It's not over yet...

 
Fires continue to burn out of control in the Possum Kingdom area. PK West - the fire that held our attention so closely has been contained, but other areas to the South and East still burn out of control. The Forest Service has aggregated all these fires into what they are calling the "PK Complex fire."  The line is approximately 200 square miles, and more than 200,000 acres and countless structures have been consumed (and that's an out-of-date count).

One of the frustrating things, especially if you are hundreds of miles away from your point of interest, is getting accurate information about what is going on. It was that lack of good information (plus some bad information) that convinced us all was lost. Not until someone could actually stand on the property could the truth of the matter be known.

I know that's what prompted Jackie Fewell, a partner in Pondera Properties - a Real Estate company with a vested interest and knowledge of the area - to start a bulletin board service on their website. From a rented room at the Holiday Inn in Mineral Wells (they had to evacuate their offices on Park Road 36) Jackie and some helpers have reported almost 24 hours a day conditions as they received them. They have trouble getting good information too - they've had to reverse a number of postings - but they are trying very, very hard to post only verified, accurate information. By default they have become the semi-official "official" source on what is happening and who needs what. It only took a couple of days before their first page crashed under the load. The second attempt, http://www.ponderapk.com/PK-April-2011-Fires2.php seems to be holding up under the strain of hundreds of thousands of page hits.

There have been so many hits, and enough recognition of the site, that the Internet provider has given them dedicated bandwidth; AT&T has set up a cell phone booster so close to the motel they have to turn down the A/C inside, and the Holiday Inn Express has moved the operation into a conference room.

Reading the postings is addictive; I have to check back every few hours to see what has happened. And in doing so, I have noticed something very interesting. Some friends of ours were concerned about a fire near their ranch close to Cisco. The brother of our friend went to check it out, and he reported back that all was well and that "a little fire sure brings the neighbors together." So does a big fire. Read some of these (edited) reports from the Ponder website:

4/16/11 at 11:30 pm

Per Alan Fires - The PK Lion Club will be cooking breakfast for firefighters at the Lions Club Bldg starting at 8 am tomorrow (Sunday) morning.  We're sure they could use some help over there!

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4/18/11 at 9:59 am
We are getting reports that the firefighters on the Peninsula need meals! We understand Lesa Matthews is cooking up a storm at the Coffee Hole which is a HUGE help. The firefighters also need meals brought to them.  Yesterday many only had a granola bar to last the whole day.  A volunteer group is forming now in Mineral Wells to make sandwiches that will be carried in to them.
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FYI, according to our sources Walmart in MW has been depleted of water and other supplies for the firefighters.  Some are bringing in cases of water from town which is much appreciated.
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4/18/11 at 9:59 am
We understand the Coffee Hole may need help replenishing cooking supplies for the firefighters - if you can help, call Lesa at (940) 328-2411.  She'll explain where you can deliver supplies.
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First, there is an effort being organized in Mineral Wells. Anyone local interested in helping with food prep - meet at the MW Masonic Lodge.  Mesquite Pit is donating enough BBQ and buns for 200.  Joyce Nicklas will unlock lodge and pick up meat from the Pit.  Once food is ready, it will be transported to Graford ISD.
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Tonight, hamburgers will be prepared at Graford ISD. Any meat patties, buns, chips and condiments you can bring to the school will be much appreciated. Water is being brought in from DFW by the Nicklas Foundation - they are on the way but if anyone can lay their hands on bottled water, snap it up and take to Graford ISD please.
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Many of you have asked where you can make contributions to help out the local firefighting folks - Pondera Properties has established a fund to fill this need.
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8:31 pm
Spoke to Wells Watson from Gaines Bend.  He is in his boat out in front of his house on Bluebonnet. He can see flames around the Swallow Cliffs area and homes are involved there. He hears propane tanks exploding. The Sheriff forced his evacuation - four of law enforcement people showed up with handcuffs so he agreed to leave by boat.
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9:20 pm
Donations from generous people!  We have collected $17,152 to help our firefighters.
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12:46 am
The scanners and reports have quieted down.  Probably a good time for a nap.  It is hard to imagine what tomorrow will bring, and viewing tonight's destruction in daylight seems unimaginable.   We will resume posting if anything significant comes into play tonight, and will be back at it again by very early morning when activity will pick up again.
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7:05 am
Lesa Pawley, who has been providing food services from her location at the Coffee Hole was evacuated last night.

Miraculously, however, a group of PK residents (presumably from the metroplex) arrived with an off-site mobile food service prep unit capable of preparing food for 700 at a time. They are established on a ranch near Graford and are busy cooking up breakfast taquitos this morning!  What a gift!
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8:30 am
WE NEED LEATHER GLOVES FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS!  We are making a plea to get about 200 pair of leather gloves in assorted sizes.  Need to get these to the guys in the field asap.  If you can help, email us.
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8:59
Wow.  We had a tremendous response on the gloves!  Thanks for everyone's help - we have gloves on the way.
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9:03 am
To Donna Lucado - help is on the way to rescue your dogs from Gaines Bend.  
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10:06 am

Chief Thomasson says he desperately needs the following:

• Four wheelers to follow the dozers - the guys have worn themselves out walking behind them
• Mules with covers
• Chainsaws badly needed
• Axes
• Hoes
• Shovels
• Rakes

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10:13 am
Donna Lucado - your dogs have been rescued and they are fine!  Linda Johnson wants to know what they eat.  :-)
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10:30 AM
If you have food donations and other items, such as eye wash, baby wipes, aspirin, benadryl, lip balm, sunscreen, etc. - please contact Lance Byrd.  He is taking supplies at his ranch in Graford. He is then distributing to the Graford HS

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10:27 am
URGENT! Officials need gate code for Hells Kitchen in Sportsman's World.
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11:09
Reported by Michelle Steuber - we have collected $49,463 in our Relief Fund.  This is a great start ... keep it coming - our local resources are going to need all the help they can get once we're on the other side of this. THANK YOU!!
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1:00 pm
Have been offered a ride on the WFAA helicopter to go look at the damage.  Will try and come back with good info.  In the meantime, we have a good group to here in the Holiday Inn outpost to keep posting.
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1:44pm
Per Steve Anderson – Gloves are being delivered to The Harbor Marina and will be picked up by the VFD. Many thanks for everyone’s help.
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3:14 pm
Back from helicopter ride.  Ugh.
Feel sick from witnessing the destruction.
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New Item Need: One of the requests we have been notified of is the need for insulated totes to deliver foods to Firefighters. Take to the Oak Street Baptist Church in Graham  These are needed up in GRAHAM for the west side.
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1:12 pm
Wanted to let you know that there is a portable clothes washing unit brought in by Jimmy Bankston set up here at the Jr. High. They are willing to wash clothes for anyone affected by the fire. All you have to do is drop it off. They were able to wash clothes for about thirty firefighters last night.
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11:31 am
From the Graford Post Office - just wanted to let you know that mail for all the Graford deliveries around the lake is available at the Graford Post Office. We still do not have any idea when delivery will resume at the lake. If any residents would like to pick up their mail we are open from 7:30am- 3:30pm.
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Funds collected so far in the Relief Fund ... $95,000
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It takes a community to fight a fire.