back to see what we can do to stop the fires and I run into 3 hikers who heard the commotion. All I could do was yell "Fire in the woods! Get help!". keep in mind, there was no outdoor water source for us to use AND the newly renovated cabins didn't have fire extinguishers in them .

since the occupants in the other cabins were not around, our cabin ended up being the sole water source to fight the fires. We grab every bucket and garbage pail and use every faucet in the cabin to fill them. we end up soaking every bath towel with water to try to stem the fires. we were running back and forth with buckets. We try to get a fire brigade going.. but the "audience" was too busy getting pics and video to lift a finger. thanks a whole bunch .

I will say this, the Fontana employees (especially Donny) who ran up the hill with rakes and shovels were brilliant. The hikers are heroes in my book. the MINI people who actually helped will be my friends for life - firemen Lance, Molly and several others who I didn't get to thank.



Later that night, a hotspot started to burn again where the line went down originally and Mark (lotsie) and a few others ran up the hill, in the dark, to try to put out the fire while I went for help.

I still have faith in the spirit of our little community... but what happened that afternoon makes me wonder... flame on if you want... I was there, thats what I saw.

 

It's really quite simple in my mind.

We are in the woods.

The woods are on fire.

This must be dealt with or we may all burn.

Happy that the cavalry came in with hoses and whatnot, but we were just doing anything in our power to slow it till they came. I mean think if for some reason they were not there for hours. I mean seriously, it's just logic and taking responsibility for ones priorities. No hero crap really, just what needed to be done.

I did have to lie down for 2 min to breathe again after the first few runs up and down the hill, but by then we had a few more people.

I just recall hearing on some Millitary Channel program about when there is a fire on a ship everyone is a fireman. I think the same applied there.