Does no one learn about Smokey the Bear anymore?

Over the last month my little corner of the world has literally been in flames. Wildfires have raged across several states in the southwest. People have died, and countless animals have been burned and killed as well. We breathed a sigh of relief when the flames were extinguished so imagine my anger (and fear) at what I saw today...

I go to Clovis every month to do my grocery shopping, because that is the best place to get everything I need (the joys of rural living!) and was headed home around noon today. As soon as I left Melrose in the distance I could see black billowing smoke - so much that I could see something that was occurring over 20 miles from where I was at that moment.  I drove slower then usual, because this is open range after all and you never know when a cow or deer might jump out in front of you.

As I got closer, I was sickened by the devastation. ​Acres upon acres of land were black and smoking - much like this picture here shows...

The wind had driven the flames toward a ranchers home and barns. I watched helpless from the road (where emergency crews had us stopped) as the flames moved closer and closer to a paddock full of frightened cattle. Their cries were heartbreaking. So how does this tie in with Smokey the Bear? Quite simply this fire could easily have been avoided. It appears to have started alongside the road, mostly likely from a cigarette being flicked out a window.  And the audacity of someone to do such a thing in a state that has been hit by droughts over the last several years just makes me so mad I could spit.

Then, as I was headed down the final mesa towards home, I was sickened to see three separate pillars of smoke coming from right about where home was located. I called home to see if everyone was ok, and each time the phone rang my heart pounded a little harder. When my husband answered I released the breath I hadn't even realized til then that I was holding.  The fires were a couple miles to the northeast of our house - so we would have to keep an eye out for the flames to shift... Very stressful stuff!​​

The financial impact of these wildfires is so much more then people realize. In Texas alone near the Amarillo area, the governor has declared six counties disaster areas, and has urged the USDA to activate the Emergency Loan Program and to lift grazing restrictions to help ranchers and farmers to start getting back on their feet.  Not only were countless cattle and horses killed, but those attempting to save their animals faced danger as well.  Some ranchers spoke of entire herds being burned, and others were faced with the grisly task of having to shoot animals that were badly burned but still alive. In some places so many animals needed to be put down that ranchers were running out of bullets.

Tucumcari Tarot will be running a promo for a special reading - with 50% of the profits going to support area ranchers recover and rebuild. ​

In addition there are some other ways that you can help:

But most importantly help us spread the word - and share, tweet, pin, Instagram, etc with your friends and family.