MyParentHouse, are you still there?

[Chillin]

We lost our home too. I miss hearing about the progress your parents are making. Hope things are going well and that the re-building process has reached a cathartic stage for them at this point. Send them my best wishes.

[MyParentsHouse]

to get things moving but it is definately a slow process....they finally got approval to remove the trees from the lot....and the geotechnical surveyor(sp) will be up in the spring to do a full plan as to what has to be done to make the lot safe for habitat again...They have done the work to make where the house goes again safe...They can't put the house where it was before as it is to unstable with the rocks at the top of the lot that was pushed over by whomever built the roads(They were being held up by the trees and of course no trees unstable rock(boulders)) They have a home builder finally and the insurance company has forgone the 3 quotes for rebuilding but they still need to get quotes at to what the house costs to build today exactly as it was. This is their trying process as they have to ultimately build 2 homes right now in quotes and with people being so busy with actual building they are too busy for just quotes right now. Their new log package should be here April 1st so it is not like they have alot of time to waste. They realize that they will need a mortgage again so dad is trying to work extra hours now to make that as small as possible but with the quotes being as high as $36,000 for the rehabilitation of the lot which is not covered by insurance it could still get up there. They are doing fine...still hurts that so many people don't understand that for them it is still a daily thing...Their lives are still consumed by the fire because they are still trying to recover and they just want to move on...they have many trees on order for both this spring and next spring so we will be busy replanting in pots and watering for the next few years. They are rebuilding their log home....may not be nestled into the woods but they are going to give it a try.....they are still very saddened by this fact as that was their dream....but it will be again...but with the trees gone now they have a nice view of the lake(didn't have this before) Their house plans are in the final stages of approval from them(the insurance lost their old house plans we saved from the fire so they are redrawing from the city ones which are bad quality and they keep forgetting stuff like the wrap around porch, the breezeway and obvious stuff....tee hee) They have tried to stay in contact with their area committees but they are on different adgenda's.....they were seeing people replanting trees and fixing fences and in a VERY fast fashion and just getting handed the money to do this and they couldn't get a phone call from insurance....they had people hounding them to clear their lots of the dead trees(5 1/2 acres) who still lived up there because it looked UGLY and they were waiting on approval to do this and for all the survey's...(The Geotechnical survey still isn't completed but they got the approval anyways) The thing that people failed to understand is that up where they were it wasn't as cut and dried as cut the trees down and replant....there are still the issues of the hill comming down and so on...I can understand the issues of those living up there but there was nothing they could do about it and they felt like there was no support for those who lost the homes only for those who were left up there and were trying to rehabilitate the neighborhood.

They completed their contents right before Christmas and just took the payout(a huge loss) but they were told that it could be up to 2 years before they got into their home again and they didnt' have a clue where to get half the stuff they had(alot of one of a kind items and stuff that couldn't be replaced...but not expensive just meaningful) and they didn't have a place to store it...so they just took the payout...they figure that they will be able to replace the important stuff with the money that they got but for now...they are still waiting...How is the process going with you...Thanks for thinking of me...I lurk on these boards and answer occasionally now but I do frequent another board where alot of the others have gone...I don't have much time on the puter now a days but I do check in the early AM and the late PM when all the kids are in bed sleeping....Let me know..if you don't want to post it here PM me....I would love to hear your experiences.....

[Chillin]

Thanks for relpying. I always enjoy your posts! I will respond in detail in a PM...

[freedom]

The fires seem so far removed to so many ... it amazes me. I was not personally burnt out, but does that mean I was not personally touched by the fire? Perhaps others; not me.

Every day, as I watch for precipitation, drive the streets of Kelowna and see the burnt out areas, drive by the firehalls, I think of the fire and the profound effect it has had on our community - on you and many others like you who have been burnt out. Or perhaps those whose homes have survived, but not been untouched. Or those like me who treks take them deep into the forests that now must renew, rejuvenate, be restored.

It is my belief that we as a community are in Kelowna because of our love of our land. The lakes. The forests. The wonderful people and sense of community.

Daily I think of our firefighters and the struggle they faced as they watched so many homes their spirit tried to save, perish in the fire. ...and the struggle goes on.
Will there be enough moisture this year to diminish the threat of further fires? Will the water table be restored? Will the lake level increase? Will there be slides ... floods to bring further damage and devastation? Such a fine balance.

The threat still looms large. Will we as a community be enticed into criticism, or will we be - again - the support to the volunteer services and emergency services so desperately needed should another emergency arise?

We are community. We care deeply about those providing the services needed so desperately by our community. Not only when the need is obvious, but also when the need is lurking in the background. While those same emergency services are saving lives and giving comfort in traffic accidents, home situations, and fires. Helping us each and every day. Being prepared always to assist in times of devastation.

We will be there with you - helping where we can - praying always - coming along side in any way you need us. You are there for us. We are there for you.

And those who have lost homes and property and are going through so much, there are some of us who think of you - and indeed pray for you - daily. If we cannot be there in person, we are there in spirit.

Cheers,
Linda

[Cearenius]

The fire touched not only my family, who some of which had to evacuate. But also my heart in so many ways.

I had just moved back to Kelowna from being on the island for a year, unfortunately I moved back just in time to hear of houses being burnt down in the crawford, Okaview areas. Having many friends in those areas and not knowing where they were or if they had houses, set me to crying everytime I even saw a flicker of the fires. Be it on the tv or when we drove down Springfield.

My cousin who came back with me did not understand why I was getting so worked up about it, she did not get it till out aunt had to be evacuated in the middle of a family bbq. (fitting, no?) It was then driving to our grandparents that she joined me in tears of feeling useless.

We could not do anything for anyone. Other than seeing her safe, that made her feel better because we knew our aunt was safe. Not knowing where my loved ones were, not knowing what to do to contact them at all, I felt helpless.

Nothing is worse than coming home to the town you love and seeing it in flames.

[ZELLEY]

It appears the last message by Chillin was to one of our active members, so what is the reasom for the silence now?