3 Citizen Good Samaritans Run to Extinguish Roadside Fire - Editorial

BLOOMING GROVE -It may at first not seem like that big a deal, but this is what happened yesterday after about 30 drivers sped by when I had noticed and what looked like flames at the corner of Route 208 and Round Hill Road. After pulling my truck over about 40 ft. ahead of what appeared to be something on fire, I looked out of my truck window to doublecheck, and sure enough there were 2 1/2 ft. flames coming from a patch about 3 ft. long right on the edge of the roadway of Route 208. Shaking my head that none of the other drivers whipping by at about 50mph seemed either not to see it or care to stop, I opened the door to go see what it was and and see if it was small enought to be safe to try and put out. One well-meaning gentlemen pulled adjacent and said "What's up?" I said "There's a fire back there." He said "Sure enough, that's a fire! DON'T TOUCH IT!", he added. "You don't know what could be under it." Pausing for a half second I discounted his warning and filed it in a quick thought of "Well, I gotta do something", and trotted to the flame. At the same time, two ladies and a gentleman were pulling over on the Round Hill Corner and ran over with several bottles of water to douse the flames. With thick rubber soles on, I stomped on the smoldering "whatever - towel or section of auto carpet " and used my shoe to roll it over until the smolder was done. It seemed most likely that something caught on fire in their vehicle and they tried to put it out with a towel." Was it flaming when they tossed it, or relit when the breeze it caught as it fell and sparked the rest of the towel to transform into a small blaze? Worse yet, could it have been something ignited on purpose, given the size of the flame?

Acres and acres of Wild Teasel about 20 ft. from the blaze

What's the main lesson? The fire itself was not that big (a foot and a half wide by 3 ft. long, possibly a little more than 2 ft. high.) BUT, just about 15 ft. away are many acres of fields full of brush, including 10 or more ft. tall wintered reeds, probably what is commonly known as "Wild Teasel". This would be the perfect fuel for a serious fire if a single spark or two was picked up by the breeze and carried to a single "Teasel".

These citizens saw me stop and immediately brought their small troop to take over a very small firefight that could have become a tragedy. If you doubt it, remember that it is just one year since the big Round Hill Fire, the one that called in emergency firefighters from all over the State. "Isn't it ironic", also on April 14.

We didn't do much....but it was enough to carry on (lol That could be a good gravestone inscription). Late last night the thought crossed my mind of the nice gentleman trying to keep us safe by telling me not to do anything. Might the towel have enclosed a 'toke' laced with some fentanyl, or even an explosive? Not likely, but you never know. This is what police and fire go through every day only 1,000% worse! And every day they "don't have time to think about danger".

Lastly, and this is what I absolutely love about Blooming Grove....the 3 other residents who immediately ran to help.

REMINDER!!!! FIRE SEASON IS NOT OVER!!!!

See something, say something, do something!