Wildfire!

 Written Monday, 7 January 2008

 

Wildfires are a problem here after the rainy season ends, when all the grasses that grew with the rains become dry.  Today a wildfire came very close to the village, which is not uncommon, so the village chief rang the bell that is used to summon villagers for meetings and communal work, and everyone went out to fight the fire, the men with branches to beat it back and the women with buckets of water.

 

The men told me not to go, because toubabs are too delicate for hard work and all the smoke.  But I didn't want to miss out on the excitement, so I went along to take pictures.  The women gave me a hard time about not having brought a bucket of water, though.

 

The fire seems under control now, but there is a lot of wind today, so we'll see what happens.