Setting fires in East Texas is no big deal. Took me a while to get use to the smell of smoke in the air. But folks outside of city limits have to get rid of stuff somehow. Not just any stuff, generally tree limbs and such. Some get carried away with this practice and don't bother to rake the leaves before they light up. This causes a trail of fire that, so far, has remained safely contained in our little lake community.

Lately, though, there have been a few idiotic turns for the worse. We face a blackened field at the top of our driveway because our former Homeowners President decided to burn some papers within a few feet of a field full of waist-high grass. On a windy day. He went inside because he "thought it was out." Thanks to our volunteer fire department down the road, (guys who had to leave work to take care of this idiotic fire), it didn't reach any homes.

Another neighbor waited for the next windy day to burn off some leaves. The fires kept reigniting, but - as we were told - it was under control. Yeah, under control right into the night when little flares kept popping up.

I'm thinking some folks shouldn't be allowed to play with matches.