Blistering Vines
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Blistering Vines

The Fires in the Valley

243
Blistering Vines
Kathy O'Neal Fine Art Photographer

Each autumn, the Napa Valley in northern California transforms into a gorgeous display of blazing reds, oranges, and golds as acres upon acres of leafy grapevines turn color for the season.

This year, those blazing colors burst into real flame.

Since Sunday, October 8th, the wine country region has been terrorized by a torrent of violent and relentless wildfires. As of this Friday the 13th, nine of these fires are still active. The largest of the infernos, the Tubbs fire, glares across Napa and Sonoma under only 10% containment, despite the greatest efforts made by CAL Fire Incident Management Teams to confine and douse the flames. Dry air and 70mph winds are fierce competitors to combat - especially following a long drought period. The current air quality has declined so drastically, the atmosphere overwhelmed by smoke and particle pollution, that the air is unsafe to breath in some areas. Over 128,000 acres of land have been razed. Thousands of families have evacuated their homes. Up to 900 people are reported missing, and at least 41 have been confirmed dead.

The sweet smell of ripening grapes has evaporated into smoke, and all around, the ashen air has turned the sky into a haunting, orange haze.

Gazing upon news images of charred ruins, I can barely recognize the Napa Valley that I knew as a young girl. Where are the trees? Where are the birds?Where are the rows upon rows of tangled vineyards? Where are the mountains, now obscured by a choking, ashy veil? Where are the houses?

Where are the people?

I fear for my friends, and I fear for their families. I fear for their friends, and I fear for people who I have never known - nor may ever know. From the other side of the country, it all feels like one giant, surreal nightmare.

There are so many stories to tell - acts of heroism, desperate survival tactics, heart-rending loss, and hundreds of brave volunteers:The current air quality has declined so drastically

One 77 year-old man somehow saved an entire wildlife preserve from the flames, rescuing not only the wild animals but potentially everyone in the surrounding region as well (imagine the added terror of frightened cape buffalo, rhinoceroses, and hyenas on the loose).

To escape the flames, Jan and John Pascoe spent six hours in their neighbors' pool and watched in horror as walls of fire enveloped the house and surrounding property.

On Friday, the house of the late Charles Schulz, creator of the beloved "Peanuts" cartoon, burned to the ground.

A lone statue of the Virgin Mary stands amidst the charred rubble of the entire Signorello Estate Winery.

Virtually every standing hospital, parish, and community center has been turned into an evacuation shelter, and each one is filled with eager volunteers. In Santa Rosa, hospital staff that have lost their entire homes continue to administer care to the growing influx of wounded patients.

And this is just the beginning.

Please, please pray for these people, and if you can, please help. There are so many lives at stake.

To all those affected by the northern California wildfires, know that we are thinking of you during this difficult time. We pray for your safety and for the safety of your loved ones.

We pray that soon, the blazing fires will once again exist only within the colors of the turning autumn leaves.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

43433
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

27308
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

952222
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

145379
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments