Donna's Fire Story: Kamerin Springs Neighborhood Almeda Fire Narrative by Donna

 Kamerin Springs Neighborhood Almeda Fire Narrative by Donna 

    Those of us living in the Kamerin Springs neighborhood feel our homes were saved by several people who stayed back, risking their lives to save their homes (and ours).  

    They stayed and used water from hoses until it was gone, then used fire extinguishers and when they were unusable, they called in a structure fire for one of their homes across the street.  The call brought in a fire truck with equipment to tear down fences, cut down trees and the play structure in the yard.  

    The fire was still active in the landscaping business off Hwy99 so they used fire extinguishers from the trucks to put out flames as well as pouring rocks on top of the wood chip piles.  

    This was fortunate for us, but as the fire continued to move North, it became a devastating destruction for those just a block North, Talent and Phoenix.  Our hearts broke for our neighbors and our two small towns.  All we could do was break into action by volunteering to help others as best we could. We vowed to stay in Talent and help with part of the solution and rebuilding.   

    It was my 60th Birthday on September 8, 2020.  My children were here from California.  Our plan was to hike Crater Lake that morning and then have dinner at home in the evening with live music performed by close friends.  

    We woke up early that morning to severe wind and a forecast of high temperatures.  It was too risky to take the hike at Crater Lake since it was hot, dry and windy; perfect for wildfire conditions.  The thought of getting stuck in traffic if there was a fire in the mountains made us change plans. Instead we went to breakfast in Ashland.  On the way home around 11:15 AM we were staring at a fast moving fire along the bike path and black smoke ahead that looked like Talent was on fire.  We were stopped in traffic watching a  completely chaotic event unfold; fire engines and police cars racing in and out of the car lots just to quickly move up South Valley View.  We finally made it home just to throw what we could into the car and leave before we were told, and before the traffic to Colver would back up.  

    We took only a few things of necessity; medicine, dog food, a few items of clothes and headed out to Jacksonville.  As we all know too well now, the fire was devastating and we were all displaced; some for considerably longer than others.  Our home was saved due to the few people who stayed back in the Kamerin Springs neighborhood to bravely fight the flames.