World on Fire

As the floodwaters recede and the sun heats up, Utah’s landscape is going to be one big wildfire waiting to happen. It’s inevitable. Every year dozens of fires pop up all over the state, some due to natural causes, and others because of the carelessness of one person. Perhaps someday everyone will take Smokey’s words of wisdom to heart: “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!” But until then, all we can do is continue to fight the fires and hope that we’ve done everything we can to stop a fire from igniting.

Fire’s ability to highly entertain the human mind probably has a lot to do with how easily wildfires start because of carelessness. Who hasn’t wanted to throw an aerosol can into a campfire and watch it blow? Or build a ten-foot tower of wood and light it on fire? Or hurl a Molotov cocktail at a tank as it rumbles through the city streets? Fire is amazing and it creates quite a spectacle, but the fun and games can turn deadly at the drop of a hat.

I attended a bonfire party a couple nights ago, which took place in a wide open area with no way for the fire to reach any other flammable material. The wind was quite strong and the flames were reaching about ten feet sideways, but the hot ash was blowing much farther than that. In a dense forest setting, that bonfire would have most likely caused some destruction. Like alcohol, fire should be enjoyed responsibly. It has destructive powers that far outweigh the entertainment value when not handled with care.

Take care this summer that you don’t unexpectedly (or expectedly, for that matter) cause a fire that quickly becomes uncontrollable. Any campfires should be completely doused, and when I say doused, I mean drowned. Create a small pond over where your campfire used to sit, and name it if you like. Using your family name is always a good choice: “Eberhard Pond.” If you’ve got kids, send them out to find some wood so you can erect a sign that indicates you’ve claimed the pond that was made on top of your campfire. Believe me, pouring a gallon of water on some hot coals will appear to put the fire out, but those coals are alive and well and they will survive your pitiful attempt to snuff them out. You’ve got to drown them like unwanted kittens.

Many fires evolve from a spark. A tiny little spark can cause a huge fire, whether the spark comes from a bullet glancing off a rock, or a cigarette butt hitting the ground, or a chain hanging from a trailer that strikes the road. Such a small thing has such a big potential for destruction. Treat anything fire-related with respect and you will never have to worry about causing an accidental fire. Fires will continue to rage all across the world, but we can always reduce the number of fires by simply preventing them. Once again, enjoy fire responsibly and treat it with respect!