It is frightening, Janie, and so sad. The last time I remember being there and being confronted with another such fire was in 2000 when I posted this message, which eventually wound up being published in my book.

Today's fire has closed my favourite road at the base of the mountain. The one where we used to go to hand feed the deer and watch the red foxes play in the meadows. A lot of folk who live up there have horses, etc. I cannot imagine what it must be like for them, trying to get everyone loaded and out. The authorities are having trouble getting through because of the stupid "lookie-lous" who are causing bottleneck traffic on the main access roads. They are ALL getting tickets for doing so.