we didn't start the fire! it was always burnin' since the world's been turnin'.....

7:45 Dad heard sirens. He went outside to see what it was, and noticed a small fire on the mountain. Keyword: SMALL. It had started on the meadow, which is Bonneville Flats. My favorite part of the mountain.

8:06 I remember that by this exact minute you could tell it was growing really fast. It had already come quite far down the mountain. This is when the flames were hitting 20 feet high.

8:30ish. Starting texting Lindsey, whose parents were not home and the fire was getting increasingly closer. The sick feeling takes over and I have a mini breakdown inside and some tears fall.

9:00 Go to the corner of Parrish Lane and Deer Hollow Circle. The mountain really is on fire. The street above mine is evacuated and my neighbors are packing up and leaving. I can't stop looking at the mountain. I stand there with my family, the Thompsons, Daniel, and look at the dozen police cars flashing lights, our street blocked off, and the fire coming down even farther.

Now is when I lose track of time. SO many people texted and called asking if we were alright. Thanks to all of you, Lexi, Teresa, Abby, Kami, Lexicon, Nena, Tucker, Taylor, my family, and more. It was so sweet. There was a time during the night when it got scary. When the houses were evacuated, I got nervous. I didn't want that to happen. The flames had gotten at least 40 feet high. But more than anything, I couldn't believe my mountain was on fire. Every person I try to tell this to thinks I am RIDICULOUS and they just say its a dumb mountain, but its so much more than that. I guess I'm really attached to it and I can't explain to people why it makes me so sad. It felt like a dream.

We had 17 units of firefighters there. We had a command center at our church. We had lots of our neighbors on the news (Go Kyle and the Spencers!!!) and we were outside with everyone until 11:30.

12:30a.m. Cam, Kirsten, and I walk down to the church and help with some ladies to make 130 sandwiches for the firefighters. It was cool being out on the town in the middle of the night and thinking about going to school in 7 hours, but I loved it. Those firefighters + firebreak road saved houses, including ours. I wanted to do anything to pay them back. They were really grateful. I was really grateful.

2:00a.m. Head home from the church and finally get in bed. Still smelling like smoke :)

It was a big day. I guess I can't really explain what that mountain means to me, and its just a fire, but I'm trying really hard to have a good attitude about it. I think I just get really frustrated at anyone who thinks I'm dumb to be so upset about it. I keep thinking they don't understand or know how it felt like a death to me. But the mountain is still there. I don't think it's scar looks bad, it has memories in it now. Being together with the people I love and staying up til 2:00. And I honestly kinda like it. It's a new thing.