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Highlands Today

Feel Proud Of The Firefighters Who Protected Our Homes

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Highlands Today Staff

Published: February 14, 2008

Highlands County residents should feel great pride in the firefighters who protected numerous houses and buildings during this week's wildfire on Henscratch Road. These brave men and women stood tall, and sometimes alone, protecting structures as flames raced toward them. When you think about it, their actions were extraordinary.

Anyone who has been on the scene of a wildfire understands how unpredictable they are, and the incredible force they can generate with the right amount of fuel and wind. Wildland fires have claimed the lives of many experienced firefighters caught in the wrong place when fires make an unexpected turn.

The Henscratch fire scorched nearly 500 acres. That seems small compared to the 50,000 acres or more that burn in our country's western forests on a fairly regular basis. The difference is that here, there are plenty of homes and structures mixed within the woods, not an occasional abandoned cabin. Out West, a forest fire can be allowed to burn as long as people and structures are not in danger. Here, there almost always seems to be something that must be protected.

Standing alone in the smoke-filled environment a wildfire generates is a surreal experience. The increasing roar of fire growing closer and in building in intensity, along with radio chatter cutting through the noise and the feeling of not quite knowing for sure what's coming your way makes for a nervous wait. When it finally comes, it's hard, dirty work. And sometimes it never comes, changing directions at the last minute. But the stress is still there, and there's some other place you have to protect.

Our firefighters performed magnificently. Home owners said they saved houses and belongings, and that they are forever grateful. Those folks understand what these men and women did for hours Monday and Tuesday. It's important that all of us also know and appreciate the great job they did.

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