Dry weather means fire danger

Odessa firefighters have been busy since about mid-July, when any small spark from any source could ignite tinder-dry grass or wheat. The calls seem to come in every other day or so, pulling the volunteers from their regular jobs and sending them out to save someone’s cash crop or cattle pasture.

This past spring’s frequent showers no doubt helped to produce plenty of fuel in the form of lush wheat, as well as lush growth of everything else that grows in the scablands. Since the rains stopped with the coming of summer, it has not taken long for the upper layers of soil to dry out, leaving the...