Fire!

[turnkey4099]

I was out scouting for locust today. About 10 miles from the house when I topped a small ridge and saw a column of black smoke beginning about 10 miles away. Obviouslyi not a sstubble fire which are common this time of year as it was a 'point source'. Bad part was it was right over where my house should be as near as I could tell. Of course I was out in the boonies on narrow, washboard gravel roads.

Discovered that an F150 won't even feel the washboards if you get it going fast enough and it also will drift corners!

Closer I got the more it looked like it was my place. Heart didn't settle down until I turned the last corner a 1/4 mile away and saw it wasn't me but over the next ridge - about 1/2 mile further. Ran up there and it was my neighbors big barn.

You might know that that was the only time I haven't had the camera with me when in the PU. Barn was still standing but pouring flame out of every window and door - it didn't last long before on the ground.

Harry K

 

[carvinmark]

That must have been unnerving, thinking your place was going up in flames. I take it nobody was hurt?

 

[iowawoodcutter]

man, hope no one or any livestock got hurt. Sorry to hear about your neighbors misfortune.

 

[TJ-Bill]

those old barns go up FAST!! and usually leave very little behind..

Where my girl friend used to board her horse used an big old Cattle barn. Caught on fire one night went headed about 30min after it started and it was a 15min drive.. By the tiem we got there it was on the ground.. All the horses were outside thankfully.

Hopefully you neighbour had insurance

 

[KsWoodsMan]

So sorry to hear of his losses. Not just the barn but all the old tools and memories tied up in there.

Smoke from the direction of your house will really set your heart to racing. Glad to know you and the missus are OK.

 

[turnkey4099]

Haven't heard what was lost or insurance but for sure a big portion of his hay crop. It was a big, old barn. General guesses in town are wet hay.

Of course I am downwind from there and am getting a good 'sniff' of the rubble pile tonight.

Harry K

 

[KsWoodsMan]

Wet hay will do it too. They way the weather has been it would be hard not to put some in to damp.


Funny , I keep thinking you are closer to here. I don't know what your weather has been like.

 

[toqua]

HARRY

That fire made the front page of the paper. They had a great pic of it,

TOM

 

[turnkey4099]

HARRY

That fire made the front page of the paper. They had a great pic of it,


TOM

Yeah! That picture must have been taken after I got there. My view of it was even more spectacular. Still kicking my rear for not having the camera with me.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Update from today's paper:

Loss was barn (totaled of course), 300 tons alfalfa and grass hay + 1/3 of his crop. No mention of tools or equipment.


Barn was an "Historic" built by original settler and over 100 years old.

Cause unknown but he "heard a wierd noise when he turned the lights out that morning"

Barn was insured - article doesn't say if contents are covered.

Weather around here has been beyond dry - only trace of moisture in past 2 months (could be 3 months).

Of course some idiot took the opporltunity to burn a slash pile up near Spokane today. Fire Dept got to get some good 'brush fire' practice.

Harry K

 

[toqua]

Harry

I am just amazed at people that burn around here this were about the same as you going on ninty days without rain and then someone just has to burn you just gotta love that.

TOM

 

[mranum]

The wife and I had a scare like that a year ago on the way back from town, turns out just up the road a couple kids took a car out for a joy ride. It was their last. They crashed into the woods doing about 100 mph when they hit the trees. We got there before the first responders and fire department. It wasn't good.


14&15 years old. May they rest in peace.