Fire near the School

Yesterday we had a bushfire close enough to the school to close the roads from both directions to get to our school. Of course at 3:00 when we had to pick the kids up, we had to find a way in. With water helicopters circling and dropping water on the fire from overhead, firemen and police cluttering the road, we had to be co-operative, although all I wanted to do was get my kids out of there. Anyway, the police took us in a convoy down the road to the school, where our children were waiting for us in their classrooms to try and stay away from the smoke. And then by another police escort we all snaked our way back out. It was quite the experience!! Travis was rather scared of the noisy helicopters just overhead, but the others had their eyes peeled everywhere; the firefighters in our parking lot making sure the school kids were okay, and we obeyed orders,(not that we would ever cause problems of course!!), the helicopters dumping their loads of water, (and our little car getting spatters of spray on it, just enough to make the ash stick even more!!) and of course the thick smoke. The highschoolers coming on the bus saw the helicopters coming in just over head to refill with water from a local park lake!....The road was still partially blocked this morning but this afternoon we could drive through and see all the damage. My car and the kids school bags still smell like smoke! Nothing but a bit of drama to keep my life exciting!!