Holy Smoke
I hate fire. It’s on the top of my Things to Avoid list, like cyclones, earthquakes and having to punch a shark to stop it from eating me.
Due to the ongoing fight to save our environment the sugar cane in Australia is rarely burned these days. Gone are the evenings you could drive around here and spot cane fires igniting the landscape (literally).
One regular occurrence however is the burning of the ‘trash blanket’ – the leftovers from cutting (dead leaves, etc).
Normally I would scream and run if I saw someone with matches trying to torch the fields, but last week this was totally under control so I got some pictures from the safety of my Writer’s Nook.
Just starting
Getting bigger
I’m glad the wind is blowing a southerly
Don’t you just love the Rural Fire Brigade
The next day I did my regular dog walk to Scary Gully. The sugar cane has been cut there as well and the dogs loved rolling around in the trash blanket.
I couldn’t find the farm dog, Tammy. I call her the farm dog because she belongs to my parents-in-law and was here before my dogs came. She is a rescue dog, but still has some very bad habits (like chasing cars). I don’t want my dogs to follow her paw-prints example so this is one of the main reasons I have put up the fence.
I figured she must have gone back to the creek for a dip, but then I spotted her.
Can you spot Tammy? I’ve given you a not-so-subtle clue with the arrow 😉
Have a great week!
Dianne Gray author 
Yes, I see her. I’m sure she’s going to need a bath after being in that trash blanket. Scary pics of the fire, Dianne.
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She’s exactly the same colour as the trash. I thought it was very cute, Sylvia 😀 No baths needed here, the dogs do all their washing in the creek – which is wonderful!
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Every time I see photos from around your place, I’m awed by the views you have. So much vastness in front of you. What a creative spark that must provide.
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It certainly does, Carrie. When visitors come from other states they usually just sit and stare and not much talking goes on at first. I think it hypnotizes you. We’re use to it now but sometimes I just sit and get lost in the view. It’s highly inspirational and (strangely enough) it causes inward thought and self-reflection 😉
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I imagine it does. I really hope someday to live somewhere with a view. It gives perspective. All I get are the views of the backs of other houses.
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I’m worried that may happen here one day. But things move so slowly in this area I don’t think I’ll be alive to see the sugar cane gone and the land sub-divided for housing (I hope that’s about 100 years away) 😉
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I saw a lot of controlled burns when I lived in Wisconsin. Doesn’t make them less scary though. 🙂
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So true, Fen. My brother-in-law was burned in a sugar cane fire many years ago. He lived, but bears some very savage scarring. No matter how safe you think something is, the wind can always change without warning… (a bit like life really) xxx
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Fires are scary. I don’t like them either. As you say, they can turn nasty fast. But I love the views. 🙂
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I guess this is the price we pay for living in a farming community. When new people come in they complain about the tractors and the noise and the smoke, but hey – there’s always the city to contend with 😉 The views are amazing 😀
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Yes, I finally spotted Tammy.
Also, what a magnificent fire that is.
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They did a great job with that fire, Cynthia. You can never be too careful 😀
I’m glad you spotted Tammy – she’s a cutie 😀
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Phew!
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Absolutely, Julie! 😉
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great pics!! glad to know the wind was blowing southerly…(:
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I would have been hiding in a tightly shut-up house had it been a northerly (or I might have been out there with a hose) 😉
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One sniff of smoke puts me on edge… unless it’s the G.O. starting the wood fire up in our house at TA… which is nice although sometimes the amount of smoke coming out the chimney is a little worrying.
I’m not sure if fire, like you, at the top of my things to avoid is a legacy of growing up in Australia or an apparent past life as a witch and a toasty demise, or both!
I’m glad the smoke wasn’t blowing your way or you’d have had to bring the washing in and close up the house… Tammy was going for an ash rinse in her fur 🙂
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We seem to live in a country where fire spells absolute danger (or, you may be right, we were burned as witches in a past life) lol love it! 😀
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When I taught school in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA, it was my first time living in an agricultural town. Fields surrounded me on all sides. At a certain time of year, there would be controlled fires and they always had the most distinctive smell. It wasn’t quite like a campfire. I can never quite describe it, but I can still recall it in my mind even now. It always made me feel like the seasons were about to change and the glow of the fires at night seemed to me dangerous, like a portent of sorts. Great post. Thanks for sharing!
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The smoke from the sugar cane smells sweet and a little like molasses. It’s a lovely smell and I know what you mean about the glow at night – it really does something to you 😀
I’m so glad you liked the post – thanks so much for stopping by 😉
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I’ve lived in Hawaii twice as a kid and remember the sugar cane burning. The smell could make you ill. I’ve been so frightened of fire all my life (tho not from the sugar cane burns) that I couldn’t even light a match until I was 16. Your photos are great.
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The smell can be quite strong but I don’t mind it (as long as I’m not too close) 😉
You’re right about the fear of fire – as humans there is something terrifying about it and it’s always best to take care and stay clear. So glad you like the photos 😀
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Oh my goodness. Those are some photos!
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I think I took about fifty as well as a video. I might put the video on YouTube one day when I get some spare time. I’m glad you like them 😀
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I am not good with smoke or fires. The fire scene in Let Sleeping Gods Lie was really scary!
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This is where I get those ideas from. I’ve seen some big sugar cane fires in the past and my brother-in-law was also burned in one of these fires many years ago – he survived, but is badly scarred. There is so much writing fodder here and I think that’s why I love the place so much 😉
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A fertile country for a fertile imagination.
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Controlled or not, I’ve always had a fear of fire, Dianne. Your photographs are beautiful..what a view you have!
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Thank you, Jill. I took a picture of one of the farmers during the fire and he asked me how long I’d been a professional photographer. WOW! I was very humbled by that comment 😀
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Nice! Your photos do look professional.
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Aww, thanks, Jill 😀
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I just love your blogs. I learn so much about your ‘neck of the woods,’ so different from mine, and so beautiful. The photos are incredible, but yes, I most enjoyed looking for the ‘farm dog’ Tammy. A bit of a loner at times, is she? 🙂
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She’s very much ‘the loner’. She’s been very good with my dogs even though they’re the ‘newbies’ so I’m appreciative of that 😉
I’m so glad you enjoy reading about my neck of the woods. Other parts of the world really seem much closer through this blogging life 😀
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I always enjoy your tales from “the land down under.” The only experience I can equate to your cane burning story is when I went to college one morning and an adjacent field was ablaze. They were reenacting a native American practice of “burning the prairie.” I’m just glad they only did that one year. Barb
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I’m glad you enjoy my stories of life ‘down under’, Barb 😀
Australia was the same with their indigenous people. Fires were a way of protecting the country from wildfires. We still do this today and call it back-burning. The hill near my house hasn’t been on fire for about 20 years since the major burning ceased. It’s never had so many tress on it!
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Great shots, Dianne. I would feel uncomfortable watching fields ablaze in close proximity to my home.
My favorite fires are those contained in fireplaces and fire rings . . . I enjoy companionable campfires (perfect for toasting marshmallows).
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I’m not keen on them being so close either, Nancy. I’d rather be toasting the marshmallows instead of being the marshmallow 😉
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Side note… Although indigenous peoples did start prairie fires, most fires were natural. Burning is a very important tool in managing American prairies. It is done with great caution and supervised the whole time. Here’s a good article from The Nature Conservancy about the use of fire and cows. 🙂
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Thanks, Pat. That’s very interesting information 🙂
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Dianne, I have smelled this before and it is horrible! As far as I know, they still do this in the valley in central California. All that smoke and stink make me very sick. You too?
The only thing worse than this is when they start the cooking down of the sugar beets. You can’t hold your breath long enough to drive away from it, because it travels for miles and miles on the wind. GAAACK!
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Oh yes, and I love your camouflaged, tricky dog picture!
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She’s certainly a character! 😉
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I actually don’t mind the smell, Lynda – but I know a lot of people dislike it. To me it smells a bit like molasses. The refinery is about ten miles from here so I’m not in it’s ‘wind path’ (luckily) 😀
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Fires are a healthy part of nature. I like the way you described this burning.
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I was kind of hoping the trees at the creek would catch fire (sounds awful I know) because there are so many weeds it really needs a good clean out. In the old days the trees at the creek would often catch and it would be all very clear down there again 😉
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I love fire and the smell of burning leaves but it would be scary seeing a fire like that come roaring toward me! I’m glad you found Tammy and that she wasn’t down in that Scary Gully. It must be easy for the dogs to get lost around there – I don’t think I would have found her without the arrow! 🙂
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She’s exactly the same colour as the cane trash. It’s amazing – even the other dogs didn’t notice her until they got up close and she gave them a fright – lol. She’s a funny dog 😉
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I can almost smell that smoke from here Dianne. What vastness you have reaching out from your doorstep. And what a contrast to living on a 9 x 5 island. But funny, after the first few weeks here one’s horizons shrink. You’d probably think nothing of driving 50 miles to a shop whereas we grumble at having to go a mile to a pub if there’s a one nearer 🙂
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This comment made me giggle, Roy. We used to complain about the five minute walk to the pub when we lived in the city – now the pub is a ten minute drive 😉 We don’t go there very often because someone has to drive home – LOL 😀
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In Thailand they love to burn stuff– crops, trash, weeds. But with sugarcane, near our farm, they grind up the left overs and sell it for cattle and pig feed. It’s also great for mulch. I was very surprised and happy to see this.
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I’m glad you liked this, Dannie 😀 People living in these areas are so used to having sugar cane mulch and mill mud and raw sugar on hand that when they go to the city they’re shocked at the price of it 😉
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I’m shocked at the price I have to pay for the sugar cane mulch from Bunnings, but the garden needs it.
Fire is very photogenic but very scary if it gets too close. Your Tammy is well camouflaged, the arrow did help…
Interesting post Dianne showing us your life on the farm up north. How is the job going?
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The job is going really well. I’ve got a couple of articles written and now have admin access to the disability website. I’m loving it and it’s interesting work. One of my main writing jobs is here: http://www.diip.com.au/
Sugar cane mulch is very expensive if you don’t live on a sugar cane farm. I should sell it from home! 😀
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It does look an interesting and worthwhile organisation Dianne. Will you still be writing books?
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I haven’t written a book for a few years now, Pauling, but I’m thinking I’ll probably take it up again very soon. Working on writing has definitely kick-started my muse to get back into it 😉
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Plenty of inspiration in your neck of the woods Dianne…
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Does the smell of the smoke have a sweet tinge to it from the cane remnants?
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I think it’s sweet, Janna – but some people absolutely hate it. Maybe I’m used to it 😉
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So, if they don’t burn the fields like they used to…. what becomes of what used to have been burned?
Love your posts!
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They now cut ‘green’, Peter so the sugar mill still crushes the sugar cane. Basically there’s very little difference apart from the fact that it takes a little longer and we now have a lot more rats (because they used to be wiped out by the fires) 😉
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Hate rats. I might go for the pollution…. Just kidding.
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I hate rats too, Peter. I’d rather have snakes or smoke any day 😉
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I prefer to give fire (and those other nasties you mentioned!) a wide berth. Most crop stubble here is simply plowed back into the soil now, either formally before planting or just as part of the planting process. In the old days, it was cleared from the fields in the fall, and that left them open to serious soil erosion. I’ve sometimes wondered, though, why it isn’t burned and the residue maybe helping to add nutrients or organic matter to the soil….
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You’re right about the residue adding nutrients to the soil, JM. It isn’t burned any more because of the environmental impact on the atmosphere (does it damage the environment? I really don’t know). A lot of the farmers didn’t like being told they could no longer burn, but they’re getting used to it now 😉
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I’m not a fan of fire either, but that’s also because my house burned down when I was about six years old or so, and we all had to race out of it to safety. To this day, I can’t strike a match without breaking into a sweat. This might be one of the reasons I never took up smoking. 🙂
I had to smile when you wrote that that fire was controlled. I’m sure it was, but my goodness, that is one huge controlled fire! 🙂
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How awful that your house burned down, Kate. That must have been a very traumatic time for you. I’m so glad you’re here today to tell the story! xxxx
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Amazing and dramatic photo’s Dianne. I always get nervous when fires are lit, even if its just back burning. Also hate the smoke, it plays havoc with allergies. Hope you are smoke free now. Dog looks like its up to mischief.
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Tammy is always up to mischief. I think one day she’ll lead my dogs away to Scary Gully and come back alone! She’s often trying to get them into trouble 😉
Luckily the wind did well the day of the burn otherwise I’d probably still be sneezing xxxx
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Great photos and scary ♥
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Very scary, Billy Ray! Luckily it all went very well 😀
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Dogs definitely teach other tricks. I had a dog I rescued off the street years ago that taught my other dog and the neighbor dog how to strip bark off twigs to eat!! (Of course, they all three forgot it within a couple months). So the fence is a very good idea!!!
I’m afraid of fire, too. It’s the fault of Smokey the Bear, a book I had as a kid. Or else it’s because of living in California for 20 years. Lots of fires. Your fire photos are beautiful, though. You have the photography knack, that’s for sure!
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Thanks so much Luanne 😀 I love taking photos and hopefully am getting better all the time 😉
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You are a fabulous photographer!
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Awww, shucks! 😉
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A very scary sight! I think I mentioned before that fire is my greatest horror. Glad all ends well.
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I’m glad it all ended well too, Jo. Fire is just downright scary xxx
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Hi Dianne, I’ve just found your blog and enjoying reading it. Your tales about sugar cane remind me of my time in Fiji. Best wishes, and looking forward to reading more of your posts. Susan 🙂
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Thank you so much, Susan. It’s lovely to have you here! 😀
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Yikes! We get a lot of that here in Southern California. It’s not at all fun. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared as when we were trapped in with fires along every escape route, should we need to leave. Fortunately, our house was safe. Nonetheless, too too scary for me. If I didn’t have little kids, it wouldn’t have been so bad.
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I’ve been in a bush fire and it’s extremely scary so I know exactly how you feel. I’m so glad you ended up okay xxxx
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Wow – fires scare me – these are dramatic images, but I love the rural firefighters! You have a great week, too!! We always think of you with great fondness and appreciation of Australia, too. 🙂
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That’s lovely, Shelia, thank you! xxxx
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Yikes! That is quite a sight! I remember doing controlled burns around our remote cabin in Alaska -the idea being if there was a forest fire it would go around our cabin since we already burned all the grass. We had no hoses, just a shovel and 5 gal bucket of water. It was scary but never got away from us. I do love your rural fire brigade, wish we’d had them around back in the day !! haha!
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“We had no hoses, just a shovel and 5 gal bucket of water” – yikes! I’ll tell the guys that and watch their mouths drop, LOL 😀
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No, ma’am! Can’t do those fires so close to home. Reminds me of the drought wildfires we used to have in Southern California all the time.
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Fires are just plain scary – I’ve been in a wildfire – never again (fingers crossed!) 😉
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Thanks for the arrow, Tammy is a camo dog! 🙂 Wow. Fires scare me. I lived in San Diego during one of the worst fires in their history. I woke up to an orange sky and ash raining down. It was super scary.
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Thanks for the arrow! would have never spotted her. We have something insane like 520 currently burning in parts of our province here. Not pleasant.
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Fires are just awful. I always feel nervous when they burn here, but the fire brigade is always on the job (thank goodness!) 😀
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Thanks for this! Farm people ARE the best. One of the highlights of our walk was the visits with the ranchers… real characters! Might be fodder for a post or two!
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Farm people are wonderful, Allen. They always seem to be there when you need them 😉
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