Firemen deserve respect, thanks

This past week’s fires brought disastrous consequences and smoky air to Chadron. Scanning Facebook the first day of the fires showed many reactions that included “my thoughts and prayers to those moved from their homes,” or “I hope that my Chadron friends are safe and well.”

Come the second day, however, there were several complaints on Facebook about how the fire had not been contained and that the fire fighters were not doing a proper job.

Let’s take a look at what these firefighters really did. In 90-100 degree weather, men in heavy coats and overalls ventured into the thick, black smoke and flames that rivaled the air around them. It was hot, it was dry, it was smoky, and many volunteers risked their lives to put out these fires.

It has been a hot and dry summer, and the grass was perfect tinder. No one is to be blamed for how quickly the fire spread. With the dry area, there was no way that the fire wasn’t going to spread. In addition, anyone who attended the town meeting this past Sunday would have learned that the conditions were so dire that at one point the fires spread eight miles in less than 14 minutes. This was not a typical fire in the slightest.

Unfortunately, there were several homes lost to the flames. Again, it is impossible to point blame at anyone. There are unfortunate things in life, but hopefully no one decides to point a finger at those who were willing to risk life and limb to help put out the fires.

As we learned from the 2006 fires, natural disasters like this can and will happen, and the best guard against it is preparation and prevention.