BLAZING INFERNO

 When I purchased our farm four years ago, there were several buildings behind the house including a barn. There was one in particular behind the house that was in disrepair and was not salvageable. It was full of junk that was left behind by the previous owner. Actually, it looked like a snake den since the junk was about waist high. This building was situated in between my well house and another building within about 10 feet from each other.

Since all my family was visiting from Texas, and I had plenty of help, I decided  it was time to burn the building.I lined up corrugated tin against the other buildings as a heat shield. We had four other water hoses standing by. Then came the match......

We started the fire in the center of the building. This fire started growing so quickly, that the water hoses was not keeping this fire subdued. It intensified so quickly and we had to start backing up because of the heat. Soon, we were so far from the fire, that the water hoses would not reach the fire.

My wife was holding our infant granddaughter and decided to go into the house. The metal steel door on the house 50 feet away was too hot to handle. She had to go around to the front door.

A volunteer fireman on vacation was fishing about a 1/4 of a mile away with his wife. He said, "I knew there was a problem when I saw the flames over the trees". He called the Fire Dept and soon this quiet community was a beehive of activity. Sirens screaming, people scrambling. If this town was large enough for a newspaper, it would make the headline. It causing such a stir, that it seems that the whole town was following the fire truck to see where it was going. My little street never saw this kind of traffic.

By this time, the building was on the ground. Slowly, the fire started dying down. Looking back, I realize it was a stupid mistake on my part. If there is a lesson to be learned from this, it would be: "Never let your zeal outrun your wisdom". (James Cain, CH 15: vs 1) On this day, it left it far behind. Never again!!!