Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Pray for Mesa Mike and family

Long-time reader/commenter Mike Westfall (Mesa Mike) has been forced to evacuate with his family, due to the fire that is raging in New Mexico near the nuclear weapons facility.

8 comments:

The Squirrel said...

Oh, no! Praying.

Squirrel

Rachael Starke said...

Mike, I've been trying to comment on FB but FB has felt led to render that impossible for the last few days. I'll be praying for your safety.

Mike Westfall said...

First of all, we're safe and away from danger, glory to God.

We are staying at a friend's house in the Albuquerque area.

The fire started Sunday afternoon 20 miles or so from town, and expanded rapidly. That night, those of us with animals at the community stables loaded up the animals and evacuated them to Santa Fe and other places. We then stayed up all night getting important stuff together and loaded into the cars, then finally got some sleep around 6:00 am.

Slept a few hours, then got up and headed out about an hour before the mandatory evacuation order on Monday. It was too smokey to stay anyway.

Latest news is that no structures have been burnt yet, but the fire is too close for comfort. At one point it was reported to be within a half mile of the nearest houses.

It looks like the fire may be moving away from the residential areas at this time, but let's hope the winds don't change....

Thanks everybody for your prayers for our neighbors and us.

GrammaMack said...

Praying also...

Susan said...

Yay Mike! I prayed that the fire would not reach your home! :D (This is before I read your comment here! Prayer answered!) :)

beachbirdie said...

Mike, saying a prayer for you and all in the path of this thing. My family has "been there done that" and I know the trauma of seeing wind-driven fire less than a quarter mile from home.

Paula Bolyard said...

Any updates from Mike? Still praying.

Mike Westfall said...

Still away from home. We're breathing easier now, since the fire has passed by the town (thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the firefighters in keeping it at bay as it passed by) and is headed on north. I'm guessing we'll be allowed to return sometime this weekend.

We visited one of the evacuation shelters last night and met up with a few people we know. A church near there was having a barbecue for the evacuees, and they had bounce houses and donated toys for the kids.

Thanks for the prayers, everyone.