A nice series, David, and I compliment you on your “let’s go see” attitude.
I couldn’t see in the photos that the folk setting the pasture burn had plowed
a fire-break. Here in Florida under our Ag-Law not having evidence of a current
fire-break will open a grower and/or property owner up to nearly unlimited
liability, and even if they have insurance coverage the insurance folk will be
able to just walk away from nearly all coverages. And it’s a nearly
indescribable feeling of helplessness when a fire gets away from you - kinda
like I’d guess it must feel when you’ve hit a long unseen patch of ice while
driving and you suddenly realize that gravity and future fortune have stepped
in and put you firmly in the “passenger-seat” without a seat-belt and without
any say as to how things will play out.
I had one burn get away from me back in 1992 and it over-burned about 150 acres
of adjacent property. I had my breaks all plowed and everything looked good and
even had gotten the ok from the Forestry Dept. inspecting ranger the day
before; but the next morning I, stupidly, started the fire too late in the
morning just before noon, and when the heat of the day came on the wind shifted
unexpectedly and…. a gust pushed part of the blaze over the break and... “stuff
happens”, as the saying goes. My only saving factor was that the affected
property next door was low, wet, and pretty inaccessible. It smoldered and
creeped for about a week - a constant reminder to me of just how badly I
screwed up… that and the little “note-of-concern” that I received two weeks
later from the regional fire marshal listing the “what-could-have-been” the
potential bill if engines and fire crews would have responded. It was a
sobering, concise, and to the point bit of correspondence that I’ve never
forgotten… Thanks for the memories, as Bob Hope would sing. :)
Best regards,
Peter S
On Apr 15, 2021, at 1:06 AM, David Young <dsy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Good Evening, Flexers.
When I awoke, very early this morning, I found it very dark and very quiet.
The power was out! Which meant no central heat; -10C (or 14F if you prefer)
outside and definitely chilling off, inside!
Looking out the window, the only lights were the little solar lights folks
use to illuminate their walks and driveways. Rather neat, actually.
The Milky was was phabulous!
When I awoke, again, the light was just coming up and I had a brainwave ...
check BC Hyrdro's website and see if they know why. And they did. "Fire",
it said.
Wildfires are Mother Natures way of renewing aging, infested grasslands and
forests. In rural areas, Mother Nature is often helped along, by the
intentional, periodic burning of pasture lands.
Coming home from the Merritt Gallery last night, I'd noticed a number of
farmers were burning their pasture grass. At one point, I stopped and took a
photo.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51115998599/in/dateposted-public/
So, I wondered ... might one of the farmer's burns got away on them? Off I
went, to find out.
About 10 or 12km, south of town, is our sub-station. I'd noticed farmers
burning there as well. So might they be the problem? They were.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51115998559/in/dateposted-public/
It seems their burning grass was left unattended and just before midnight,
the first of two poles succumbed to the fire.
Crews were on the scene by 1 am, we are told, and worked through the night.
By the time I got there, about 7:30, they had two new poles, in the ground,
and were busy wiring them up.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51116160883/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51116248106/in/dateposted-public/
Lastly, an overall view of the devastation.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/51116160843/in/dateposted-public/
Power was restored just before noon. An hour ahead of BC Hydro's schedule.
If they send a bill to the farmer on whose land it happened, I'd hate to see
the total!
Clicking on an image should give you a bigger view.
Comments, criticism welcomed.
David.
--
David Young - Photographer
Logan Lake,BC, CANADA
Website: www.furnfeather.ca
Gallery: The Creative Co. Merritt, BC.
Flickr: https://tinyurl.com/dsy-photos
Photo E-book: https://tinyurl.com/ABHPhy
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