Firefighters' response commendable

Firefighters rushed to a pair of smoky scenes over the weekend, and it’s likely their quick action prevented the two blazes from becoming major tragedies.

On Saturday, crews from local fire departments and a skeleton crew of state Division of Forestry employees congregated en masse near Willow to stamp out a blaze near Caswell before it could climb into the trees. The next day, some of the same firefighters drove south to Houston, where they joined local crews to attack an even more dangerous fire burning in that area. Many on scene were still covered in soot from the first response, and the tired look in their eyes showed just how hard they’d been working.

The second fire – called Horseshoe Lake – was downright scary on Sunday as a huge, thick column of smoke sent residents scrambling in case an evacuation was called for. But crews were able to get bulldozers into the area quickly and, with the help of a helicopter dumping water from a nearby lake, were able to get the upper hand before it could start running south toward homes.

The speed at which crews arrived to fight both fires was remarkable. Within an hour of getting each call, command centers had been set up, hoses were laid, and crews were tromping into the bushes carrying axes and other hand tools. But rather than rushed and harried, firefighters seemed calm and professional as they unloaded four-wheelers and planned their attack.

The professionalism displayed by these emergency responders is to be commended. We often hear these men and women praised for their heroism in the face of danger. But that’s not what makes them special. After all, they know the risks involved and are comfortable with putting their lives on the line.

What is, however, worth recognizing is just how efficient and skilled firefighters are at taking on the huge challenge of bringing a wildfire under control. Without a calm, coordinated and quick response, either of these blazes could have turned into disasters. The idea that a few men and women with some heavy equipment, hand tools and aerial support can tame one of Mother Nature’s most destructive forces is almost hard to believe. What’s even more remarkable is the way firefighters were able to go about their business in an almost cheerful manner, taking time to talk with concerned homeowners or curious reporters while juggling dozens of more pressing concerns.

Firefighters will tell anyone who asks that they’re “just doing their job,” and that’s partially true. But the job they do is one of the most difficult there is, and their commitment to performing such trying tasks with professionalism and grace is worth a big tip of the cap.

We’d like to thank everyone working on these fires for their hard work and wish them a safe conclusion to a busy fire season.

Hopefully we’ll get some rain soon to help lower the fire danger. Luckily, we’ve got a state fair going on – that always seems to do the trick.