Dad came up with the idea that it would be fun to take us three kids (LuAnn, Frances, and I) to Point Defiance on Saturday or Sunday--whichever day worked out best (if Sunday--then after church). We were all excited about this decision as we had been to Point Defiance once before, and they had rides and everything!
We had been having a lot of fun fooling around, in the woods in the back portion of our Brookdale property, with Ricky and Doug Skoog. LuAnn had found some matches and it was loads of fun to set little campfires, here and there, playing Indians, etc. Pine needles were abundant and there were also several large ant piles around to mess with. When the bunch of us would come near a big pile, one or more of us would try to push another into the ants. If you were unlucky enough to be the person falling across the pile you had to clear out, in a hurry, as those black and red ants would be on you like "ugly on a stick". Ahhh................SO MUCH FUN!!! No one ever got hurt---but, boy, did they ever squirm away from those ants quickly as those particular ants could "pinch" like crazy and WOW!----how it could sting!
Often times, we would stir into the ant pile to expose the eggs (they looked like white rice) inside. We knew the ants would get riled and start working feverishly to move the eggs deeper into the pile away from the sunlight. You had to stomp your legs repeatedly, as fast and hard as you could, or the ants would rapidly be up your legs and inside your pants. That part was a big danger and the threat of this happening only added to the thrill of exciting pleasure when successfully getting away unharmed.
Well, we got a good night's sleep and all three. of us kids, woke up excitedly to the prospect that we would, soon, be heading out the door and be on our way to a wonderland of fun, games, rides, and--of course--cotton candy! Hurray--Point Defiance--Here we Come!
About that time there was a frantic knock on the door..................it was the man that did yard and handy-man work for Grandpa (in helping to maintain things)---spreading the alarm---FIRE! FIRE! YOUR WOODS ARE ON FIRE!!!
Daddy and Mommy jumped up so fast (Daddy was already half-dressed as he expected a long day and was getting up early for a quick start). Daddy glanced over, at us, looking quite stern and told us to get back to our rooms as he sprang out the door with mama right behind. Daddy rounded up a couple of buckets and, while he filled them with water, mama located some old gunny sacks. They were both outside and the three of us, were standing in our pajamas, peeking out the window. We were careful not to let ourselves be seen as we knew that we were in BIG TROUBLE!
It took several hours for Dad, mama, the handyman, and a few neighbors to get things under control. They all had been furiously slapping the ground and the tree bases with the wet burlap bags and everyone got so beat-up-tired and blackened by the soot. You could easily tell that it had been a pretty tough go of it as Daddy's pant-legs were wet and soiled.
We didn't lose any trees, but several were charred way up high, for years to come, and the scotch bloom bushes and high grass areas were scorched dead.
Needless to say, there was no Point Defiance trip for us that day...................and I'm pretty sure that we never saw Point Defiance again before we eventually moved to Salt Lake City a few years later. A Point Defiance discussion was never brought up--nor was the fire.