If you look closely you will see...

a problem.

Our neighbors, the Johnny Herrings, had the fire that raced across the section, within feet around their home and out buildings.. except for the front yard. The grass around their home all burned. It was a miracle the home was saved... but it was thanks to the response of the fire departments.
and as you look through the smoke on down the road, my home is about a half mile on the south, straight ahead.

I don't believe our home was ever in danger. Thank goodness.

We are fine. Jake and Trisha and Isabella live behind us, and she and Isabella were home through all this.

and yes, the fire was probably set by someone having "sick fun" at the expense of all...


I would like to make a personal note. I have fought fires, ask Jake, in my life time... with my father and other neighbors, etc.. but as I listened to the scanner, and the command units, and the responses of those fighting this fire, I came to realize how professional and how dedicated and how great it is to have these firefighters on call, and standing by. I believe it was a miracle ... and it was the quick actions of a well trained outstanding group of fire departments that saved their home.

I think we are very fortunate to have these professionals. And after Mondays wreck at our corner and seeing the aid rendered again by Perkins and Stillwater Fire Departments and the life flight out, plus the handling of the fire yesterday, nothing needs to change. The professionalism, the way they mix, the professional fire fighters and the volunteer fire fighters, I can not say enough.

Of course I am a bit biased, as Perkins Fire Department is made up of all volunteers, men risking it all on every call, for nothing more than a thank you. They devote countless hours to training, and training and training, and did I mention training?? They have to write grants to get the equipment, and Perkins FD has some of the best in Oklahoma, and they train... and train... so they can "help save lives and property", when called upon.... for not one penny!

(I realize the professional firefighters risk it all too, I do not want to take away from them at all, as I think the Stillwater FD has won an award that backs up what I am saying. They are the best in their size in the USA, according to Gene Hauf, father of one of the men serving there!)

THANK YOU, Stillwater and Perkins Fire Departments, for all you do!


Please take time when you see one to say "thank you" for your service. We are indeed blessed.

as I approached 68th and Jardot, ...

I saw they had already blocked my access to our home... but it was Deputy Rockford Brown, who allowed me to get through to see about things...

a bit more excitement yesterday...

early after lunch, I was in my office listening to my scanner when I heard the Stillwater FD get called out to a fire at 86th and Mehan Road, east of ... and about 45 minutes later... I heard the call for SFD for response at 56th and Jardot, east of. I watched as there was a small amount of smoke, stepped outside and felt the strong North winds... and of course the low humidity (We run a humidifier in our studio to keep things comfortable and it had been working all day), and our home is south of this... about this time I heard the call for more SFD units and in a bit, Ingalls, and the Perkins Fire Department, and Ripley FD was also called into action. About this time, our good friend and neighbor Jimmy Morris called and thought maybe it might be a good thing for me to get home and see about things... I headed out, snapping this photo first... and as I headed home, and was about the Rail Road Yard... half way home, I looked east and could see flames racing across the section north of our home...