Brush Fire!

As we worked on regrouping in subtraction, Katie kept pestering me about a big fire up the road. I told her, "It's just the neighbor burning trash."
She interrupted a few minutes later to point out that this wasn't a trash fire.
I told her, "I'm sure it's a controlled burn. Now let's get back to the work page."
She finally insisted that we check on the source of the smoke.
Lo and behold, it was a brush fire and it was heading our way! It was heading all ways, as a matter of fact.
Fortunately school was very close to being done, so the fact that we spent the next few hours talking to all the neighbors and then the Southside Messenger reporter didn't interrupt our day.
If anyone thinks that their metropolitan life is more exciting than good ole Charlotte County living, you couldn't be more wrong. The boondocks got it going on!

Tongues of Flame

Here's a bit of the action, filmed by Laura.

The Big Event

Here are the first responders to the rescue.

As the truck pulls up, you can see our neighbor, John Henry. When I arrived on the scene, I found him putting out sizable portions of the field with a branch of green poplar leaves. Somehow, I think the last thing I would think to do when I came upon a field afire is to start putting it out myself.

After the press came and photographed, the crews finished their work, and hopefully the neighborhood will be back to normal now.