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A Little Too Close to Home

Yesterday I had just taken Timmy to preschool and I look up and the sky was full of black smoke.  I told my sister-in-law as we were driving home that the smoke looked like it was really close to our house.  As we approached our road my heart started to beat really fast....the smoke seemed like it was in our back yard! 

Our neighbor's field was on fire!
 
I pulled in the drive to find Norberto and our international guest were in the front yard and going next door to check it out.  On the way, he called the firemen to alert them of the situation.  Thankfully, they were already on the scene.

Here are the firefighters in action.  At one point in the video, Norberto is telling them where to go to get more water because they ran out!   Also, look closely at the hose; this is Paraguay people!  Remind me to lend them some duct tape.

I stayed at home and watered our straw hut because the roaring sound of the fire was getting awfully close.  I had the keys in the ignition of the car and the briefcase with all our documents and our computer was packed in the car if we needed to jet!  The neighbors evacuated their home as bystanders watched. Imagine a pregnant woman carrying her mattress while running out her front door.  We started to pray and asked God to protect us from the flames and thankfully the fire was quenched an hour later about 300 meters from our home and just about 3 meters from our neighbor's home.

We do not know how the fire was started but our guess is that someone didn't want to pay to have their field cleaned, so on a very dry (no rain for 2 weeks here) and windy day, some idiot decided to light a match and drink terere while the raging flames nearly consumed homes and lives. 

I'm cleaning up heaps of ash today and with every sweep of the broom I just keep thanking  God for His protection yesterday.
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Comments

  1. ShiloApril 15, 2010 at 4:29 PM

    Wow...thank you LORD for your protection!!!!!!! It seems so strange to see a picture of fire with palm trees in it instead of evergreens!
    I was wondering if you can add me to your email newsletter list? I think you have my address!
    Hugs and once again, so thankful for the Lord's protection!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MortonApril 16, 2010 at 12:19 PM

    Wow- what a scary, close call. I am so glad that you guys and your home are safe and sound. When our pump broke and we were without water for about a week, the firefighters from Itaugua filled their truck and brought us water. When they arrived, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry- all the water that their truck would hold could not quite HALF fill our kid's back porch pools. How was that amount of water EVER going to put out a fire? Now, I do appreciate that they came, but I was quite shocked at the notion that when the firefighters arrive, they will not have enough water to put out any fire, anywhere!!

    ReplyDelete

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