The grass is dry and the wind is high, not a good mix for this time of year.
Maidstone and Paynton volunteer firefighters along with farmers and concerned citizenshave been out constantly for over a week and they are not the only ones. There is smoke in many directions and all anyone can do is their best to keep fires under control, then pray the wind dies down.
The best way to prevent a fire from getting out of control, on a windy day especially, is to call 911 as soon as a fire starts. When calling, make sure you have a land location or specific and correct directions so the fire team can respond in a timely manner.
Other than lightning strikes, the majority of fires are caused by human error such as burning leaf/brush piles on a windy dayor havingbonfiresduring a ban or just a windy evening when maybe it isn't such a good idea. Throwing a lit cigarette into a ditch can cause hectares worth of damage if it is not caught in time, not to mention the man hours and supplies put into fighting a fire of that size.
Being a small community, we do not always have enough volunteers to make each fire call. Make sure 911 is called as soon as a fire begins so the damage does not go too far and volunteers have time to leave work or stop whatever they might be doing before the call out.
If it were not for the kind gestures of neighbours and all who were called into action, the fire department would have a much harder time fighting these fires. Thewater trucks, heavy equipment to bulldoze the area, people with their own water packs, broomsand shovels, the ladies making food soeveryonekeeps up their energy and the people at home phoning to get all of thisarranged are all so necessary in a small community like ours. It is good to see such a wonderful response to a potentially dangerous situation. I am sure I can speak for everyone in our community when I say, thank you all very much.
Paynton Farmers' Market Co-op is open every Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. for the summer.
The market is a great placefor small businesses to set up a cost effective table for the summer, or just an event or two. Vendors are the lifeblood of the market, each with their own unique art, craft or skill like the amazingsweet and savourygoods that come out of thelocal bakers. The co-op also raises money for community events such as dances, hypnotist shows and beautification projects like flower beds in the village. Alongwith the help and co-operation of the volunteer firefighters, the group plans to keep up the hard work to get this community looking and feeling it's best.
