That story is heartbreaking. So, so sad.

I agree. I have read Skip's writing for more years than I care to count up, and I knew he would capture the full scope of the story while focusing on several people's personal stories. I knew he'd rip my heart out. He did. It made me cry. That is why we must read stories like this though---to understand and to see the human faces behind the news stories that tell us xxx number of acres burned and xxx number of heads of cattle were lost and xxx number of people died. I already had read a lot about this day online, but he brought the whole story together so beautifully.

Hi Dawn. So beautifully written. I felt as if I knew them. Just a quick message to you. I've been away from the site for years but often thought of you or quoted you. Haha. You're so full of knowledge! I changed jobs several years ago and no internet access at work until recently. I live just outside the city and access there improving finally although I still can't talk on my cellphone unless I'm outside standing on one foot! I found a group on FB and saw you and Lisa there and remembered this spot. I had to recreate PW but same email to get in! I've been to one Spring Fling at Will Rogers Park years ago. All before the granddaughters came. They are growing up and not in my lap as they used to be so I'm back. I'm still gardening and learning. This is the first post I clicked on. I look forward to catching up. Hope you are well!

Dawn thanks for sharing. It touched my heart. It along with the story I sent in the email about the NE NM rancher just reinforces how deadly prairie fires are. And why I keep all firefighters especially rural volunteers in my prayers. They are like law enforcement officers everytime they report to a fire could be there last. And both illustrate it doesn't matter how big a fire is they are a danger and that the changing winds make fighting them dangerous. In both cases hard working salt of the earth people lost their lives.

Hi Lolly, Welcome back. We are still here, but some of the group is only on FB and some post in both places.

Hi Jay, I was thinking of you when I read this and then came here to post it because all of this was so close to you. I knew you'd appreciate reading this article as much as I did.

I was thinking about Johnny too, and hoping that someone, somewhere will write about Johnny and Kyle and make sure their stories are told as beautifully as this one. One of the few things that we can do after a fire takes the life of a firefighter is to remember them and to not forget them and also not let the memory of their sacrifice fade.

For the last couple of days many firefighters, both OFS and local VFDS, have been fighting a very challenging fire in the Quartz Mountains in Kiowa County. I guess that is several counties south and then slightly west of Leedey? It is called the Flat Top Mountain fire and has been very hard to fight in the rugged terrain. I think it was 70 acres on Monday or Tuesday when I first read about it, and 650 acres this morning, and no one yet has said how much more it has run today, but video on the OFS Facebook page showed the fire running through dry brush and some trees that look like cedar. I was hoping those rocky hills were bare and the fire couldn't run and advance like it has, but apparently the hills weren't bare enough. What is happening in Kiowa country right now could be happening anywhere in this region except, maybe, parts of eastern and northeastern OK that have had really plentiful rainfall lately. Actually, it has been so hot and dry lately that I'm not even sure those places that have had plentiful rainfall are safe because all that rain creates lots of growth and that new growth dries out in the heat and can become more fuel for fires. We all sure need to keep our eyes open. Our beautiful prairies and woodlands become a tinderbox this time of the year. And, in fact, so do our gardens. I'm pretty sure mine would go up in a flash right now because it is dry, dry, dry.

Dawn

Dawn I visit a couple of cattle forums. A member from Mont. posted today about how dry they are and the terrible drought they are in. He also said south of him were some huge fires. Seems 17 has been the year for the weather across a wide area.