Firefighter Kelli to the Rescue!

A post from Kelli–

So in Iowa, we have CRP land.  What CRP land stands for is Conservative Reserve Program.  The long and short is that farmers committ not to plant crops on a certain area of land.  This land is then allowed to be left alone and the farmer can’t farm it for a certain period of time–I think 7 or 10 years.  It is really a win-win for both parties.  The farmer is paid a subsity to leave the land in CRP.  This covers money that would have been made from crops or from renting land out to someone else to farm.  They also use land that wouldn’t be the best farm land for CRP.  This then allows the plant life to flourish!

Every year however, the CRP needs to get burned in order to continue to benefit the environment.

This week I’m working some overnights early in the week and then days later in the week.  I had to work last night, so I slept in yesterday and then woke up.  I’ll stay up for about 24 hours and then sleep so that I know that I’ll be able to sleep good…because I’ve been up since forever.

I had decided I was going to cross stitch for the day.

I had settled in with Puppycat on the couch, but before I knew it I heard a knock and then someone came in the door right away.  I walked out to meet Wayne who is our neighbor.  He quickly told me that they were burning CRP and their fire got a little bigger than they had planned.  I called up to the farm quick from the house and ended up telling them about the situation.  They said they’d bring some people and shovels.  At about this same time, Jason’s brother and one of their hired guys came.  I jumped in the Ranger with Wayne and the guys brought the truck after getting a few shovels.  

I didn’t really see anything on the way out, but once we went over the last hill, I could see the trouble!

Once we got up there, I told Wayne that I didn’t know what to do, but if he told me what to do, I’d do my best.

In order to put the fire out, we walked around the outside edge of the firey areas and hit the ground with the shovel, trying to put the fire out.  Easy?  WRONG!!!

You can see the fire off in the distance there.  I definitely let Jason know how much fun this all was!  It must have been a pretty good decription because he came down to help with his mom and dad pretty quick.

As the saying goes, many hands make light work.  And its true!

Before long, we had it all under control!  It took a team, but we got it done!  Luckily, this lovely blister popped right after we were getting finished up.  I had to go back up to the house to get ready for work, but Phyllis gave be a ride back.

Needless to say, it hurts a bit, but it’s definitely better than a burn.

I know that we all always say that your neighbors will help you out if you need something, but I’m really lucky to have neighbors that will do just that!  Everyone ended up doing okay last I knew.  We burned a little bit more than originally planned, but it will all be okay.

I even joked that I got my exercise for the month in!  That should count for a months work!  We shall see when I wake up after my overnight shift how much it’s worth as I’m betting I’ll be just a little bit on the sore side!