With all the recent outbreaks of devastating fires in Southern California again, I am reminded of the worst fire to ever hit Lake Tahoe, California in June of 07 and my experiences with evacuation while caring for my then 4 month old grandson, my dog and my rabbit in tow.

This was the sight we whitnessed while driving home from lunch on Sunday afternoon, June 24th, 2007 at around 2:00 pm.  Heading home with our grandson while daughter Kelly was doing errands at the other end of town, we were watching a long trail of smoke that looked like it was coming from the direction of our neighborhood.  Thought at first, maybe a small plane had crashed at the airport not far from our mountain home.

Soon after we got home and saw the local news, we realizied a fire about a mile and a quarter from us was burning fast toward town, away from us, God willing the winds didn't shift.  My husband and youngest daughter were preparing to leave and return to San Francisco and did so before the main road was closed to all traffic except residents and emergency vehicles.  The assumption was that the fire would probably be contained in a few hours and that my animals would be better off staying with me.

I got a call from Kelly that she had to hurry back to the corral, their family horse back riding business, to start evacuating their 77 horses from the Tahoe basin and over the ridge into Nevada and to safe ground.  She and her husband, Quint would be trailering horses for hours with their crew as the fire was heading in the direction of their facility.

This photo shows you a smaller lake, Fallen Leaf Lake, adjacent to Lake Tahoe in South Shore, where on one side is the corral and the other side, the ridge you see, was in the path of part of this fire, spreading out in 5 directions from the original outbreak.  The Forest Service informed Quint and Kelly that part of the fire was likely going to burn through their property and over the main road to the lake.  Time was of the highest priority in evacuating neighborhoods and their horses in that area.

At 8:45 PM that evening, Kelly called me and told me to bring the baby back to the corral to nurse him, after hours of trips with trailer loads of horses out of Tahoe and back.  She had just fought to get back home after a police road block refused to allow her back with the now empty horse trailer.  She told him she would get out of her truck and leave her rig there in the road and walk back in as she was a nursing mother with an infant son who needed her now!  Mr. Tuff Guy Cop let her through! 

The ridgeline of fire was one of the most horrific sights and one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life.  It was as if I was traveling alongside the fire trail all the way to the corral.  I wasn't sure if I would get through as the word was that all roads in and out of town were closed and blocked.  Oddly, there was no one on the road at all.  I was amazed that I got through and then back home again.

Our neighborhood was not one under mandatory evacuation but was advised to voluntarily evacuate as the smoke was becoming unhealthy and spot fires were starting nearby.  Since the fire was going in the other direction I stayed the night, windows closed tight and slept all night.  In the morning I began packing the car with some food, water, animal necessities, additional baby food, diapers, clothes and prepared to leave soon.  Got the call that I had to leave immediately in order to get to my daughter's house on the other side of town, near Emerald Bay, where I would stay and take care of my grandson while Kelly and her husband continued to evacuate the horses and all the horse tack, saddles, home made sleighs and essentially 3 generations of property and memorabilia that was the Ross business.

As I pulled out of my driveway I looked back at my little cabin, wondering if the winds would change and I would not see this home away from home again.  I said a prayer and left, noticing that most of my neighbors  had already gone.  Once I arrived at Kelly and Quint's house, built by Quint's father, I was told that the fire was now coming in this direction and that I needed to pack up some of their important records and belongings and head up to north shore with Graydon if the call came to evacuate.  Maybe a moment's notice as the fire was spreading erratically in more directions.

After unpacking some of my things and making room for Kelly and Quint's valuables, more baby formula, diapers, and photos I waited to hear what would happen next.  My son-in-law showed up and held his son for about 10 minutes, tears in his eyes as he handed him back to me to likely leave the area on a moments notice.  My grandson, was my first priority and my instructions were clear.  And this bubbly, bouncing baby boy had no idea what was going on and just smiled and calmed my fears as if he knew all would fine.

Luckily, the fire closest to their home was contained some hours later and I was able to stay put. I stayed with him for the next 5 days while evacuations had been completed and word was out that over the next day or two, residents would be allowed to return to what was left of their homes or to nothing.

The aftermath of the Angora fire left 259 residents without homes, and numerous other homes uninhabitable.  The firefighters worked for nearly a week to ensure that all the fires were completely out and safe from starting up again with the whim of the change in winds.

My home and that of my daughter and her husband's were spared, with only thick ash to remind us of how close the fires came to change our neighbors lives and the landscape that would be scared for decades to come.

Yet the heart and soul of this small community is strong, supportive and has healed over the last year and a half with determination to rebuild homes and businesses and continue to welcome all the visitors who love the natural beauty and grace that is the Tahoe Basin.