During the Korean War, we were living in a spot on the map, in the Rocky Mountain foothills, Pinecliff, CO. The Denver and Rio Grande main line ran through the town. To meet the demand for rail transport, the railroad had brought back many steam engines. You would see three or even four steam locomotives laboring up the 3% grade and blowing black clouds of smoke and cinders. Even with their smokestack screen, burning cinders would start small fires alongside the right of way.
There was no fire department, or equipment of any kind. The fifty or so local residents, men, women, and children, would put out the fires the best they could with shovels and buckets of water from the creek. I was in the second grade then. The railroad maintenance crews were busy fighting fires in the roadless canyons. We had little choice. It was a dry, hot summer. If the small fires got going, we would lose our homes, cars, pets, everything.
House fires were a dreaded event then, if not now. There was little in the way of fire fighting equipment. I have a very clear memory of classmates standing in the snow in pajamas watching their house go up in flames. Another memory is of our detached garage burning to the ground with all my father's tools inside. Only a garden hose spraying water on the wall of our house closest to the garage kept it from catching fire.
So, this morning I'm very grateful for what I don't have; a wildfire outside my door. Please say a prayer for those who have lost, or are losing everything. Another prayer for the fire fighters.
You don't need to join me in cursing all the fucking tourists in their RVs clogging up the roads and watching the spectacle. Go home, damn you!
Seldom do we escape damage free. These are from last nights violent thunderstorm.
6 comments:
One never knows when one may be the next in line. I agree with you...watery eyes are a small price to pay. Maybe the tourists should pitch in and help fight the fire. Like that will every happen. At least they are spending their money in the community and that will help the local economy recover.
Sisty
We all know people who have had the losses. In your work, you see them all the time.
Looking at the hole in the heart of that branch, it looks like it was long overdue to come down.
Winter/spring fires a joy we also share here in Florida. There is nothing worse than the smell of smoke that comes from slow burning muck we call swamp land. A stench not easily conveyed, it has to be experienced to appreciate!
All the trees on the property are long overdue for trimming.
A few years ago, I made several trips to Naples and drove through areas with heavy smoke. Not pleasant.
Yikes! Rotten tree! Fires are scary. They also cause my breathing to seize up. Many hopes for gentle rains to put them out once and for all this year. Sad to see our forest area and wilderness burning.
Fires are a fact of life in the West. No rain in sight for now.
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