This weekend I experienced the panic one has when a fire gets out of control.  It made me think back to the number of people who had their education in one-room schoolhouses interrupted because of fire.

My father and husband lit a big fire at our cottage to burn stuff.  There was no wind, but all of a sudden the flames starting burning shrubs and trees up the hill.  The bank is very steep.  My husband has had his hip replaced, and my Dad is 85.   I was the one able to go up and down the hill many times trying to stamp out the flames.  They handed me pails of water.  I was choking from the smoke and my leg and arm were burned.  Fortunately, another man was able to help, but the hose only had a dribble of water coming out of it.  It was pretty scary, but we managed to get it under control.  I soaked in cold water for over an hour and luckily I have no blistering...only lots of scratches from branches.   ....lesson learned.....smaller fires and have buckets of water nearby!