I went for a walk around 3 pm yesterday. While up the hill, I decided to check the field just above the backyard. The overgrowth was already dry, ready to be cleared. I thought we'd hire Brandon's friends to do the job. I was about to leave when I found a lighter in my pocket (I used it to burn the trash the other day).
"Light the grass," the voice in my head said, and I obeyed, without hesitation.
The fire was small at first, slowly crawling through the dry grass, but the wind blew hard, and crackling sounds followed; then, in the blink of an eye, a big bushfire spread in all directions, burning almost everything in its way. I reached and pulled the power sprayer hose away, then tried to put out the fire, but it had gone out of my control.
I ran toward the house in panic, calling for Brandon, but only his friend was there. "Help, please! Fire! Fire!" I exclaimed, which jolted him from his seat. He followed me frantically back to the field where we saw Brandon on top of the slope, pulling some of the rubber hose away from the climbing fire.
His friend picked up the sacks, quickly wet them in the nearby drum, and then started smothering the fire. Brandon did the same, and so did I, securing the power sprayer first (it had gas in it). "There! There! Smother it before it goes downhill!" Brandon called his friend's attention. We were like a squad, swift and focused, stopping the fire before it caused a disaster.
"Oh gosh! That was terrifying!" I admitted, horribly shaken afterwards. They teased me about the terror they saw on my face minutes earlier. We all laughed, but my legs were still shaky. After thanking them, I asked both to roll up the high-pressure hoses, which thankfully weren't totally damaged. I left the field still in disbelief at what had just happened. While washing up, I felt a stinging pain in my fingertips (right hand). I noticed they had been scalded.
It must be the old aluminum basin I grabbed and used to smother the fire before it reached the power sprayer. I didn't realize it was hot enough to burn my fingertips. Nothing serious, though. The first aid worked like a charm, and the stinging is now gone.
But yeah, who would have thought my quiet afternoon would end up terrifying? I certainly didn't.
The good thing? The boys are almost done clearing the field, and they might even turn the charred ground over with the tractor before the day ends. The hubby would be surprised when he comes back, not knowing a bushfire had broken out.😁
The scary experience taught me my biggest lesson yet. So I swore to never light a fire like that again. Not ever.
All photos are my own unless specified. 30102026/10:45ph
