Barton County Commissioners had it on good authority that, unless we get rain this week, this area is primed and ready for disastrous brush fires.
It’s hoped, of course, that if they take action, it will prove unnecessary.
But if we don’t see some rain soon, the next season of crops will be threatened and conditions will be just about perfect for serious fires.
First, there is still a huge amount of fuel at hand, dating back to the ice storms and, in many places, the spring severe weather in recent years. Brush has grown up and died, and there’s more and more dry, dry, dry grass.
It all adds up to creating some brush fires that aren’t going to be easy to manage, if sparks hit the fuel while it is still tinder dry.
That is why fire chiefs across the county called on the commissioners to enforce the burning ban.
Everyone is hoping that the rains will come and conditions will improve.
Short of that, we need to make sure everyone is being careful.
— Chuck Smith