What a horrible way to die. I can’t imagine anything worse. The nation is sadden by the loss of these brave souls, doing what ordinary Americans probably can’t do. Let’s talk about wildfires, range fires, and forest fires.
I have been up close and personal with them twice in my life, both times in Utah. The first time was terrifying. I had never seen a range fire. No one is really sure how some of these fires start. Lightening strikes are blamed for many of them. I saw one start. I never saw lightening at all. It was sunny. I just saw an evergreen tree spontaneously combust. I have never seen anything like it before or since.
There is a strong argument made that if a wildfire isn’t endangering populations or homes, then just let it burn. Some scientists think it is all a part of the cycle of nature. Some evergreens need fire to reproduce.
Then there are those who want all forest/wildfires put out. Extinguishing a fire means there is no chance for the fire to run away and spread to population areas. Wildlife is saved. The environment is saved. Putting out fires sometimes extinguishes human life. There is a cost to preserve nature. Such was the case over the weekend when 19 Arizona firefighters lost their lives. Not since 9/11 have this many firefighters lost their lives in a single incident. RIP
RIP – it makes one think about what is important.
Sometimes you are so deeply shocked by an event that you just don’t know what to say.