Last night when I opened the backdoor to let the dog out, it smelled like smoke. Instantly I was uneasy. I went back out and sniffed again. It was 11:30 at night and I scanned the dark horizons for signs of fire. I then went through the house to the front door and did the same. I couldn’t see anything glowing, but it didn’t help me settle down any.
To say I’m gun shy about wildfire would be the understatement of the year. Part of our farm in Clark County burned in the March 6, 2017 Starbuck fire and conditions this year are ripe for another busy wildfire season.
Jan. 22 to 26 is Wildfire Awareness week in Kansas. They’ve had promotions all week on Facebook about being prepared. One of the social media posts from the Kansas Forest Service read:
It’s #WildfireAwarenessWeek in Kansas! The Kansas Interagency Wildfire Council asks for your help in reducing vegetation-related fires. Let’s reduce injuries, property loss and damage, and be #Firewise. Always check the weather forecast before you plan to burn: www.srh.noaa.gov/ridge2/fire. #WildfireKS Kansas Fire Marshal K-State Research and Extension Check the #KansasForestService fire weather outlook here: www.kansasforests.org/…/incident_intel_and_suppo…/index.html
Last year we weren’t prepared. There was no plan "in case of fire" at the farm. My husband instinctively did what he had to do to protect the cattle at the time. Other farmers and ranchers in Clark County did the same. Maybe we all will be a little more prepared if there’s a next time. I sure hope we won’t have to use our newfound knowledge again any time soon.
Early 2018 is shaping up to be another dry one. Most of Ford County and part of Clark County, Kansas are in the D2 rating or severe drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor. It’s been trying to see other areas of our state get some snow and all it seems like we’ve gotten is wind. Jan. 25 gave us red flag warnings in my part of the state. The wind blew most of the day and night. Not a comforting feeling when it’s this dry.
I beg of you, if you’re a smoker, please do not flick those cigarette butts out the window of your vehicle. Be courteous to those land and livestock owners who are next to the roadways. All it takes is one little spark and some wind and we have a wildfire on our hands. Take the time to properly maintain vehicles as well. One spark from a poorly maintained truck or trailer could start a fire and the driver not even know it. And if you see smoke, report it. The quicker authorities are able to get to the scene, the quicker it can be put out, preventing loss of life and/or property.
Something’s got to give, and I sure hope we can get some rain to make it a little less dry out here. #Prayforrain.
