I wanted to briefly address the Spokane wildfires. Up until this point I haven’t said anything because I didn’t really find it appropriate to do so. Everything that could possibly be said during such a devastating time was already being said—and in a much more eloquent manner than I could ever do.

But with the fires reaching containment and many of those evacuated returning to their homes, I thought now would be the time to say that neither my family nor our home was ever remotely close to being threatened. Because we live in Spokane Valley, we were far away from the havoc that was wreaked in north Spokane.

This photo has stuck with me throughout the Spokane wildfire disaster. While pretty much everything burned, this statue of our Blessed Mother remained (photo courtesy of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane).

And it wasn’t just the geographic location of our house that removed us from such an awful event. When the fires started on Saturday, Aug. 1, we were all in Atlanta. The thousands of miles that separated us from the Spokane area meant we didn’t even as much breathe in any smoke. This physical detachment from home continued as we spent the following week in Myrtle Beach.

As we were vacationing, Spokane was burning.

So, yes, I did feel guilt. Here I was shielded from the worst disaster Spokane has ever seen while I enjoyed time in a place completely devoid of even a spark. At the same time, I could still rationalize that the vacation was pre-planned and if there was ever a time to be out of the region it was last week.

This was all compounded with the fact that even though I was on the other side of the country, Spokane was still top of mind and front of eyes. The wildfires led off national news broadcasts the entire week. It didn’t matter if I was in my in-laws’ living room or doing cardio in a Myrtle Beach gym, Spokane wildfire updates constantly flashed on television screens. It was a little surreal.

I write this all to convey once again: We weren’t impacted by the fires.

But so many others were. And many lost everything. My heart and my prayers go out to my fellow Spokanites who were dealt the absolute worst luck imaginable.

Besides that, I know anything else I have to write is inadequate.

Thanks to the firefighters and other first responders heroes who have come from all over to assist. Without them, my family surely would have seen the fire when we returned home this past Sunday night. Don’t Blink.