Fire Scare

There is a red flag warning, no outdoor fires allowed today, winds have been gusting to tropical storm force from the south, and air temps are in the thirties Celsius. So when I smelled smoke, I called 911 Emergency.  They said it was indeed a brush fire and Fire and Rescue was on the scene just to the south of my location.  This is an extremely dangerous time for people living near wooded areas in Southwest Florida, yesterday alone Fire and Rescue units responded to nine separate brush fires according to last night's news report.  Several fires came within feet of homes, but only a shed was damaged. And we have at least two more months before the rainy season begins. My neighborhood has been identified by the Forestry Service as one of the most critical areas for fire danger in Southwest Florida.  Conditions like soil dryness are usually not this bad so early in the season.  So every day I have been working to reduce the danger...shredding my backlog of yard waste, trimming bushes and weeds away from structures, etc. But of course I am very limited in what I can do without triggering a big flare-up of my ME, especially with temperatures in the thirties Celsius.  That is the high eighties Fahrenheit, pushing 90 degrees F. The area to my south is thickly wooded for about a quarter mile, with more woods south of there on the other side of a road.  Winds to tropical storm force can easily throw embers right across the road.  The soil moisture is low enough to be comparable to conditions in a desert, we have not had a soaking rain since November. There may be rain tomorrow, but it is by no means assured.  This weather, especially with all this high wind, can be nerve-wracking when you live close to a wooded area.  Many people have lost their homes and all their possessions to fire in this area in recent years.  If I have to evacuate, I will probably only get five minutes to pack and run, so I have things set so I can grab and run if need be.