Deep down, I feel I did the right thing, but ....

[novelist_wannabe]

So I'm riding down the road and I see smoke. First thought: Hmmm, wonder if someone's house is on fire. Nope. Just a little old lady burning leaves in her back yard. I had bigger fires in my grill all summer. (dunno how the law applies to that. oh, well). Anyhowl, we're in an area that's under an outdoor burn ban because of drought conditions. Plus, an outdoor watering ban that means I have to take my car to a car wash to get it clean. So I call the fire department, where the burn ban is confirmed. They dispatch a fire truck. Made big scene. This little old lady must have been sorely embarrassed. Then I ride through the neighborhood and discover two other yards where leaves are being burned. So I called the fire department again. I feel like a complete jerk, but then again, I had my fill of watching the California wildfires on TV.

So am I a do-gooding jerk? Is there any such thing?

 

[User 1019]

Damn. That's rough, bro.

 

[Chi City 81]

Dude, you can't be too careful these days. You did the right thing. However, you see anyone cooking meth, keep your ****ing mouth shut, snitchy.

 

[Ace]

I love the smell of burning leaves, you *******.

Plus, now I gotta bail granny out of jail -- again!

 

[novelist_wannabe]

Long as they ain't doing it on top of a pile of leaves in plain view, it's really none of my business

 

[Dirk Legume]

You're good. ****, if you can't burn leaves, why should anyone else get to burn leaves.

 

[BYH]

are you going to call the fire department and report the burning pile of something smelly on your front step too?

 

[mike311gd]

are you going to call the fire department and report the burning pile of something smelly on your front step too?

Don't put it out with your boots, Ted.

 

[Chi City 81]

are you going to call the fire department and report the burning pile of something smelly on your front step too?

Don't put it out with your boots, Ted.

Don't tell me my business, Devil Woman. Call the fire department. This one's outta control!

 

[BYH]

Looks like Fido had a little accident!

 

[User 1019]

I think it was a tad over the top.

I mean, riding around the neighborhood with the purpose of spotting folks burning leaves?

 

[HandsomeHarley]

Well done, concerned citizen. /Batman

 

[mike311gd]

are you going to call the fire department and report the burning pile of something smelly on your front step too?

Don't put it out with your boots, Ted.

Don't tell me my business, Devil Woman. Call the fire department. This one's outta control!

I'll get you damn kids for this. You're all gonna die.

 

[forever_town]

I mean, riding around the neighborhood with the purpose of spotting folks burning leaves?

Read more closely. He didn't drive around looking for people to turn in. He's not a rat fink.

I think you did the right thing. Better the fire department deal with it than you becoming a vigilante.

 

[Bad Guy Zero]

So I'm riding down the road and I see smoke. First thought: Hmmm, wonder if someone's house is on fire. Nope. Just a little old lady burning leaves in her back yard. I had bigger fires in my grill all summer.

The correct response in this situation is to say "Looks like your fire isn't big enough to burn all those leaves." Then you pull a can of gasoline out of the trunk of your car and dump it on the pile of burning leaves. High jinks!

 

[Kaylee]

Hell yes, you did the right thing.

I wouldn't be as touchy re: water curtailment orders, however. Last I checked, CNN never led off with "Thousands are displaced and millions of acres have been destroyed following what can only be described as novelist_wannabe washing his car."

 

[Platyrhynchos]

As an active fire department member who has seen more than his share of well-intentioned controlled burns get out of control and do a **** load of damage, I'll weigh in on this:

A thousand atta boys.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Damn straight you did the right thing. Ask any of the socal SportsJournalists.com group--I would bet to a man/woman, they would say the same.

Now if you had walked up yourself to the fire and started urinating on it to douse it; well, that probably wouldn't have been the right approach.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

Hell yes, you did the right thing.

I wouldn't be as touchy re: water curtailment orders, however. Last I checked, CNN never led off with "Thousands are displaced and millions of acres have been destroyed following what can only be described as novelist_wannabe washing his car."

The only reason I brought that up was that the outdoor burn ban and the watering ban are both steps taken to counteract the drought. Plus, you know, some people cause floods with their carwashing. I'm not among them, though.

 

[gandhithegreat]

I understand that the Nazi's are taking SS application again...