Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 5)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

(Psalm 121:1)

Part 5 of 8

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It was a little after 10:30 that night when Old John spotted what he did not want to see – a small reddish-orange glow just beyond a couple of ridges to the south-west.  He quickly picked up his radio's microphone and called headquarters to report the direction and approximate distance to the place where the fire had started.  No hikers were reported to be that far over, and the cause of the fire was definitely the lightening strike.

But, a serious problem was developing fast.  The wind was picking up and would  fan the fire, likely driving it right across the place where he had parked his old 1953 Ford pickup.  Because of the darkness, the fire – fanned by the increasing wind – would have an eight to ten hour jump on the first fire fighters who could reach that remote area.  The ever-present dry brush and dead branches, which covered the forest floor like a thick worn out carpet, would make a very inviting meal for the ever-hungry young fire.

When Old John realized what the most likely path was that the fire would take, he became very concerned for the safety of the four people he knew were camping over there.  They would be in a valley that was directly in the path of the fire.  Most likely, the fire would be racing over the ridge to the south of them by mid-morning.  This would definitely cut off their path to where they most likely left their car.  And any other way out would be long, difficult, and dangerous – even if you were very familiar with the forest.

Old John had to find a way to get their attention, and get them to safety.  And he would have to do something very soon!

[To be continued - jad]