Too Close for Comfort

We went up to my parents' cabin this weekend to redo the deck.  Things were going well when we left- my dad and his cousin were starting in on the stairs.  For some reason, we decided to go the long way home, through Oakdale, and that decision almost cost us our lives-or at least the car.  As we were coming down the mountain, we saw a fire cloud from about 10 miles out and it looked like it was off the highway (mind you, this is HWY 108- one lane each way on curvy roads), so we didn't think to much of it.

As we got closer and closer I said, "I hope we get through before they close the road."  

 What a mistake.  We got through AS they were closing the road and we should not have been allowed through.  The cops were racing up the mountain to close the road, but apparently they thought we could make it though before it hit the road.  WRONG.  All of a sudden, fire was AT the road.  The car got hot and the smoke completely overcame the car.  There was ZERO visibility and I could barely make out the double yellow line in the center of the road.  Just as I found it, we found the car in front of us, stopped, and we almost hit them.  The smoke was so thick I could barely see the front end of the car.

The flames on the side of the road were about a foot high and behind them, they were 5-6 feet high (this according to Travis- I was staring, white-knuckled, at the yellow line- trying to stare at it, that is.)  My thoughts as the driver were to stop and wait for the smoke to clear, but my insticts as a human said get out of the car and RUN.  I was sure the flames were going to over take the car in a split second.  As I sat there praying for safety, the car in front of me edged forward and I continued to ride his bumper, not caring if I hit him, I just wanted to get out of the situation we were in.  We all pushed through and all of a sudden, we were delivered back into blue sky.

It was so scary I pulled over at the first opportunity to calm my heart down.

It was by far the scariest thing I've ever encountered, and I pray I will never experience that feeling again.  I don't know how firefighters do it, but I am so thankful that they do.  Please send up a prayer for all firefighters risking their lives to save ours.