That's why I was worried about you. I kept thinking of all your grand and majestic trees and about how dry they are in that part of the state. We had fire here similar to what you saw in MWC and Purcell in the droughts of 2005-2006 and 2008-2009. At some fires in Love County in 2008-2009, the emergency personnel at the scene of some large fires described the large, wind-driven fire as "rolling over the tops of the trees". It was an incredible and terrifying sight and I thought it was a very accurate description. In 2005-2006, it was so dry here in our county that even the underground tree roots and humus in the soil burned, and sometimes they burned for days. The highest Keetch-Byram Drought Index I remember in 2008-09 was a little under 700 and I think we were only in Extreme Drought. In 2005-06, I think it was higher and we were in Exceptional drought but I don't remember the highest KBDI. In much of central Oklahoma, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index is rapidly approaching the 600s and the kinds of underground burning we had in 2005-2006 usually occurs once the KBDI is in the 600-800 range. Wind, however, can change the equation considerably. I've seen really bad wind-driven fires even with relative moderate KBDIs. We've lost homes to wind-driven wildfires when the KBDI was in the lower 500s, and we likely could have stopped those fires from reaching the homes in that kind of drought had the wind not been so persistently strong. Sunday is looking especially dangerous at this point in time, but it is still a few days out and the forecasts this far in advance are still kind of 'iffy'. I'm hoping they change for the better before Sunday gets here.

Why do you seem to assume that my GC disagreed with my assessment? "He admits he was unprofessional for awhile but seems to believe he is still capable of finishing the job.... This is the first week in this 5 month project that I am losing faith in the GC, and I think he is avoiding us, and his tone of voice sounds different. I told him we want to walk through everything and see what needs to be done and talk about it. He said he'd call about this weekend when we spoke Friday, and I haven't heard from him as of late Saturday." That sure doesn't sound like a meeting of the minds to me. there have been 5 areas during our build that my husband and I have disagreed with the subs on the way something should be installed (plumbing, electrical, exterior trim, roofing and masonry). In all cases, the end result was that we were right and the "professionals" were wrong. I don't doubt it. But if that's the case, why do you stick with your gc?? Or does he/she only follow your lead? Subs that delay, screw up and create their priorities are an unavoidable part of any build. On my latest project, I fired the siding company after two weeks of incomplete work, terminated the drywall company (and the drunken, drug-abusing taper he hired) and switched to a different railing company after the owner proved incompetent. As to firing a GC who found fault in the way I handled that situation, let's just say that if you had signed our contract, you would not want to be fired. What precisely does that mean? That you're paying an enormously high price? that you have a unilateral right to levy fees on the GC? Personally, if every time I turned around, the owner was second-guessing me I'd be happy to end the arrangement. Really, if you are so proficient in the art of building and have the time to be on site constantly, why aren't you gc ing the project yourself. Hiring a "gofer" might be a lot easier on you than sitting on the gc's shoulder. Best of luck!

I hope this link works, Mudlady.. I'll test it before I leave this forum. But...if it doesn't...enter the "Kindle+Fire+for+Dummies" into any one of your search engines [i.e. Google, duckduck, Bing] and it should bring up a long list of "Dummy" books to assist you with the operation of your new Kindle. Additionally...there are a myriad of Dummy books explicitly for computers and their operation. To that...let me add...that you're doing far better...and are braver than me. :-) I don't own a Kindle [or any similar product] and my cell phone is still the flip up kind. I'm loosing my sight to macular degeneration and over the next several years...it's anyone's guess as to what, if anything I may be able to see/operate. But I do have your determination so I forge on...undaunted. Good luck with your latest project. Kindle Dummy help [click on this link] of enter the URL below into your browser. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Kindle+Fire+for+Dummies&ia=products Anne

Unfortunately, I don't think we can give you a firm answer for your location. It will depend on where you are. And that locale's regulations. I know I didn't get homeowners' insurance unless my rural property was less than 3 miles away from the fire station. (It is about two miles away). I also know that the local business (approx. 25 employees) needed to put in a fire pond before they could be covered, even though they are well less than half a mile away from the fire station, probably more like a quarter mile. We live rural, there are NO fire hydrants around here whatsoever. (Those poor puppy dogs!!! Nothing for raising their legs against!) All our home water sources are from wells. These local fire trucks do have (because it's needed as there are NO fire hydrants here) tanks of water. It will depend on speed of deployment and the volunteer fire staff ability, as to whether your (or my) house will be saved. It can't hurt to discuss what you may need extra for your own property, that they can tap into. In rural areas, yes, they know and do tap into pond water. In ANY case, talk to your prospective town!