#springsfire

You never wake up with the expectation of evacuating later that day, of watching your town go up in flames and smoke hover ominously in the ash filled sky. Neighbors gathered in the streets, nervous, anxious, fearful. Sirens punctuating each gasp and heat rolling off the hills.

I woke May 2 slowly, comfortably-- it was a late start day for the seniors due to STAR testing. A groggy morning spent in a haze of ease, flipping the pages of my Steinbeck novel and lazily picking at my scrambled eggs, my only thoughts revolved around Doc in old Cannery Row.

My friend sauntered in around 8:30 a.m., mumbling about confusion with the late start schedule. We mentioned the fire that had started that morning in Camarillo Springs, but only in passing. It didn’t effect us. Not then. Not yet.

Our concern was getting to school. 9:40 we had to be there but at 9:30 a phone call proved otherwise: we never went. 

They said the school had been canceled due to air quality concerns from the fire, no mention of the flames licking the mountains within visible distance. The request was that all students who were not yet at school did not come. Meanwhile, the students in testing were quickly ushered into air-conditioned classrooms and told to go to their second period class, if they felt so inclined.

We hung up the phone tentatively, dazed, a smile widening over each of our faces. A fire day? We’ll take it! I pushed myself up onto the kitchen counter and kicked off my shoes; no tests, no homework, nowhere to be. We were more relaxed now than we had already been.

A text from a friend: smoke plumes. An instagram post from another: more smoke plumes. Sure it looked scary, but it was also exciting. At the time, we described it as “apocalyptic” “big” “woah,” but in retrospect, that was only the beginning, so small, so insignificant. Our smiles wavered but didn’t die.

My sister called from the school, “They’re telling everyone to go home, we can see the flames from the school. Can you pick me up at Trader Joe’s?” Frantic, dashing, excited, concerned. I grabbed the keys, my purse, my friend, my mom. Out the door, down the street, curious, terrified. My mom shook in the passenger seat, mad with worry, harshly barking at my driving and cringing at the sight of smoke.