Over a week now and fires still smolder and threaten. Thankfully we can't see flame from our house now but the dirt, soot & ash are awful. Parts of the floor, counters, window sills & shelves around our house are covered in black grit. I've cleaned a few things but what's the use when the house is still in danger and it's all still blowing in? We were able to evacuate most of the animals so there's no use repairing fences until we know they won't burn again. We are going to have to get tires replaced on the trailer because the tires on one side melted. We're hoping the wheels are okay. When we do get fencing done the pickup tires will also need replacing. Farmers & ranchers all over are having flat tires from driving over the stubble & rubble.
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The devastation is really so much greater than you can imagine. For each cow killed in this fire is years worth of income for these families. It easily takes at least 70 good cows to provide for a family plus other farming.
I'm trying to make a list of basic needs for all the generous people asking. It's hard to think but here's what I have so far:
Some of our needs are for the animals. Medicine, milk replacer, replacement buckets and such can all be purchased at Atwoods or Tractor Supply along with new tires for the implements and fencing supplies. They both have gift certificate options.
The Slapout Fire Departement and Slapout community have done a wonderful job supporting victims and helping everyone. If you'd like to donate to help this little fire department with their expenses & the maintenance and repair that will need to be done to their trucks and ambulance please do. Fire Chief Charlie Starbuck (whom the 662,687 acre "Starbuck Fire" is named after) and his team are wonderful people with hearts of gold.
I'm trying to make a list of basic needs for all the generous people asking. It's hard to think but here's what I have so far:
- For working outside: Dust Masks, handkerchiefs, Gloves
- For cleaning: Vinegar, Baking Soda, Dish Soap, Peroxide
- For Laundry: (All the clothes, linens & curtains need cleaned) Washing Soda, Salt, Zote Flakes, Borax
- For the carpets: Oxyclean, Febreeze, Vinegar
Some of our needs are for the animals. Medicine, milk replacer, replacement buckets and such can all be purchased at Atwoods or Tractor Supply along with new tires for the implements and fencing supplies. They both have gift certificate options.
The Slapout Fire Departement and Slapout community have done a wonderful job supporting victims and helping everyone. If you'd like to donate to help this little fire department with their expenses & the maintenance and repair that will need to be done to their trucks and ambulance please do. Fire Chief Charlie Starbuck (whom the 662,687 acre "Starbuck Fire" is named after) and his team are wonderful people with hearts of gold.
Slapout Fire Department
RR 2 Box 97
Laverne, OK 73848
RR 2 Box 97
Laverne, OK 73848
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24
At this point wagons and bicycles aren't priority but it's sad. In some ways a fire can be good. This fire cleaned up a lot of the limbs left from the terrible ice storm we had less than two months ago. Stickers and sagebrush are burnt off and if we get some rain the native grasses will come back thick and strong. That is IF we get some rain. We've been in a terrible drought for so many years now. We got just enough rain last year to get the weeds nice and tall... which fed this fire well. The livestock need grass. The wonderful donations of hay from all over the USA are heartwarming and needed but can't last long. Please, please, please agree with us in prayer for rain.
Here's a link to a wonderful article in The Oklahoman with interviews with some of our neighbors. I'm so very proud of these men and their fortitude and endurance. Oklahomans assess damage, losses after wildfire (If for some reason you can't access it there, it is here too except without the video: Eriech Tapia did a wonderful job.)
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If you missed my other posts about the March 2017 Wildfires: