As the whole world probably knows, we here in Utah have been fighting wild fires for some weeks now. The above photo is of a fire near here on Thursday. I took this photo from my back porch soon after it started. It is about 40 miles away. It has been so very long since we have had rain that a still-lit cigarette butt flipped from a car window can start a fire. The largest fire in U.S. history was about 100 miles west of here a couple of weeks ago. Before it was stopped, it covered an area over 55 miles long and 40 miles wide.
The fire in the picture is still burning, but it will be out soon. Thursday night after dark I sat on my back porch and watched the red glow of the flames rise and fall against the black sky as it spread through the juniper trees. The trouble with controlling fires is that once started they spread in every direction, like the water rings around a pebble tossed into a pond.
(This photo was taken Saturday evening as the sun was setting. Notice how far and wide the fire has spread since it’s start on Thursday.)
It sounds and sometimes feels frightening, but we stay watchful and pray for rain. However, not long after the fire started I made my daily trip to the post office and there in the lobby was a large basket filled with crook-neck squash with a sign attached—”Help Yourself.” Life goes on and the goodness of people willing to help and share with others brings hope and the knowledge that, in the end, all is well.