I woke up Monday morning, Sept. 10, 2012, my husband said pack up, we have to get out, fire coming up our canyon (Buck) — We pull out the fire cabinet drawers, haul out to the pickup, pack clothes, run around taking pictures of all rooms and even pictures of families on the walls.

Meanwhile, here comes the firefighters, water tankers, brush truck. The wind was blowing so hard I could see everything go, but a firefighter said, we are going to save your home. They are so brave to stand up to the fire as it was coming into our canyon.

Had our son, Randy, doze all around our house and below, sprayed white foam on the back side of the house, and a bunch of firefighters lined up back of house with their water hoses. Out five yards from our garage, but continue to spray. Had helicopter several times dumping.

What wonderful people, so brave, and they stayed around here all week because of so many trees and hotspots in the feed lot. Lots of hot spots.

Want to thank our families, Randy – Valerie for taking our horse to her home in Medical Lake. And a special thanks for Larry, coming up from Page, Ariz., for two weeks to help in repairs, and thanks to friends for their kindness and calls and help cleaning and cutting trees back of barn.

A very special thank you to all the firefighters that came from so far – to help all of us.

Quincy Fire Dept. & Grant County 3, Port Ludlow – Fire & Rescue, Monroe Fire Dist., Leavenworth, Little Rock – there were so many.

We appreciate and are grateful for saving our home.

Third generation farm.

Bless you all.

Willard & Sharon Rinker

YNE R30

Buck Canyon area