One Year Today

[azsnowman]

Here I sit, thinking back to this day, 18 June '02......the day Hell came to the White Mountains. The Rodeo Fire was started at 1348 MST by Leanord Gregg of Cibeque, Az. His reason? Something I think we all face from time to time, the lack of finances...........

Michelle and I were still with the Navajo County Sheriffs Dept, we had attended a meeting at 1800 hrs on Weds. 18 June '02 to discuss an evacuation plan the Sheriffs Dept, DPS, Gila County Sheriffs Dept had come up with, little did we know the plan would be put into action just 4 days later.

The worst day of my life.......the day we turned around, closed the door to the new house we had just purchased 3 months prior. We had planned for 4 years for this house, we saved every single nickle, penny....the time came, we had saved enough to pay cash. That feeling...........I will never forget loading what prized possesions we could into the Ram, pictures, papers, etc., 3 people, 3 dogs heading to points unknown, not knowing if we would have a house to return to or not. Many a tear was shed that day, locking the door behind us was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. All the while, I was in contact with Bill (aka streetsoldier) Steve (azskyman), Karan (pburgh), giving them updates from Camp Verde via telephone so they could post them at TWC message boards.

The wait...........sitting in Camp Verde, Az with my in laws, watching, waiting for the Monster to be contained, hoping the firefighters could gain the upperhand. 29 June '02..........the call came out, it's safe to return to Pinetop.............we drove into town, not a single soul on the road, business' closed, dark, an eerie feeling indeed. Upon returning to the house we found minor smoke damage inside the house.

One year later............a piece of me was lost during the Rodeo Chediski Fire, like the untold millions and millions of board feet of virgin timber, the moonlike landscape laid waste, soil so burnt that it will not support flora for many centuries to come. Yes...a piece of me burnt but........like the ever changing landscape and with the help of many people, we......the people, the land are healing, slowly but surely, a rebirth of hope, the dawning of a new age, the reseeding of faith, we are healing.

Many thanks to you Bill, Steve, Karan.....you guys were my rock, Karan, a Special Thanks to you for giving me the shoulder to cry on the day we pulled out, yes......I hadn't cried like that since I was 5 years old I would guess but when you see your world, your life, the very soul of ol snowman go up in flames, there are no words to discribe that feeling.

Dennis

[GulfBreezer]

Dennis,
You write some beautiful words to describe what I could only imagine was horrible. Through faith and friends you were able to get through a very tough time. Your strength shows in your words and may God bless all those who share the pain of this anniversary.

You friend in Christ,
Sandi

[Pburgh]

Wow, Dennis, I can't believe it's been a year. Reading this post brought tears to my eyes just like it was yesterday. I can remember exactly where I was standing and what I was doing when you called to tell me you were leaving. What a nightmare for you. ((Hugs)) Hey, if I remember right you did get a truck out of it!!!!

[Lindaloo]

Upon reading your post Dennis.. I could feel your pain. You wrote that from the heart and soul. God never gives us more than we can handle. May God Bless!!

[isobar]

We share in your pain remembering the worst day of your life, Dennis. What a terrible, terrible time for your family and your community. You clearly put it into perspective describing what it was like closing the door on everything you've worked so hard for. A totally helpless feeling caused by the mindlessness of another person.

May God bring you peace during this painful anniversary, and may God bless your wx buddies who helped you through.

Donna

[Stephanie]

I remember your posts and how we were all so afraid for you & Michele and canine gang! I certainly hope that you never have to go through something like that again!

What's the status on the more recent fire in your area?

[wx247]

Dennis...
I was not completely around the message board on a regular basis back when the fire happened last year, but I can tell from your posts that you went through a lot emotionally. I am glad that part of your past is behind you and am grateful you had people to lean on like Karan, Bill, and Steve.

Your post can also serve as a reminder how quickly things can change and that we must cherish each and every day to the fullest.

[streetsoldier]

I think, Dennis, that's why I'm here...to be of whatever assistance I can, to anyone who asks.

I believe there is a reason for everything; it may not be immediately apparent at the time, but it is THERE....and I have noticed that I am at my "best" when things are "worst" with my friends, strangers, whoever needs me NOW under dire straits.

[Stephanie]

I think, Dennis, that's why I'm here...to be of whatever assistance I can, to anyone who asks.

I believe there is a reason for everything; it may not be immediately apparent at the time, but it is THERE....and I have noticed that I am at my "best" when things are "worst" with my friends, strangers, whoever needs me NOW under dire straits.

Most caring people are...

[azsnowman]

Bill......Thanks Yes indeed, having caring people does help a tremendous amount and you Sir, shine through like a *knight in shining armor*

We now have a new outlook on life, take every single minute of every single day and live it to the fullest, like it WAS your last days on this earth. My dearest friends (that's ALL of you out there not just the ones I named) thank you for your support, when ever I see someone being evacuated because of a hurricane, floods, fire, whatever comes our way, I now know what it's like to leave everything behind.

Dennis

[azsnowman]

There's a HUGE BBQ put on by the towns of Show Low, Pinetop Lakeside, Heber, Overgaard, Snowflake, Spingerville on Sat 21 June, the day we bailed out of town!

Dennis

[azsnowman]

Heard on the 1800 hr newscast that the "Offical" tally on the # of evac's stood at 52,700 ppl :o The original Offical guesstamite was 30,000, I'd say that was ONE heck of a miss calculation! I have to admit, for as many ppl as there was leaving the mountain that day, it went pretty smooth, not one person was injured, killed etc, no fender benders even!

Dennis

[Stephanie]

The BBQ sounds like it'll be really nice! You definately have something to celebrate!

Have they contained that other fire any more? I'm glad to hear that the evacuations went fairly smoothly.

[azsnowman]

One year ago today........this is the day we closed the door behind us, my how time flys!

We had been up all night listening to the radio, Show Low was evac'd at 1800 hrs, 21 June.......we were sitting outside on the back deck with the radio when at 0630 the EBS sounded (emergency broadcast system tone) calling for the immediate evac of Pinetop, Lakeside, Hondah, McNary, Hawley Lake........every time I hear the EBS being tested, I get a knot in my stomach just thinking back to this day.

"Heavenly Father, I come before you this morning with thanks in my heart, thanks for laying down your hand and turning the fire back onto itself, thank you for sparing my home along with my friends, family and neighbors homes. I pray this in in Jesus' Holy name, Amen."

Dennis