Elle pictured with one of the very happy red hens that survived the fire.
Some Tough Chickens
As with all major traumatic life events, we all remember the knock on the door or the call to evacuate for the fire. Or, if we had family in the community, we received the distressing phone call that the fire was advancing quickly. Personally, I received a phone call from my mother during the evacuation, some spotty texts, and a disturbing call from the alarm company to notify me (as the next of kin) that fire was detected in the family home. It was a very disquieting experience for our community, and if you are experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety, please communicate with your family and friends and seek medical and psychological attention.
The Mesquite Heat Fire was a devastating natural disaster which forever changed ours’ and our neighbors’ lives. It was a tumultuous fire which scourged Hidden Valley and surrounding ranchland and homes. It destroyed approximately 27 homes, including my childhood home and neighborhood, my parents’ home, and our friends and neighbors’ homes of nearly 40 years. However, due to the Lord’s protection and the amazing and brave firefighters, deputies, volunteers, and neighbors who selflessly protected our community, there was no loss of human life. As I have pointed out, this Blog is not meant to focus on the devastation, which we all do need to allow to process and work through, but more importantly we are here to spotlight the resilience. It is meant to capture the spirit of the community to rebuild and band together.
Many miracles have transpired since the fire. It really is a wonder now to look at the land and see the spotty green places that the fire jumped over. We do realize that fire utilizes source but have seen that God has spared some amazing things that we would have never expected. For example, after the fire my mom called and said she had 5 minutes to evacuate her 6 dogs, JB, and only a handful of items (not in order or importance- lol). I made the mistake of asking her about her chickens. She said she got all the animals, I assumed she meant the chickens too, but I didn’t think they had a chicken pen to load into the car. Who really loads up chickens in a car? When I asked about the chickens, I was pretty sure I heard tears in her voice, and she said, “We barely had time to get out. I didn’t even get a chance to leave the gate open for them.” I told her it would be okay, and when I talked to my daughters and her sister, I said, “Do not ask about the chickens. I did, and I feel terrible.”
So, we put that all behind us and tried not to imagine the chickens stuck in their coop during the fire. Well, a couple days after waiting for the fire containment at the View Baptist Church, we were met with some most surprising news. We learned that the major dwellings in the valley had burned down (the homes), but some of the smaller dwellings were still standing. A couple of those included workshops and my mom’s tiny homes (one meant to be for my daughter’s college home-away-from-home). To make it even more special, right between the only intact structures was the chicken coop. The fire line had burned right up to the tiny homes (and even burned some of the skirting underneath), but it seemed to have a distinct stopping place. The chickens were safe in secure. Right in the middle of that fiery action, penned up in the coop, were 16 fuzzy little hens and 1 guinea. We never would have dreamed the chickens would have made it through the blaze.
Now, interestingly the firefighters had told my mother that the temperatures in the valley reached 4,500 degrees, or the “hottest fire recorded in TX” to date. I can only imagine what those poor little hens and guinea were thinking in the middle of that fire. I’m sure some would argue that chickens don’t think, but I believe they had to have been scared to death. My parents later learned that the firefighters were keeping the chickens alive during that time following the fire- feeding and watering them. Bless their hearts. Not only were they protecting human lives, property, and such, but they also took the time to keep little chickens alive until the homeowners could return. Later, JB told us (after it happened) that when he heard they were alive, he went to the barricade and said to the deputies, “The Good Lord kept my chickens alive, so I’ve got to get in there and feed them.” Of course, they let him in, and he was able to see the chickens. So, thank you again to the firefighters and volunteers for your amazing work to protect life and property.
We appreciate you.
Special Encouragement: “Be Strong and Courageous for the Lord your God goes before you: He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
