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Learn not to burn
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The good news is, according to the experts it’s not supposed to stay this blasted hot for too long.
And there is even an outside chance that we could see some moisture in the not too distant future.
The bad news is, we are not going to get that cooler weather for two or three days, and the chance for significant rain is slim, indeed.
So until something changes, we are facing real danger of serious fires in this part of the world.
We need to be careful — all of us.
That means using our heads in situations where heat and vegetation come into close contact, whether it involves smoking, transportation, grilling, or other recreation or farm pursuits.
According to an Associated Press report, the warnings take in much of the state:
“The National Weather Service says high winds, dry land and low humidity are increasing the possibility of severe fire in much of western Kansas.
“The weather service issued ‘red flag’ warnings ... meaning conditions exist to spark fires and spread them quickly.”
We have high winds and very dry conditions. That means any outdoor burning can get away easily.
So, now is the time to be even more cautious than we usually are.
For instance, if you drive into rural areas, be careful where you park. An exhaust system on many modern vehicles gets hot enough to ignite dead plant material and with the winds we are having, a fire can start before you know it.
When cooking outdoors, it’s a good idea to water down the area first and have a hose handy, just in case a fire starts.
And smokers need to stop flicking their butts out the car window — really, anytime, to be honest — but especially now.
It doesn’t take a lot of smarts to avoid a serious brush fire, and it saves a lot of firefighting costs and potential property loss, too.
— Chuck Smith