Family Refuses To Evacuate

Emergency departments ordered anyone living near the Pocatello fire to evacuate, but some decided not to follow the warnings and stayed in their homes.

Jay and Linda Sperry have lived in their home for 26 years.

“We’ve put a lot of work into this place. We’re going to keep it,? Linda said.

Sitting on their front steps, the couple had a front row seat for the battle against the blaze.

They aren’t letting risk of wild-ire or warnings from the Sheriff’s Office make them abandon their home.

“Why are we still here? Because we want to watch and if it gets close to our place we’re going to get the hoses out,? Linda said.

?We’re not leaving. This is our home. We’re going to stay here,? Jay said.

The Sperrys said the sheriff told them it was their choice to evacuate or not, and they didn”t feel like they were in much danger from the fire.

“And he said we have the right to stay, it’s up to us. I think we’re fairly safe where we’re at down here. I think we’re pretty safe,? Linda said.

If the fire does start getting close, the Sperrys said they’re ready to spray everything down before they go. They have lines of hoses circling around the outside of the home.

“It hasn’t started coming down the last hill so we’re pretty safe here, and we can at least wet everything down before we go,? Linda said.

They especially want to make sure they can watch over the home during the night.

“Usually the wind comes from the east during the night. So it may turn and come back,? Jay said.

?That’s what we’re worried about is when the sun sets then the wind starts blowing this way. So we’re staying,? Linda said.

For now they trust the firefighters will be able to keep the flames at bay.

“These guys know what they’re doing,? Linda said.