This week, Greenville’s biggest fire of the year came dangerously close to burning homes and businesses in the southern part of our city. Our reporters on the scene said the flames were within just 50 yards of a strip shopping center — not much space at all if the winds were to pick up.
Thankfully, our local firefighters were up to the challenge. Once again, they put their skills, experience and commitment to the test and brought the blaze to a safe conclusion, something that’s been required all too often both this summer and last.
And the worst part? The big fire in Greenville was entirely preventable.
We’re not talking preventable in the Smoky Bear, “everyone can prevent forest fires” kind of way.
No, the fire that could have killed people was apparently started intentionally, it was revealed this week. Investigators found what they describe as an “incendiary device” at the scene, so it looks like someone set the blaze on purpose.
We don’t know whether it was kids playing around or a mentally unstable adult, but what they did was absolutely unconscionable. They quite literally could have killed a person — either someone whose home or business caught fire, or one of the firefighters on the scene — and we hope they’re caught and prosecuted for what they did.
Starting fires isn’t horseplay. It’s not just a prank. We see it almost as an attempted murder because of how dry the conditions are in Hunt County right now, the recent rains notwithstanding.
While it’s good to see so many afternoon and evening showers lately, it’s not good in the sense that some people might be letting their guard down about fire danger. Within the past month, municipal and volunteer firefighters have been busy putting out countless wildfires in the area because there’s so much dry, dead material on the ground that helps small fires grow quickly out of control. Acreage is burned almost every day, and the police scanner stays busy with reports of grass fires large and small.
We hope the recent fires will remind people to do two things.
One, everyone needs to be more careful. The vast majority of fires are started accidentally by things like cigarette butts being flicked out of a car window or small trash fires that aren’t tended carefully. And with the possibility that there’s an arsonist in our midst, we should be extra vigilant and look for anything that looks out of place so that, hopefully, whoever’s responsible for it will be caught.
And two, everyone needs to support our local firefighters. They have some of the most stressful and dangerous jobs in the community, and they’re often either underpaid or working on a volunteer basis.
No one should take their safety for granted. Firefighters play one of the most important role in keeping our lives and property safe, and for that we’re extremely grateful.
Opinion
Fire safety
- Opinion
-
-
Being a father
Just sitting here, being a father ...
-
'Elephant' that won't go away
It is the elephant in the room that simply won’t go away.
-
Flag Day more than special day
So proudly She waves…
Come June 14 various individuals will celebrate another birthday. For them, it’s a special day. Besides special birthdays, June 14 is designated Flag Day. -
Jaylynn turns 14
I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it.
Jaylynn is now 14 years old. -
Erring on the side of caution
Hunt County saw some severe weather earlier this week, but thankfully we were spared the kind of destruction that north Texas and Moore, Okla. had to endure.
-
‘Alexander placed many jobs at risk’
Dear Greenville Community,
Decisions related to termination of personnel are probably the most difficult faced by people charged with managing organizations, whether it is a business or a public entity. -
City deserves better voter participation
We recently posted the voter turnout for the May 11 municipal elections on our Facebook page. Only 14.22 percent of registered Greenville voters, or 1,793 people, participated in the democratic process.
-
Legislature needs to meet every year
Texas legislators have an important choice ahead of them, one that needs to be made sooner rather than later.
-
Sometimes even good friends can butt heads
As the song says, “I get by with a little help from my friends.”
-
Moore’s arrest could lead to closure, healing
When news broke Tuesday that a man had been charged with the 2012 murder of Greenville teenager Alicia Moore, we received strong reactions from local readers.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Being a father
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
