We nearly had a forest fire yesterday

[uppityperson]

I live in the woods and we almost had a forest fire yesterday.

Our downhill neighbor made a small campfire in his clearing near the woods on Saturday. He put it out Sat eve and went to bed. Yesterday afternoon, Sun, I smelled smoke and went outside to find our clearing full of smoke. This happens regularly since the neighbor does clearing and cleaning up of his woods, but there was much more smoke than I was happy with, and within minutes our clearing was clear again, but the woods next to it were full of smoke.

I sent MrUP down to see what was going on. In a few minutes I heard sirens and started figuring out how I was going to catch the felines and where we could get to to be safe.

The smoke went out so I headed next door also. MrUP found the neighbor's campfire had relit and was smoldering into the duff at the edge of the clearing, and braken ferns were burning merrily in a line about 20 ft long. He grabbed a shovel, cursing the fact that he'd left his cell phone at home, and dug a quick line around the smouldering/burning part. Then the fire truck showed up, hosed it out and sprayed everywhere with foam.

If there had been a bit more of a breeze it would have spread. If someone a mile away on a boat in the water hadn't called 911, the fire dept wouldn't have been there so fast. They said that what with it being so dry out, if we smell smoke, please call and then go investigate as they'd rather be called and not needed that not called and needed.

They also said they put out a fire Sat about a mile away, a 30 foot across section next to the road was burning for no obvious reason.

So, fwiw, please be very careful during this dry summer and don't hesitate to call 911. And carry a cell phone if you go investigate.

We were lucky.

[cliffordu]

1. WE THOUGHT we smelled smoke - but the owner of our

property burns terrible shit around here all the time so we didn't think any more about it....


I'm really glad you kids are all OK up there.

(U.P. and I live in the same crappy resort town, about a mile apart as the crow flies....).

It really is a crappy town. Stay away if you want happiness in your spare time. Really. You'd be mucho disappointed if you came here expecting too much fun.

Really.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

2. Noted and thanks

for the reminder. Got to keep an eye on the back yard grille for that reason. It doesn't take much in this kind of weather.Responding to uppity person !

Not to concerned with the tourist aspect in it when over on the islands. Go there to get away from towns really !Sometimes we think the real distortion is too many houses ! But hay! I'm a city guy,what do I know right !

[uppityperson]

3. Really, I don't know why ANYONE would EVER want to even visit here

nothing to do, boring boring boring.

(But, if you do, and the Wooden Boat Festival is Sept 11-13, drop me a line first and we can meet or you can camp out here.)

cliffordu, I found the fact that someone out on the water reported the smoke quite something, it wouldn't surprise me if you got it over there also.

Back to the general public, boring, ugly little town here. No good restaurants and the music situation? blech. Arts? In your dreams. Boring boring boring boring.

[cliffordu]

4. Yep, dull and boring is what we are.

:rofl:

[seabeckind]

5. This is the burningest place I've ever seen

If a twig hits the ground they're out there with a gallon of kerosene and a box of matches.

Scream to high heaven if someone says burn ban. Act like someone just took away the second amendment.

...scariest time of the year.