Andrews gets the smoke out

ANDREWS A day after a wildfire burned 5,000 acres in Andrews, firefighters were putting out the last hot spots while workers replaced charred telephone poles.

But for the Riordan family, there wasn't much they could do but look at what was once their home. And be thankful they had their lives.

"It was hot, hot, hot," Yvonne Riordan said. "We couldn't see anything because of the smoke."

The Riordans' home was the only occupied one destroyed in a fire that blazed through the Parker Ranch area three miles south of Andrews Thursday evening, said John Bear, public information officer for the Texas Forest Service.

But Yvonne Riordan said they could deal with it.

"I woke up mad this morning, but my home was in the line of fire," Riordan said. "There was nothing stopping it."

While the Riordan home was nothing more than remains of a twisted metal roof on top of ash - save for a remarkably intact washer and dryer - Debbie Bloxom's home a few hundred yards away was surrounded by green grass.

Her five horses - which were evacuated in trailers - were back prancing around the property.

While burnt scrub brush came right up to her fence, the only thing damaged was part of the entrance over her driveway.

"I look like this oasis that they picked it up when it was burning and then they put it back down," Bloxom said.

Bloxom, who raises animals for rodeos, was thankful she had the grass in her horse pastures cut down, even if it meant more dust blowing into her house.

"Probably because it was all shredded, it made it like a fire break - but it was accidental," she said with a relieved laugh.

Looking at a mesquite tree just over her fence that was turned to ashes, Bloxom said the fire caused her to rethink a trip to Midland to buy flowers.

"The whole back seat is full with these flowers, and I'm like, ‘Why do I need these? I may not have a roof over my head,' " she said.

After evacuating and bringing horses to the ACE Arena in Andrews, Bloxom was able to return Friday morning.

The Riordans were planning to meet Friday with the American Red Cross.

"Right now, I'm not sure what the family's immediate needs are," said Jimmie Birden, Red Cross director of emergency services. "Since their home is a total loss, I'm sure it will include food and clothing."

Along with the Riordans, Birden said the Red Cross helped out in Andrews by providing food and drinks for 150 emergency workers.

Bear said the fire, one of many Thursday across the Permian Basin, jumped Highway 385 several times. Wind gusts of up to 60 mph fueled the blazes.

"We've seen some extreme fire behavior," he said. "The volunteers and the fire departments here did one hell of a job."

And while the family does have insurance, Yvonne Riordan said any help is appreciated.

"This is the first time I've been (back) here," she said. "It's overwhelming. I've never seen anything like it."