All we can do is wonder why

Why?

All we can wonder is why.

Why did the wind blow sixty miles an hour? Why did the flying embers ignite only one home in the upscale neighborhood? It could have been much worse had the fire burned one house and spread to a whole block in close by more densely populated blocks of homes. Why?

For quite a few years your columnist served as a firefighter with the local rural fire department. We fought many a grass fire but none in a sixty mile an hour wind.

The best way to stop a grass fire is to drive just ahead of the flame front and wet the grass down right ahead of the flames. The stronger the wind the more difficult it is to stay ahead of the flames but sixty miles an hour gusts, just not possible.

Then there is the problem of driving in a pasture with tall grass covering cow paths, holes and small gullies. Fire jumps the deeper ditches in the bottom of a canyon and a grass rig may have to go some distance to again get ahead of the flames. The only thing more exciting is having to do it at night.

On this rapidly moving fire, there was just about no chance to stop it. The plan of attack then is to protect the homes in its path by wetting down the grass to slow the approaching flames. John’s neighbors did just that and had the approaching flames beat down but upslope winds evidently blew hot embers into the roof vents that ignited fuel, dry wooden structure and paper on the insulation, in the attic and with the strong wind burned the house from the top down. Impossible to stop under the existing conditions — so sad.

Why John and Jennifer? Your columnist has a fond spot in my heart for the Kugler Company, having worked for them for 13 plus years as their chief pilot.

Kugler’s mainstay is the manufacture and sale of farm fertilizers. They have earned a reputation as an innovative leader in that industry. Their headquarters is in McCook but quite a few other communities benefit from their manufacturing plants in several neighboring states and on into Canada.

It is family owned and that family is pretty special. Each of the principals takes pride in knowing their employees, first names, their spouses, and their children. They pay well. In a measure of their management style, the vast majority of their employees are long term—it is a good place to work.

Some of you dear readers may know that John flying his colorful green-and-yellow hot air balloon is a familiar sight in this community. You may not know that Steve Fossett of world-circling fame in both a single-engine jet and a balloon chose John to teach him the art of flying a hot air balloon and a gas balloon.

John was then in charge the launch crew and operations manager when Fossett made several attempts culminating in his successful globe-girdling record setting around the world record non-stop solo flight. Steve’s gondola the “Spirit of Freedom” is on display in the Smithsonian Institute today.

That is the second part of the story of John’s house. Fossett chose Australia for his launch and globe-circling goal. John asked Grannie Annie and me to house sit for the month and more that he was to be gone.

So we two lovebirds honeymooned in style. Wonderful memories of living in an upscale home well beyond our means. We too share the hurt of seeing such a nice place gone. Gone forever except to live on in pleasant memories.

Typical of John and Jennifer’s approach to life was their initial postings on social media. No whine about the loss. No regret for all the man toys destroyed.

Just statements of gratitude for all the firemen, the emergency service personnel and neighbors who turned out to help during the emergency.

The good people of McCook also did themselves proud by providing food and respite for members of the eleven fire departments that responded to give mutual aid. Tom Bredwick and a host of volunteers opened the 4-H building at the fairgrounds and just with word of mouth notification people came bringing plates of sandwiches, other food and drink.

Local culinary business came bringing pizza, runzas and whatever their specialty all donated free of charge. That is community and that is why we are all so privileged to live here.

That is how I saw it.

Dick Trail