We have been working on the fire roads. This is a scary time of year for us.
As you can see there is lots of fuel, if a fire were to get away from someone burning off their fields.
Twice we had two different neighbors start fires below us and go off and leave them. The fires came just five feet from the barn and corrals at our rental. It was terrifying.
The photos here are of the one in 2012.
(the second fire…was in 2011 from a different neighbor)
Then on March 16, 2012 the ditch company burned up the other two sides of our place.
Since that time we have been very, very careful! to keep fire roads open and well maintained. For years and years we never even had fire roads, nor did we need fire roads. It just all started about 8 years ago when people decided to burn instead of work the ground up.
Terry, also, disks around all the corn fields and the alfalfa fields. Having those fields disked actually stopped the second fire from swooshing across to our house and barns. Fire makes it’s own wind and with the wind blowing it can travel very fast, even jumping from spot to spot.
We feel the roads are in now good shape; so today he will start disking around the ends of the fields.
Usually I drive the tractor with the loader, but sometimes Terry and I switch.
He’s MUCH better at the scary stuff and than I am!
Honestly!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
I hate fire season….there hasn’t been one around here for quite a while and I hope it stays that way for both of us.
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YES!
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I’m glad you have your fire roads in good shape, although it’s a shame you need them. I don’t think there is anything scarier than fire.
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Me either. Right after fire is flood. Then wind…gosh there are some scary things out there.
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Your views are lovely! Sorry about the fires though. That must be terrible. We have had a couple start to come our way over the years but luckily they stopped before they got on our land. I hope you have a safe and uneventful season.
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Me too!
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Scary stuff Linda – I would guess that those fire roads are very important indeed.
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Very important! So the fire trucks can get too the fires!
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nothing more maddening and frightening than irresponsible neighbors!
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You are so right!
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It’s criminally irresponsible to start a fire and walk away from it. Not to mention insane. They’d have richly deserved a swift change of wind direction and everything they owned going up in smoke.
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It is criminally irresponsible.
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Oh, and mama cow in your header looks like she swallowed a box! That calf is due any day, I’d say!
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YES! Any minute! 50 calves on the ground now!
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You mlust feel so vulnerable with all that fuel and people who leave their fires burning.
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We do. And our part of the world always, always has wind. Today we are having 30 mph winds. Scary!
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I hate fire season and ours will start soon here. The natives burn whatever they can…and never get in trouble:(
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NEVER a good thing…EVER!
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Scarey to say the least! Good to have the fire roads under the conditions. The wind has been awful over here. Still under a red flag warning – with snow on the ground
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OH! Goodness! That’s more than horrid!
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We always always worry about fire!
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It’s a HUGE worry! Huge!
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Boy do I know about the dangers of fire. Was evacuated during the Rodeo Chediski fire in 2002 for 10 days because some nimrod set the whole mountain on fire. I’m glad you are prepared somewhat. Fire is just plain scary.
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I so agree!
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Burning off is necessary at times – gets rid of thistles and the rubbish undergrowth,
but you have to be so careful and constantly vigilant for wind changes.
There are strict penalities here and permission has to be granted by the council
and the emergency services – or ELSE. And ELSE can be very expensive.
The white young cow in the fantastic header seems to be giving you the eye.
“One step closer and you will feel my wrath!!!”
She sure looks ready at a moment’s notice to drop her calf and I don’t think she
wants spectators – ha ha. ” It is a private thing”.
Cheers
Colin
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A horse. I see a pinto horse.
Not much ag burning in California anymore. They even regulate which days you can burn in your fireplace or wood stove in the winter. At first the rice farmers had problems, they used to burn their chaff. I think now they flood the fields in the fall. That rots the chaff, gives migrating waterfowl a place to stay, and recharges the aquifer. Then in the spring the fields are plowed. Sometimes the easiest way is not the best. Leave it to a REAL farmer to figure it out.
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I agree…the easiest way is really not the best!
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you mentioned “ditch company” –> same for us! they (Ute water) burned the canal below our house, and scorched a few of our lower horse-arena fence posts pretty good! and my wife was even more upset in that the Ute Water personnel just drove on by seemingly clueless …
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Yeah…just like they could care less. Sucks!
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Hoping you all stay safe out there xo
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We are! So far! Thanks!
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I still find it amazing that people burn off when they have other options. Is it laziness Linda? How bizarre that you have to work so much harder to protect yours ..
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Terry thinks they want the ground to dry faster…
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I get that but at what expense 😩
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We so agree, that’s why we still practice the old ways….
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Good on you Linda ..
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