Dry Weather & Burn Ban

    When making ready to smoke some meat for my beef jerky I thought it wise to make sure the local police wouldn't show up at my door. While my cooking isn't usually considered a crime now it could be. At least 30 of Mississippi's counties are under a burn ban because things are so dry here. We've had only 5 measurable rains since September 1st and the temps are still running some 10 degrees above normal.
     I must admit it was with a note of sarcasm that I called the police to ask if smoking meat outside was legal while under a burn ban but the officer was all business with no sense of humor. He did inform me that he saw nothing illegal about grilling nor smoking I should call the fire department to be sure and let them know where I lived! I did indeed call the fire station and I don't know the politically correct term for "fireman" which I probably should use but the fireman I talked to seemed like someone I could get along with. He was more than helpful, cheerful and everything. We talked probably 10 minutes about fire safety, cooking, smoking, the weather, praying for rain. When we see stories on the news about the fire department doing community work this man comes to my mind now.
     As we do have the potential for grass, brush and even wildfires now and when Winter does come along comes potential for more house fires I realize the need for awareness and watchfulness is serious. Right before we got off the phone I said, "And y'all be careful out there, okay?"
You know? When he thanked me I felt it was heart felt.

     There is a special type of person who sees a building on fire, when everyone else is running out...they run in!