How stupid can folks really be????

pauly v.100 said
My grandad was the co-owner of the Hertrich and Moylan mercantile store in Sprague, Wa., not far from you guys. That town was, at the time, the biggest rail hub in eastern Washington.
The town was leveled by a fire that started at a blacksmith's shop, it was driven by the wicked winds blowing from the badlands. That event forever changed the landscape of commerce in that area. Because of the fire, and it's consequences, the location of the county seat damn near caused a war between the towns of Sprague and Davenport, and the biggest player at the time; Northern Pacific Railroad, pulled up stops and made they're new base in Spokane.

Are the people up there so stupid that they don't understand the fire risks? Does nobody pay attention to history anymore? Seems like half of eastern Wa. is on fire,... again! WTF??

http://www3.gendisasters.com/washington/11547/sprague-wa-fire-aug-1895

Not just here that folks are this stupid. When I lived in AZ I went to go out and do a bit of four wheeling one weekend. Drove out to the trail and was turned around by the Forestry Service. Was in August, had not seen any rain since June or so and some yahoo was out shooting tracer rounds in the desert...to give this chowder head some credit at least he did call it in and admitted he did it....

DroVal said
Most of this isn't a case of stupid (depending on how you look at it, but a simple case of "I don't give a ****, because it doesn't affect me".

People simply don't care these days when it isn't "their" problem.

This is very true as well. Thing is often times they do figure out who started it and do cite them for it. From what I understand the brain dead idiot that started the fire that was just a mile or so from us has been cited for burning trash....and will be on the hook for the expense of the crews/aircraft. Sure he will never pay it but.....

71340Duster said
I have a co-worker who works for the same utility as I do, he lives near Wenatchee. He's a volunteer fire fighter on the side, been up till midnight nearly every night after his day job protecting peoples homes. He also donates mobile radios from our old radio system as they come available to help these firefighting groups with their communications....they never are funded as they should be. All of them have my utmost respect.

Please tell your friend I appreciate what he does.....