Taking a break this week...

I need to take a break from my usual attempts at weaving some sort of tale on Sunday mornings. I have used Tolstoy's comment about great literature before. (I intend to reflect on it more in posts to come): "All great literature is one of two stories; a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town."

Today's story would be "A stranger came to town, caused a fire that burned for days while a lot of firefighters went on journeys into the woods to try to stop the stranger's handiwork."

On Wednesday a fire "was caused by a campfire along the Appalachian Trail some two miles north of Massachusetts Avenue in North Adams." (Berkshire Eagle). Firefighters from roughly ten towns along with state crews and national guard help (Blackhawk water drops) were able to contain the 272 acre fire by Friday afternoon. Mop up crews worked all day Saturday. 

I spent two of those days in the woods and have responded to additional calls all day Saturday around town. I am fatigued. We all are. Here are a few photos (from various sources) showing a little of the action.