dumb neighbor list

Went outside this afternoon and noticed nothing wrong except for this plane circling the neighborhood over and over.
(Wind was blowing the smell away from me)
That’s unusual but I get on the tractor and start cutting the field. About 10 mins later I see a fireman walking across my field toward me. Wants to know if they can have some water out of my pond to put out a fire.
Well sure!!! I am on the fire water list even though they have added city water and fire hydrants since I got on the list.
Before I could ask why pond water; here comes a helicopter with one of those buckets on a cable dipping water out of the pond.

Now I have set the yard on fire before and had to call the fire department to help put it out so I know how a grass fire can get away from you; but never like this.
We have had 6" of rain this year so we are about 11" behind and it is dry. Wind is blowing today over 20 mph and this fool down the road decides its a good day to burn a pile of downed trees. Catches all the woods on fire around here.
Took a helicopter and 2 dozers to get it under control.

I asked the fireman why they even asked about taking the water. Why not just go ahead and do it. He told me you would not believe how many times he has asked people in the past to use pond water and been turned down. Told me of a house about 5 miles from here that burned to the ground before city water was installed because a neighbor would not let them use his pond water to put out the fire. They had to go over 2 miles to the next road assessable pond to get water.

The way I got on the list is years ago when you went to get a permit to build in this area you had to register with the fire department so they would know how to get to your house. They ask what is the closest water source and if it is your pond can it be used. They have most likely thrown away the list after all these years.

Now with 911 phone and address (no more rt x box xx) and city water they do not use ponds anymore. Just easier to hook the truck to a city hydrant.

Just so happened I have the closest air assessable pond today. Others in the area have trees and power lines so they used mine.