*poof* Gone

Years of drought and questionable land management are taking their toll this week. As of yesterday evening, the wildfire on the mountain had burned over 8000 acres. So far, they've only reported damage to one structure. But there are hundreds more in the area. There will be more homes lost.

Casper Mountain is unusual for this area, in that it is mostly privately owned. This presents a unique set of circumstances, in that different properties are cared for to different degrees. Unfortunately, many of the landowners have not cleared timber from their land as they should have. There are a lot of dead trees up there due to a pine beetle infestation. That, and the unusually dry weather over the last decade have made the whole place into a frightening tinderbox. Many of the officials are saying that it was only a matter of time. They estimate that over a third of the mountain has burned. It's nowhere near done yet.

The smoke here in town is incredibly thick and choking. Visibility is affected at times, and the winds here (though almost omnipresent) are really putting on a show. Our house is in no danger, but I know at least one couple who will probably lose their house. Interestingly enough, most of the communications towers for the city are on the peak of the mountain. Last night around 10PM, the fire had reached one group of these towers. Among those are several cellular towers, television towers, and the radio system for the emergency responders. They say that it's very possible that the entire eastern half of the state could lose emergency 911 service today.

That being said, I may be incommunicado for a while. I guess it all depends on which way the wind blows.