The call came in at 11:30 Thursday morning. It was my neighbor on her cell phone. "There's a fire."
Cow: Hurry up and do what you can. I don't want any of my friends barbecued.
The road to the highway winds around and up and down, and it was hard to figure out exactly where all the smoke was coming from. Just as I crested a hill, I saw something I never would have imagined seeing in this neck of nowhere...
A firetruck! Glory be and hallelujah. I parked my truck and left Smooch to monitor the west flank as I walked down the road to get the scoop.
As it happened, the pasture that was ablaze belonged to the local town clerk, who is my northern neighbor and very well connected. She managed to get five fire trucks there within half an hour. (Note to self: in case of emergency, don't dial 911, call the town clerk.)
I had never been up close and personal to a grass fire and was fascinated to watch how and what it burned. Despite the heat and flames, the cholla cactus remained standing. Figures. The one thing you want to get rid of survives.
The fire was caused by the knucklehead who drove his old pickup truck into the tall grass to cut down some trees for firewood. He got his firewood alright, pre-burned. And Nature got her sweet revenge by destroying his truck.
After chit-chatting with the town clerk and her posse of firefighters for awhile, the situation seemed under control and Smooch and I went home. The local tv news reported on the fire that night, saying it had grown to 30 acres. I'd venture to say that this was the first time in broadcast history that my neighborhood has been on the news. I had to laugh because the reporter struggled to explain exactly where it was.
Glad everything turned out ok ... guess you should have explained to the tv crew just where they were. That would have made them chuckle.
ReplyDeleteSometimes with some folks you just have to say, "What were they thinking!?!?!", such as driving a truck into high grass.
That's a lot of excitement out there in the middle of nowhere, and especially seven miles south of it!
ReplyDeleteGood thing it stopped at thirty acres.
Wonder if the culprit's insurance will pay for his toasty truck.
Glad it ended well (except for the pickup truck) and presumably no cows got barbecued.
ReplyDeleteWell,,,thank Goodness for good neighbours and fire trucks eh!! Very glad to hear there was no loss of life, and that the truck was the only casualty! Those cholla cactus must be like rats and can survive anything eh!
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Theresa in Alberta
Perhaps the news anchor could have used your place for a reference for the rest of TV land. "A range fire broke out today just north of the famous 7MSN ranch...blah, blah, blah.)
ReplyDeleteLinda, there was a palm oases fire here in December and NOBODY, not the local paper, not the local news crews, NOBODY got the location correct! Aye! Yes, call the clerk next time. SHE seems to have the right connections!
ReplyDeleteDid you call the reporter and tell them it that the fire was located Seven Miles South Of Nowhere? I'm sure it's on their map.
ReplyDeleteDi
The Blue Ridge Gal
Of course my mind runs to the more esoteric. So, like, how "hot" were the firemen? Any chance one of them offered to make a trip out to 7MSN for a personal inspection of - well, anything?
ReplyDeleteThe fire is interesting, of course.....but I can't stop thinking about Wynonna in a ski parka!!!! MUST SEE PHOTOS:-)
ReplyDeleteDenise in CA
Gosh, glad everyone is OK and that the fire didn't any closer to 7MSN. Those wildfires are SCARY and can spread so fast.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a high fire danger area. Your post got my heart racing a bit -- been there, done that, and hate it. And it seems like it is always the knuckleheads that start these things.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely who you know in these parts... :)
ReplyDeleteWe are coveting your solar water tank. I should have been counting how many buckets of water I've hauled out to the boys over the last three days.
Glad that it was able to be contained to just the 30 acres! Has to be a scary thing in your neck of the woods! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWhen we saw the news report of the fire, my husband said, "hey that could be close to where your "cute donkey lady" (don't ya love how men have labels for people) lives. So we watched with some concern. Glad you and all the furry kids at 7MSN are all okay.
ReplyDeleteThe Olde Bagg in Burque, Linda
I'm very happy that your place wasn't involved. Grass will grow back, probably healthier than before.
ReplyDeleteTerribly frightening, none the less.
ReplyDeleteWe finally got a bit of rain a few days ago. Until then, whenever I'd smell smoke I'd feel worried.
Glad you now know who to call. That makes all the difference in the world.
Yikes! Glad everything turned out OK for you - good to hear that the idiot who caused the fire lost his truck :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a little more excitement than I'd want! I'm glad Smooch didn't think she had to go help the firemen. I'm very happy that no one was hurt - and I hope the land will recover quickly. Where's the rain when you need it?
ReplyDeleteNancy in Iowa
So glad they were unable to get the fire under control, and that no buildings, livestock or your property involved. Wishing you warmer weather soon! I know if it difficult on you to keep all your loved ones fed and comfortable. Thank goodness for your solar heater!
ReplyDeleteGeez! That is scary. Glad everyone is okay and nobody got hurt. Too bad about the truck.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess there was no snow over there? We were iced in at my dad's over the new year...
ReplyDeleteGlad it kept itself at 8msn (eight miles south of nowhere).
Glad you're ok. Googling cholla cactus.
ReplyDeleteGoodness gracious! That's a pretty big one in your neck of the woods. I'm glad everyone was ok and it didn't harm my precious Wynonna :)
ReplyDeleteWow I hate grass fires, they can move so quickly. I guess having snow on the ground isnt so bad after all.
ReplyDeleteHa...and never did they describe the location of the fire as 7 Miles South of Nowhere..did they?
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