THE COWBOY CORNER EDITION 15 VOL.1

FIRE!

I’ll never forget my first winter in Amarillo, Texas. Coming from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where fire season was a summer affair, I was shocked to see “Extreme Fire Danger” signs in the middle of January. In Colorado, the ground is blanketed in snow all winter, but here in Texas, it seems like any dry patch of grass could spark a fire at a moment’s notice.

Living in this new environment brought a whole new level of concern, especially since I’d just married into a ranching family. It took some time for my nerves to settle, but a few things helped. First, I learned that grassland fires are a different beast compared to the forest fires I was used to. While forest fires can smolder and burn for days, grassland fires move fast and end just as quickly. Second, these fires are easier to manage; crews can dig firelines quickly and cover vast distances thanks to the flat plains. And third, our fire crews are pros. They deal with these blazes so often that most are contained before they can cause too much damage.

In the four years I’ve been at the ranch, we hadn’t had a single fire—until last week. I knew it wasn’t a matter of if but when.

Helen and I were at home when we got the call from Sam: lightning had struck our pasture & it wasn’t long before black smoke started rising in the east. Sam immediately called the fire department. In situations like this, there’s not much you can do but wait—unless you’re willing to fight the fire yourself, which is sometimes necessary. But with the fire being far from the ranch house and relatively small, we decided to say our prayers and wait.

Two things happened that answered our prayers. First, a passing rain shower slowed the flames, keeping the fire from spreading too quickly. Second, the fire crew had just finished battling another fire nearby, so they were perfectly positioned to respond to ours—and boy, did they bring the cavalry.

Within an hour, three fire trucks with water tanks arrived, along with several SUVs and a team of firefighting volunteers. Led by Sam, Faith, and Aaron, the crew headed out to the flames. Even though the rain hadn’t completely doused the fire, the firefighters made quick work of the flames. Thanks to the wind staying calm & relatively high humidity (for the Texas Panhandle), they were able to contain the fire without needing more backup.

We were incredibly fortunate this time around. Although Helen and I weren’t out at the ranch, our hearts were with everyone fighting the fire. It’s nerve-racking to see everything you’ve worked for so vulnerable, especially after the Smokehouse Creek fire last winter. But this experience reminded us how resilient our community and our land truly are.

A Random Picture Of Bud Dog