Summer Fires! No injuries.

[wendywombat]

At this time of year we read about and see on the news channels about Forest Fires in California and SE France for example.
Well earlier this week we had our own Fire Scare. Not as serious, nor did it cover the acreage of those two examples, but a bit close for comfort.

We are surrounded by farmland and it's the time of year for cutting the cereal crops. The combine harvesters are working hard to get everything cut and stored. Last Tuesday afternoon I saw what I thought was clouds and wondered if we were due a storm, but then noticed that they were turning black and realised it was Smoke!
Then there was a huge BANG and more black smoke!
My neighbour called me over and from her garden I could see that the field at the top of the hill was alight and she said that a combine harvester had exploded! Internal combustion from the dust inside it had shot flames across the field, setting the straw bales and stubble alight. The driver had got out, thank goodness, so no one was injured.

It took 11 fire tenders from 3 locations to put out the fire which nearly spread to 2 small areas of woodland, one of which was pine trees.
The fire fighters worked all evening and into the night to make sure the fire was totally out.
D/H and I walked up the track the next morning to see and those firemen had done a wonderful job at keeping the fire contained as we saw that the flames had leapt the track and got into the corner of the pine woods and burnt the edge of the other area of deciduous trees!

They will get a big Christmas 'box' from us this year! These are all volunteers firefighters and in the countryside we do depend on them to keep us safe.

[rcperryls]

for courageous firefighters!!! Fire is one of the things I am most frightened of and it doesn't matter if it is a relatively small fire or a monster size one if it is close to you or you are effected by it. My sister lives in California and several times (once is more than enough), she has called to tell me that she has had to evacuate to a friend's house because a fire was only a few blocks from her house. I'm glad that no one was hurt. Amazing that the combine driver escaped unharmed!

Carole

[Serinde]

Crikey! They certainly deserve their Christmas Box!

[karen4bells]

What a scary ordeal--so glad the firefighters were able to keep it from spreading worse than it did!!

[fccs]

They will get a big Christmas 'box' from us this year! These are all volunteers firefighters and in the countryside we do depend on them to keep us safe.

Heroes!

[Lulu22]

That's scary thank goodness no one was hurt, that's a lovely gesture to give the courageous firefighters a Christmas box, very deserving particularly as they volunteer.

[richardandtracy]

Oh-oh.
That is close.

Must admit I have great respect for the French Fire Service. One of the main reasons, I admit, is that they commissioned one of the world's most fun and most ridiculous vehicles - the double front ended 2CV.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eggsngrits/3498860810

Regards,

Richard

[Serinde]

Oh-oh.
That is close.

Must admit I have great respect for the French Fire Service. One of the main reasons, I admit, is that they commissioned one of the world's most fun and most ridiculous vehicles - the double front ended 2CV.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eggsngrits/3498860810

Regards,

Richard

Thinking outside the (Christmas) box?

[wendywombat]

now then Serinde. .....just 'cos you're past the 13,000 mark.

Mind you, Richard that is a great little car

[mags]

Ooh scary, Wendy, I don't like fire. Glad no-one was hurt.

[Squirrel]

Great Work by the Firies to get the fire contained and put out. a HUGE WELL DONE to them.
I've seen grass and scrub fires too close for comfort and it is scary indeed. Fire travels so fast it is scary.
So glad you are safe Wendy.

[cairee]

glad no one was hurt! doesn't sound like a terribly big fire but any out of control fire is a scary thing.
the beginning of this summer was looking pretty bad for wildfires here, but the rain helped clear that up and the rest of the summer has been fine. nothing like last year!

[wendywombat]

No, it wasn't big as wildfires go. In fact it wasn't really a wildfire as it only affected the field. I guess all I wanted to do was praise the brave efforts of volunteer firemen at stopping an agricultural fire from spreading to woodland.
I've never been close to a Real wildfire and I hope I never will.