We had a fire on the ranch yesterday. No one was hurt and only a fence was destroyed (although some of a neighbor's equipment burned) but it was harrowing for a while. The himalaya berry thickets eat up acres of pasture and they are a nuisance, but they do make wonderful impenetrable fences until they burn down.
After things quieted down I took my camera out and got some photos, although I had to just hold the camera up and shoot since the sun was too bright to see the screen. They turned out decent enough, and you can watch a slideshow here:
I paced off length of where the northern fence was gone, and guessed about 80 yards of wire would have to be put up. Up walked our friendly neighbor Larry, along with the poor sheepish neighbor who had started the fire, and they strung up hot wires by nightfall to keep the herds separated.
Huge thanks to the Orland Volunteer Fire Department who responded quickly, and the Capay Volunteer Fire Department, who sent a truck when more help was needed. They are all heroes in our community.
SO glad no one was hurt ..
Posted by: daryl | March 12, 2012 at 08:14 AM
Rick, there are control burns all the time, though small, and most of the farms around here are 20 acres or more, not 2000! (My parents ranch is 70 acres.) Berry bushes follow water sources, which mean they grow from one ranch to another along the drainage ditch. Most people are very careful with fire, but some of the newcomers have to learn the hard way.
Posted by: foolery | March 10, 2012 at 03:16 PM
Yet another difference between farms in the Midwest and the West. Here, we intentionally burn our fence rows ever now and then, all to achieve the same results you've realized (reclaim unused land, removal of varmit habitat, etc). But generally, it's a "planned" event giving the neighbors plenty of time to move their equipment out of danger :)
Posted by: Rick's Cafe | March 10, 2012 at 12:53 PM
It was all the work of the fire fighters, Britton. And the fact that the wind was minimal.
Posted by: foolery | March 10, 2012 at 07:56 AM
Oh no...so sorry. Happy everyone is safe and that your losses were limited by quick thinking and acting.
Posted by: Britton Minor | March 10, 2012 at 05:45 AM
Gina, did the phone call last 45 minutes and wander from the subjects of sheep size to baseball to YOUR WHOLE LIFE? Because if it did, it probably wasnt a dream. : )
Posted by: foolery | March 09, 2012 at 11:46 AM
very scary Laurie, and weird because I had this random dream that I talked to your dad on the phone the other day and Rob was in the background.
hum! glad all is okay.
Posted by: Gina Benson | March 09, 2012 at 11:41 AM
That is all too familiar to me; one year ago I was posting the same kinds of pictures. ACK. glad all is well, if a bit crispy.
Posted by: Meg @ Soup Is Not A Finger Food | March 09, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Oh, Im completely fine, Miz Wreke. All I did was show the firemen where to cross the ditch and hold the gate for them. I felt like Lassie. Whats that, Girl? You say Timmy fell in the well?
Posted by: foolery | March 09, 2012 at 11:12 AM
yikes!!! glad you are okay!!!!
Posted by: sher | March 09, 2012 at 11:04 AM