there were many Manzanita here at one Time. Long before we came. Something happened, an insect, a "virus", something and many died. Many, before we came. They lean, arch over in their death.
today was the first of the Fire Alerts from the so great app Watch Duty. Before it, i would hear a siren coming Up and if there was a second, i would begin to listen like an animal….like an animal….that i am….ears pricked, senses alert, adrenalin. .. For more, changes in their tone, their pace and anxiety would rise. Last year, with this app it was possible to click on…see immediately the position of the fire, it's size, it's fuel, and be updated every 10 minutes. It made a huge difference. Could be trusted. Relied on.
and so, today, i was on phone with Alyssia…we both heard the sirens…her even through the phone….and then there was a plane. There are sirens…Hill is just off a maor highway…often sirens for EMS service or vehicle mishaps. She hung up to call Jenny at work. our "drill". Two planes then, circling above. Close. Watch Duty tells us it's position, that it is a vegetation fire, planes have been deployed, helicopters are on standby. There is a photograph of the plume of smoke rising. Moments pass. I walked up to the top most point here where i could see off far into that distance, the two planes circling circling circling overhead, Low, i can see the designs on their bellys…Cal Fire planes. This is our second year with the Cal Fire contract, Butte County. We will NOT repeat Paradise. So i stand there…watching the sky, the planes, listening for the helicopters when i will go, begin the "protocol".
the planes circle and after a time don't come back, the update tells that it was a cooking fire, can be handled by equipment on ground. I sit on a large Rock and look around…this Manzanita in it's final times…the beautyful mars violet bark pealing, some of it still alive and leafed out. Reprieve. Fire Season has begun.
windthread 
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