On Friday, December tenth, we headed to the DFW area to celebrate a grand's 13th birthday. It is typically a pretty easy drive that takes about four and a half to five hours. However, this trip had a surprise in store.
If you remember, the day was windy. I usually drive to Vernon, and Clinton drives to the kid's house. We had just changed drivers, thank goodness! Unfortunately, we came upon a massive 0% controlled fire in Electra.
At about Harrold, we were directed by officers to exit 287. From there, you were on your own; they were a bit busy. So we decided to drive to Burkburnett, where the Wall grandparents lived, and then travel towards getting back on 287 at Wichita Falls.
Just outside Wichita Falls, we sat in both lanes full of traffic as we watched the fire off to our right.

I rolled down the window to take a picture and began to feel the heat. I have to admit that I was a bit freaked out.





Just past Jolly, we were, again, directed off of 287. There are not many straight roads, so we ended up following, bumper to bumper, the long line to Petrolia. In Petrolia, there was another re-direct that led us to Waurika. The sad thing is we drove right by Bill's Fish House and did not get to stop! What a shame!!! From Waurika, we took Highway 70 to Ardmore and came back down I35 to the kid's house. The trip was a few hours longer than we expected.
What we did not know at the time was that the fire had jumped 287 and was headed towards Petrolia, where we were all sitting ducks in a long line. We made the right choices, though!
The drive was long, and the sky was smoke-filled but, God protected and blessed us.
The sky was amazing!



Here is our locations map and the red fire area.
