Pines Fire 2/7/12

Pines Fire 

February 7, 2012

Glancing at the clock this afternoon I saw that it was just about nap-thirty so I headed out of my office onto the lanai and as always glanced out to see what the sea looked like only to find a dark brown-black cloud of smoke rising from somewhere down hill from my home. Instinct kicked in and so I grabbed my cell phone and my camera and headed down the hill. As I was driving straight towards the sea I dailed 911 and told them of the fire. I arrived at the Pines in the subdivision below my neighborhood. It was farther down hill than I thought but there was a major fire underway and no Fire trucks to be seen or heard.

As I walked about looking for photos I heard my Hash name called out: "Flying Toe Jamb! Gimme a hand will ya?" It was one of my fellow Hashers trying to get a yard hose up and running in his neighbors yard. The fire was approaching rapidly and he started spraying it down.

Suddenly he turned to me and asked if I would go check on his dog next door, then more suddenly he stopped and said "No! Don't do that, he doesn't like strangers and would probably take your hand off!" He then handed me the hose, patted my shoulder in his retreat and left me there with a camera in one hand, a hose in the other, a fire a couple yards in front of me and a man eating dog coming up behind me!

Upon his return and still in possession of all my limbs I continued to wander about looking for interesting photos when I came across several homeowners wetting down their rooves in hopes of keeping the windblown embers from setting their homes alight.

I spotted another Hash brother who was is fireman in his mortal life and grabbed a few shots of him earning his pay. 'Pole Slider' is his Hash name. Get it? Fireman sliding down a pole? Funny, neither did he when he got named. Never been in a two story firehouse it would seem.

The fire jumped the road and was making it's way towards my house so I called it a day and went home to tell the dogs all was well. Here are some of my parting shots.

Needless to say my home was not destroyed and as far as I know no other homes were damaged either.  It was an exciting way to spend an afternoon,  but I can't help but feel cheated out of my nap because of a stupid fire.

Aloha...Brian