We knew when we moved up here that we would be changing some dangers like hurricanes and flooding for others like hail storms and tornadoes.
Fires in this area are rare but they do happen. About 10 days ago some guy hit a power line pole and the lines came down and started a grass (pasture) fire it burned for 6 miles damaging some houses and cars.
Today we had another one, this one LOT closer to us. Don't know what started it but it was out in the middle of an open pasture. The wind was out of the south and there were numerous stands of cedar trees. As the wind blew the fire onward it would sometimes get into one of these stands of cedar trees. If you have never seen a cedar tree burn just visualize flash paper. It burns pretty much like that.
Both of these fires could easily gotten to us but for the wind direction. The wind today was only about 9 to 10 mph. The wind 10 days ago was 20 gusting to 30. That's a whole 'nother ball game for a grass fire.
I didn't witness the first one and didn't know anything about it until the next day. I witnessed this one today. The fire crew got ahead of it and put it out and let the approaching fire burn itself out. Other than a couple of stacks of hay bales I don't think any damage was done.
Still you aren't really safe from a grass fire until it is extinguished. A direction in wind can direct the damage in a new direction in the blink of an eye.
Watching that fire today reminded me of the grass fire scene in The Return To Lonesome Dove. If you are in one of those and can't fly you will not make it.
We are very thankful that we got lucky both times.
Fires in this area are rare but they do happen. About 10 days ago some guy hit a power line pole and the lines came down and started a grass (pasture) fire it burned for 6 miles damaging some houses and cars.
Today we had another one, this one LOT closer to us. Don't know what started it but it was out in the middle of an open pasture. The wind was out of the south and there were numerous stands of cedar trees. As the wind blew the fire onward it would sometimes get into one of these stands of cedar trees. If you have never seen a cedar tree burn just visualize flash paper. It burns pretty much like that.
Both of these fires could easily gotten to us but for the wind direction. The wind today was only about 9 to 10 mph. The wind 10 days ago was 20 gusting to 30. That's a whole 'nother ball game for a grass fire.
I didn't witness the first one and didn't know anything about it until the next day. I witnessed this one today. The fire crew got ahead of it and put it out and let the approaching fire burn itself out. Other than a couple of stacks of hay bales I don't think any damage was done.
Still you aren't really safe from a grass fire until it is extinguished. A direction in wind can direct the damage in a new direction in the blink of an eye.
Watching that fire today reminded me of the grass fire scene in The Return To Lonesome Dove. If you are in one of those and can't fly you will not make it.
We are very thankful that we got lucky both times.
