Texas Wildfires

[Broke Hoss]

While other parts of the country are fighting storms & tornadoes, it seems like the whole world is on fire around here. We're in the middle of a drought and everything around is just dry tinder; something as simple as a mower blade sparking off a rock can start a fire. An entire town of about 1200 people was evacuated Friday evening as it was threatened by a blaze.

Wildfires whipped up by winds, blister hundreds of thousands of acres in the Big Country » Abilene Reporter-News

You have to remember, the majority of the firefighters batttlieng these things are volunteers from small mostly rural departments being aided by the Texas Forest Service. But, as noted in the story, even the TFS is getting stretched to the limit. These departments rely on donations & fundraisers for budgets.

Prayers to the family of the firefighter who died as he did a job not for a paycheck but as a service to his community.

[Jenna]

Hope you all stay safe.

[jmur5074]

That's one reason why I am constantly preaching the volunteer fire service to anyone who will listen.


Lots of work for no pay. Unfortunately, volunteer departments everywhere are maxed out due to high call volumes, and a lack of people willing to volunteer.

I get just HOT when people gloat and brag about how much they love living where they living (specifically rural areas) but refuse to join their volunteer fire department/rescue squad/whatever.

If you like it so much, do something to help keep it as great as you think it is!! My dept. is struggling for members (we do alright, but over half the dept. has about 30 years on...so we will be in bad shape soon), and a few guys I work with live within our jurisdiction. They refuse to join the dept. despite being cops (work well under stress), in good health/able bodied, and have the roughly the same amount of free time I have. But they love to tell peope how much they love living where they live. Drives me nuts.

Anyway...sorry for the off topic rant.

[Jenna]

Firefighters really should be paid. Even if it's not a full-time job, they should be paid whenever actually have to answer a call.

[pgg]

I used to be a volunteer firefighter in CA. It was fun. Especially the training burns