Don't Leave Fire Unattended

Well, last week I mentioned that grass burning was a local tradition and that I hoped things didn't get out of control. Of course, whenever you say something like that, things inevitably do. This past Monday we had an excellent example of why you should never leave a burn site unattended and of how quickly things can change on you.

While doing some extensive grass burning around his property, a local homeowner seemed to take all the necessary steps. He monitored the fire carefully, he checked to make sure everything was out, he even asked a neighbor to monitor things while he was away from the property. Unfortunately a combination of high winds and a creosote-soaked shed led to a fairly large fire involving the shed, nearby trees and a woodpile.

The speed at which the fire went from smoldering coals to a serious blaze was surprising, for me at least. Firefighters driving past the property 15 minutes earlier saw no smoke, but the shed was fully involved and trees were candling by the time we arrived - notified by a department member who lived in the area.

For me, the fire was a great learning experience - my first fire call with the department. For the homeowner and neighbors, I hope it was an important learning experience as well - about the danger of just one smoldering ember and the speed with which a fire can spread. Luckily, it wasn't a lesson which cost people their homes or lives, but it's definitely something we can all learn from.