This year fire has been a constant in the western United States. Drought conditions continue to persist in many areas, and this has caused a lot of headache for farmers, ranchers and firefighters alike. Currently there’s a fire burning about an hour and a half from where I grew up. The Aspen Acres Fire continues to grow and swallow homes, property and dry fuels along the way. Here in Nebraska, historic Fort Robinson was nearly torched when the South Fork Fire blazed through. Fire does more than destroy landmarks, property, rangeland and homes. It has a way of creating trauma in people that can take years to overcome and heal from.
It’s strange that fire and water are so different, but so similar in many ways. Both are needed in our lives. Fire is needed to produce heat to warm our homes in the cold winter months, can be used as a tool for managing invasive species of plants in pastures, and is efficient in reducing waste. When managed as a tool, fire can be very useful to us. When it gets out of control, is allowed to run wild and untamed, that’s when the trauma starts. Water is very much the same way. We need water everyday to sustain us, keep us hydrated, grow forage for animals and crops for food production. When there is no water, or very little, the grass shrivels and turns brown, reservoirs used to hold water to supply drinking water for cities begin to dry up, and when fires start in the dry conditions, there’s limited water available to help fight them. On the other side of that coin, too much water can be just as traumatic as not having enough too. Flash floods can wipe out infrastructure, destroy homes, crops, and anything else in their path.
There is a balance to everything. Enough water to grow crops and keep drought conditions from fueling monstrous wildfires, not so much that it washes away lives. The same with fire, enough to control invasive species, heat homes and bring comfort, not raging infernos that devour entire communities. I know that we cannot control the weather. If I could make it rain whenever I wanted, I’d never put up any rained on hay. What we can control is how we handle life when trauma happens. We can look at those who lose everything when fire or flood takes it away and say “Wow that’s awful, I feel bad for them”, or we can do what we only hope others would do for us in our time of need and lift them up with kindness and support. The Morrill fire that ravaged over half of my home county earlier this year truly brought out the very best in people. We’re still sifting through the ashes, but recent rains have brought life back to the once blackened hills. Fences still show the scars, and some homesteads are slowly getting cleaned back up. Little by little the trauma is beginning to heal in our little community, so it will be with those affected by fire in Pueblo County, Colorado and those affected elsewhere by wildfire.
Love your neighbor as yourself. Sometimes that’s a hard pill to swallow. Take the time to lift up those who have fallen on hard times. A warm meal, a kind word or making the effort to help them put their lives back together can go a long way. So to all of those out there dealing with trauma caused by this year’s crazy wildfires, just know that this season will pass. Rains will come eventually and daily life will slowly start to go back to normal. Don’t lose faith, help those in need and continue to pray for rain. That’s all for this time, keep tabs on your side of the barbed wire, and God Bless.