A couple of weeks ago, I came up with the idea that maybe the young school kids would like to meet some of the firemen fighting the fire.
Being we were right near the Atkins o n and Waynesville schools at the time, the heads over the firefighters and first responders liked the idea.
Three of the Missoula, Montana firefighters had a little time. So, they followed me to pay a surprise visit.
In one of the classes near the end of them talking, out of the blue, Adaline Jordan got up and walked up to each firefighter and gave them a hug.
It is a wonder the picture came out in focus, because that was rough. On Friday, I got Kase to ride us around and see the damage some of the places that I saw in the first few days of it happening.
I got him to stop at this one place as the Samaritan’s Purse crew was sifting through the ashes. I talked to the owner, Lucy Kern.
For her to have lost so much, she was still in the best of spirits and trying to make the best of things. They would find small pieces of her belongings and bring it to her.
Lucy said she was blessed to save her animals, important papers, a few pictures and her life. Other than that, everything else is gone but the memories. Other than that, she tries to keep a good outlook on things.
When she asked me who I was and I told her, she said she had never met me, but now that is something else that she was grateful for. I can tell her that the pleasure was all mine.
• Wayne Morgan is freelance wildlife photographer and author.
