Before Burning

On April 6, 2022, the U.S. Forest Service started a prescribed burn on a windy day, lost control, and created New Mexico's largest fire, the Hermit's Peak Fire, aka Calf's Canyon Fire; the largest fire burning in the U.S.  So far 280,000 acres have burned (438 square miles).  The fire is projected to keep growing for months.  We were evacuated April 11th and have since been living in our motorhome.  After a disastrous stay at Storrie Lake State Park followed by a few nights in the rental section of the Pendaries RV park, here we are evacuating our house again on 4/22; never to look like that again.  The forest is gone; the porch burned, the windows cracked, septic melted, kitchen floor water damaged, generator scorched, soot under the doors, outside steps and woodpile gone ... but it could have been worse.  Our next door neighbor's house completely burned.  Our house is one of 2 structures still standing on Cabra Ct in Pendaries Village, Rociada, NM.  Since 4/22 we have been staying at the Las Vegas, NM KOA campground which is a pretty OK RV park.  We live moment-to-moment in anticipation of being evacuated from the KOA RV park located about 9 miles south of Las Vegas, NM.  Its very smoky here today so we are huddled in our motorhome with the air purifier running.