We woke up this morning to what would be a normal day.... the water actually came on early... it was barely 6am and WoooHoooo... running water. After getting my shower and then heading down to my computer area, I noticed that there were black "things" floating around in the air. Hmmmm... I went outside and caught one... gee... feels like an ash... something nearby is burning, I guess. Yeah, I can smell smoke.
Back inside.... hmmm... I didn't close the slider completely... what's that crackling noise I hear? I go back outside and not only smell smoke, I can actually feel the heat from the fire that's nearby.
I yell at Bill.... Hey... there's a fire right in back of our condo..... he already knows this having come out the front door... We both head to the condo on the level above us...
The above photo shows the "future" parking lot of that condo. It's still a works in progress... no one is living there... but sure enough... there are wildfires in back of and to the side of it. And... also in the area that abuts our condo, which is just below.
Can you see the fire burning just above the palapa (beach house) ? Our 9 condo unit has only 2 habitable units.... and the pool isn't usable... except that the kiskadees like to check it out each morning. Anyway... there is that rock wall that surrounds our area, and we're fairly certain it will serve as a fire break between the fire and us....
Another view of the flames.... and yes, we could feel the heat and listen to the crackle!
Looking past our condo (we're the one with the curtain in the doorway) we can see smoke from the fire that is behind us.
Somewhere along here, I'm thinking that maybe I should grab my laptop and head for a different place. But reason prevails... we're almost solid concrete or stucco.... And I know that once the weeds burn off (which will happen rather fast) there isn't much left to burn. It will be over fast.
But, darn! the smoke and the crackling... and all the ash in the air.... kinda gives me an antsy feeling.
We've seen other fires... not seen any fire department... doubt if there's one here. We call our landlord... he isn't at all concerned. Happens every year.... something starts there fires.... they burn maybe 5 acres or so... then burn out..... Not to worry.... Okay... I go back inside and life goes on....
A couple hours later Bill & I head over to Ocotal Beach... after walking down the hill (on the left) we look back up at our condo... and above that, the inhabitable condo. That really black spot in the middle left area shows where the fire burned. Just to its left is a chain link fence. Someone has already cleared all the brush and created a fire break.... You can easily see where the fire burned.... above that topmost condo, and behind it... and all the way on the right side, clear down the hill.
And while the fire is pretty much out, even late in the day you can see smoke rising from hot spots all the way down the hill.
We were told just a few days ago that the brush all around us would burn in brush fires in the next couple of months. So, while it wasn't exactly unexpected, I'll have to admit that having a brush fire burn all around you can be a scary experience. I'm just glad it happened fast and was over within a half hour or so. And, really, we weren't in danger at any time.... but... darn! we've been thinking that the water situation was our biggest gripe... hmmm.. guess life can be even more exciting than no water.
That's All For today!
Well, now that's a little scary pilgrim!!!
ReplyDeleteIt can be a bit scary , but you were all ok , so another experience to add to the memory banks.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a bit scary! Glad it all turned out okay...gives you a good story to tell!
ReplyDeleteLike you, Sharon, I would also think of grabbing my electronics and camera, which yiu obviously did to take these photos. While this does make for a story and post, it also caused some nervous moments. Glad you are both OK.
ReplyDeleteI have seen a couple of forest fires and they are not to be taken for granted. Of course, brush would burn faster and be over quicker than large trees.
ReplyDeleteWith your title, I thought you were going to talk about volcanoes and earthquakes. ;)
ReplyDeleteWOW...you are brave, we not so much, we would have headed for the hills, well maybe the ocean! Glad to hear it did not hurt anything or anyone besides the brush. Be safe!
ReplyDeleteYikes! Glad it didn't get to your condo or your laptop.
ReplyDeleteThis condo vacation is featuring one of everything, brush fires to monkey works.
ReplyDeleteWow, that could have been very scary. I don't see any fire trucks; did it just burn itself out? I always said a little prayer when I lived in Guatemala because for lots of disaster-type occurrences, you're on your own!
ReplyDeleteI don't like the smell of burning brush ... and I really don't want a fire behind where I live. ... that's scary stuff! but not to worry the landlord sez... lol
ReplyDeleteoh, me... Don't worry, be happy ... I guess is the Latin way of dealing with stuff... ;)
It was common in Costa Rica for the farmers and others to burn off the brush and grass during the dry season and get ready for planting and the rainy season. The large sugar canes fields would be set ablaze and they would cause a lot of smoke and ash to fall, even in San Jose which was a distance from the fields.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're safe. Brush fires can be very unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteBet you didn't even have any marshmallows, did you?
ReplyDeleteGlad you are safe. Still, you'll be smelling burned grass for weeks.
ReplyDeleteTeri
I think I would have definitely found someplace else to wait and see if the landlord was right:(
ReplyDeleteNo wonder you got scared. I would have. Good thing the fire burned out and didn't cause any damage.
ReplyDelete