Our view - Fire danger still high

Looking out the window or walking outside you can’t help but see and smell the smoke coming from the wildfires in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and other points west of us.

We have been exceptionally lucky in Hot Springs County this fire season that we haven’t had anything nearly as devastating as what we’re seeing along the coast. Could you imagine what orange skies would look like over us like they have in San Francisco?

As Wyomingites I think we can give ourselves a little pat on the back for understanding the extreme fire danger we’ve been under for weeks and for doing our part to still safely recreate at our favorite spots.

Kudos also go to our volunteer firefighters who are quickly on the scene when something does pop up and for helping provide mutual aid to our surrounding counties to keep their incidents from spreading.

Studies show dying in a fire is the most feared way of leaving this world, followed by drowning (dying from a shark bite is a distant third). We cannot imagine the panic those folks must go through when they finally get the command to evacuate.

Our hearts go out, too, to all the wild animals losing their homes as well. Everything from field mice to deer and mountain lions, fleeing the flames. Fire is one of nature’s least forgiving elements.

We aren’t out of the woods yet, so to speak, so keep practicing fire safety as you spend the few warm days we have left hiking and camping or as you get your camp prepared for hunting.

If we all pay attention and do the right things, we can have a safe end to our fire season.