Huge fire near my home!

[JC5123]

http://k2radio.com/heatbreaking-footage-of-cole-creek-fire-aftermath-video/


So this is the scene roughly 3 miles from my house. Without the amazing talents of the bomber pilots we would have evacuated. I have been home since Sunday afternoon, loaded and ready to run. The fire was pushed by 50 mph winds and went 13 miles in about 3 hours on Sunday. Everyone thought it was under control by Monday am. Until the winds picked back up and the resulting flare started running north east. At this point my house was directly in the path. Fortunately the bombers knocked it right down.

I learned a lot over the past few days. Not the least of which is having a much better understanding of what it REALLY means to have to bug out. This time I had time to pack and consider what I could take, and leave. Next time, I may not. But I will also be better prepared. 

[tombogan03884]

Good luck, hope the winds keep favoring you.
Hopefully you'll get some rain.

[alfsauve]

I'll watch the news more carefully.   I hope it dies out, and that you and family are okay through the week.

[JC5123]

They have containment now. Sunday and Monday were pretty sketchy. They finally opened the main road to residents yesterday. Driving to work looks like a war zone. We were super lucky though. Most people were good about creating defensible space around their homes and as a result only 13 homes were lost.

1300 people were evacuated, and the fire burned nearly 10,000 acres, initially running across 10 +/- miles in about 3 hours. Some new practices will be going into effect around my house.   

[tombogan03884]

Here's a place to start.
Guy sat out the fire in his basement.

http://www.kezi.com/news/video/WA_Mans_Cement_Dome_Home_Survives_Wildfire.html

[Sponsor]

[JC5123]

I saw that! I have been fascinated with all concrete constructed homes for about a decade now. Not only are they pretty much fire proof, but the sound and heat insulating qualities are unmatched. Not to mention the ballistic resistance. To me they are the ultimate way to build. My intention, (once I pay off the mortgage) is to tear down my current house and build a concrete one. (With a very fashionable metal roof, and functioning shutters) Come at me nature!!
 

[Solus]

Read an article many years ago, in Mother Earth News perhaps, about building cement houses...in the desert.  a good sized cement basement with upper floor of cement also..not sure if it was poured or blocks...but they then put a thickish coating of polyurethane on the outside of the cement walls. 

What his did is allow the cool underground temps, say 55 degrees, to "wick" up into the interior walls, keeping the whole house relatively cool.  The polyurethane on the outside acted as insulation, keeping the heat out.

The polyurethane also allowed a finish like stucco to be applied as it acted as an "expansion" buffer between the finish and the cement walls.

Since the underground temps stay at a fairly constant 55 degrees or so, even in northern climates, it might have the same benefits in cold weather also.

[JC5123]

The ones I have looked at use foam insulation blocks that go together like legos. Then you just fill the whole thing full of concrete. The foam stays in place as insulation and you attach your interior and exterior finishes to that. They are awesome.

[Big Frank]

I'm glad you made it through that okay. The last fire I saw around here was only half a block away and there's a fire hydrant half a block the other way they didn't need to use. I have a good chance of surviving a fire in my neighborhood unless it starts at my house.