It’s been a horrible week for firefighters. They’ve been called out to deal with stressful and frustrating situations as the county’s tinder-dry fields catch fire and spread before you can even catch your breath.

Word is that the state may be considering putting a ban on burning fields altogether, at least until we get a bit of moisture. The county fire marshal has already asked farmers to forego this spring ritual when winds are high because they may be putting their homes or someone else’s on the line as unexpected winds come up.

We’ve heard stories this week about people who’ve thought fires have gone out and who seemed to have proceeded with the utmost caution but who have been shocked to see those embers come back to life and burn across a field in nothing flat.

It’s way too dangerous for us to be risking someone’s home, so we’d urge everyone to consider other means of weed control — using a tractor to plow them under or cutting them by hand if it’s in a small area. It’s a no-win situation since people are also afraid to let weeds grow because they become a fire hazard on their own along fenceposts and the walls of homes.

There isn’t much any of us can do without a good rainstorm and that’s not up to us. What we can do is remember not to start campfires or throw lit cigarettes out our car windows, to keep hoses ready for an emergency and to keep our wits about us. This drought can’t last forever, can it?

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The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.