swimming pools, water more lawns and wash more limousines - and all the while, the Ogallala aquifer sinks deeper and deeper, away from its gift to trees and grasses - which now burn with a fury which terrifies us and drives thousands from their homes. Then we pour untold monies into the protection of homes built in harm's way by people who believe the myth of water, as told from the lips of developers."

As destructive as fires can be, especially to human designs, they can also do a lot of good. The media is covering the current wildfires as all bad, but perhaps they are wake-up calls

and can help restore a better balance for nature. Balancing, after all, is one of the functions of fire, which can remove a lot of deadwood and obstacles to the natural functioning of watersheds and ecosystems.

Capt. Gatchalian expressed a major concern, "People who want to do harm can just light fires." Perhaps instead of returning to dust, as the ancient saying goes, we will return to ashes.

By Shepherd Bliss

Ed. Note: Due to the extent of these fires, the effects on wildlife have yet to be determined. Future articles will examine this question.

Shepherd Bliss, D.Min., owns an organic farm in Northern California. He has contributed to sixteen books, most recently to "Shattered Illusions: Analyzing the War on Terrorism," to be published in July by Amal Press in England.
http://www.amalpress.com

Dr. Bliss can be reached at sb3@pon.net.

For additional information, please visit the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center:
http://www.nifc.gov

Reuters Photo / David Sanders