We went to the ridge this afternoon and watched a funny looking helicopter with a tube hanging from it suck water from the ponds. It looked pretty cool and I did get some pictures. While we were up there the fire took off running to the west and went around the corner of the mountain and started to run down over to Goose Egg road. Fire trucks were flying up and out of our area and racing down the highway to get to Goose Egg road. They evacuated everybody. We have friends that live just across the highway from the wall of fire. We headed that way right as she called us on the phone. From the front yard of her house you could just see the wall of fire and rolling smoke coming down the end of the mountain. It was unbelievable and scary. I took pictures and will add some to this blog, but most of them I will put in the photo album on yahoo. Please see previous posts for the link.
It was nice to get away from the house for a little bit and get out of the direct line of smoke. Now we are back and the smoke is so heavy that we are both short of breath. Dan pulled his T-shirt up over his nose and it really helped, so he said, I think I have some dust masks. Sure enough, he had two and we put them on. They made such a huge difference. They are even filtering out the smell of the smoke. We know this because we took them off for a second and the smoke was so strong and acrid we didn't know how we had stood to breathe it. The wind has really kicked up.
I've attached the latest news update from the City of Casper. I am also in the process of organizing the pictures, so there will some postings and updates to the album within the hour.
Our neighbor just called and supposedly with the wind coming up the fire directly behind us is flaring up again. Isn't there a country song titled, "It looks like it's gonna be a sleepless night?" (You've got to have a since humor when everything around you is covered in smoke and flames and there are little pieces of 1/2 burnt aspen leaves floating down around you!)

Casper Mountain Fire Update
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
updated 6:55 PM
Evacuation Update :
The Wolf Creek Subdivision has been removed from the evacuation area. Emergency officials have chosen to allow people to re-enter homes in the Wolf Creek Subdivision. Residents of Wolf Creek who choose to return to their homes are still advised to use extreme caution, however, as this remains an area that could be threatened if fire conditions change.
The Goose Egg subdivision south of Highway 220 has been evacuated. The westward progression of the fire has continued throughout the day, and it is now threatening homes in the area of Goose Egg Road. Goose Egg Road has been closed to incoming traffic.
Absolutely no one will be allowed on Garden Creek Road, Goose Egg Road, or on Casper Mountain. These areas are still extremely dangerous.
Other traffic related information:
Wolf Creek Road has been re-opened.
Highway 220 had been reduced to one lane, but has now been re-opened.
Coates Road had been closed due to increased fire activity in that area, but it has now been re-opened. Coates Road is still within the evacuation area, however, and it is strongly recommended that no one travel here unless it is absolutely necessary.