Fires

[Marilyn]

It is so dry here, and there was a lot of wind yesterday, so we had a couple of fires in the area. The whole town was blanketed with smoke. Here's a link to an article. If you click on the picture, you can it will enlarge, and you can click next to scroll through 11 pictures. We live on the other side of town from the fires, and even our neighborhood was blanketed with smoke yesterday afternoon. Thankfully no one was hurt.

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/847/story/422460.html

[Janet]

Oh my goodness. We've had a field fire during harvest if it's been dry, but nothing like that. I feel so bad for those that have breathing problems, not good at all with all that smoke. Thanks for the link Marilyn. The pictures showed quite a bit.

[gja1000]

Goodness, I hadn't heard about the fires! That is so scary! It is so easy to get one started on days like yesterday and when it is so dry. Texas in general, but especially central/south Texas are in a severe drought and we are likely to have more fires in more areas. Yesterday was unusual due to the high winds. They were fierce all day long. It is still a bit windy for us, but not like yesterday.

Gary just tried to stay inside yesterday - we think it was the wind/dust blowing in Oklahoma (where the wind blows everyday) that kicked up his bronchospasms in Dec/Jan. So when the dust was blowing yesterday, he just stayed inside. He would not have been able to get out of the house with smoke like that!!!

Stay safe, Marilyn

[Blueyes]

I saw a report on the news about the fires. You guys be careful

[gja1000]

Well, this shows how much I am NOT paying attention to the new these days. There was a fire in the county (Bastrop) next to the county where I live and several homes were burned. This may all be just the tip of the iceburg - concerning dry brush and fires this year. I don't think we are predicted to have much rain again this year and we are already so dry. When the wind blows, it is going to be back.

[donna1990]

We had fires also and I could not go outside because I am allergic to smoke.
We had a lot of rain today, Thank God.

[gja1000]

OMG! The area around my hometown in Oklahoma is ON FIRE!!! http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/06/Oklahoma.town.fire/ The fire started very near our family farm, but thankfully did not move over our land. It traveled about 10 miles north to my town of Taloga. It has moved west and north now and best i can tell it has burned for about 20-30 miles!

The wind is blowing terrifically, which of course makes it very difficult to contain. There are nothing but tiny little towns in the area with tiny little fire trucks with limited water capacity. I think they have almost got it contained, but it is really scary!!!

[judy]

Oh Gayle! I'm praying that it misses that beautiful farm with the creek. I'm also praying that nobody gets hurt.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by judy

Oh Gayle! I'm praying that it misses that beautiful farm with the creek. I'm also praying that nobody gets hurt.

I just talked to the guy that rents our farm and it DID burn that area at/near/or on that beautiful creek (I won't be sure of the exact location of the fire for a few more days). I thought the fire was quite a bit away from our farm. Turns out it was not. It did not burn any of the farm that my mom and I own, but did burn some that my cousins own. The farm was originally owned by our grandparents and they left it to their children (my mom, aunt, and uncle). My aunt and uncle are deceased so their children (my cousins) own the other 2/3 of the farm. 1/3 of it was burned, but I don't know how much. My cousin is out of town on business and I can't reach her yet. She'll be able to go up and scope out the damage when she returns. DANG IT!!!

[Janet]

If there wasn't anything valuable, just land and brush....isn't it like a rebirth also? Where in time things will be even better? I don't know much about this, just different things I've heard. I'm glad your area was safe from the fire.

[DianaB]

That's true, Janet. That's why the farmers burn off their pastures in the springtime.

As long as you didn't lose anything important (buildings, hay, etc) then the fire wouldn't damage your land, Gayle.

Yesterday was a calm day and I could smell smoke in the air so someone must have burned off their pasture. This morning the yard REALLY smells like smoke and it's very windy. I sure hope that the fire from yesterday didn't start up again because Glen's out of town for the day. I think that I'll check with my SIL about it before I go out of town. He's a rural fire fighter. We have a lot of grassy pasture south of our house.