This is not a storm cloud. I knew it could not be a storm cloud when I turned the corner at my home that day, but I did wonder, could it be? The sights in my eyes made my mind run through a lot of "could be's," such as a plane crash? A military exercise that went wrong? A gas explosion at a gas station? A chemical explosion? None of those questions were even close to what I saw here in a photo that does not even begin to give justice. I have never seen a cloud as large, wide, tall, and as dense as this. I also had never seen the white parts of a cloud covered in such shiny irridescent colors. I quickly went inside simultaneously grabbed my camera and checked our local online news. This cloud was a smoke cloud created from an out of control wildfire here in Myrtle Beach that unfortunately made the news and caused many losses, but incredibly and thankfully not one life was lost.
This photo was taken from my front yard, and even though the cloud seemed to be so close I could touch it..the distance is approx 20 miles away, which is actually WAY TO CLOSE! If the winds had shifted like they were forcasted to do I sincerely doubt I would be sitting here at my computer sharing this with you. 76 homes were lost that day not counting all the cars burned to steel skeletons.

If you would like to help the many victims who lost everything they had, except for the breath of life, you may do so by clicking HERE, or HERE. Thank you.

Update 8/9/09: One person and the first person to move back into his neighborhood and home just happened last week. Check it out here and click on "Back Home in Barefoot."