The forest is on fire!!!!
Mood:  energetic
For the most part I love dealing with the public. But there are a select few that just wear on my nerves.

The wildlife Commission is doing some prescribed burning in a area close to my office as well as several high priced neighborhoods. When we do burning of any sort we will typically get calls from the public making sure we are aware the forest is on fire. These calls I understand and appreciate because these people are keeping an eye out for trouble. You tell them it is a prescribed burn and they say, "oh okay" and hang up. Nothing more ever said.

This morning I get a call from a woman in one of the high priced neighborhoods. She asked what was going on and I explained about the burning. She was outraged and said that large pieces of ash were floating in her yard and that it was very smokey. I explained that when we do a burn we try to minimize the impact of smoke and ash to residents but that sometimes the wind changes direction and that it can't be helped. The lady then wanted us to stop burning immediately. I explained that we couldn't do that. That if she had a complaint or damage to her property she would have to contact the wildlife commission who was doing the burning. She then asked me why the Corps was taking out all the trees in that area. Were we putting in a boat ramp? I explained that it is a timber harvest and that again this was something the wildlife commission was doing and that they were only doing a selective thinning (just taking the larger trees). I explained that we do it to enhance wildlife. She became outraged again saying that the residents should have been allowed to vote on such matters as burning and tree cutting in their backyards.

I wanted to scream. Do your freaking research before you buy a house. If you buy property next to public lands you will have to put up with the management practices of the controlling agency. Also try opening your mail once in awhile. Letters were sent to all property owners explaining what was being done and why.

I drove out to her property this morning after talking to her. You can smell the smoke in the air but you couldn't see it and I did see any pieces of ash floating around. There are just some people in this world who have nothing better to do than complain. I really want to tell these people to get a hobby

On a lighter note. It feels like a spring morning outside. It is almost 50 degrees and we are expected to be in the 70's later today. The trees are budding and the some of the flowers are in bloom.

I have the windows by my desk open. *takes a deep breath* Wonderful!!! I only wish it was going to stay like this for the weekend. They said we are suppose to get cooler and perhaps have some rain. :( I would like just once to have nice weather on the weekend.