Monday, September 5, 2011

Holy Smokes!!

Bastrop fire behind the Austin skyline
     I had to share this photo. It was posted by a friend of mine on his Facebook page, taken by a friend of his. It's a view of the largest and fastest spreading fire around Austin taken from a high vantage point in (looks like) northwest Austin looking southeast.
     It 's being referred to as the Bastrop fires, 25,000 acres and over 200 homes burned. Bastrop is a bedroom community approximately 50 miles southeast of Austin. Many residents of Bastrop are ranchers and farmers and they are scrambling to save their lives, their livestock and their homes, in that order. It is a true disaster, high winds from the tropical storm, (literally) bone dry ground and no water resources to access. Some of these fires started by spontaneous combustion due to the heat and dryness. All the Austin area fire fighters are on alert and many state resources are being called in to fight the fires. There are other fires in the Northwest Steiner Ranch area of Austin, further north in Leander and out in Spicewood.
      We have not had any smoke blow in where I live but I know people who are in the line of the winds and smoke who are affected. Unfortunately, the news continues to be difficult and not very hopeful that the fires are close to being fully contained. I ask your prayers for those living in the path of these fires and for those who are fighting the fires so courageously.

Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth,you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
BCP p 827

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